internal report 567 Kakadu National Park Landscape Symposia Series 2007–2009. Symposium 4: Climate change, 6–7 August 2008 Winderlich S (ed) January 2010 (Release status - unrestricted) Kakadu National Park Landscape Symposia Series 2007–2009 Symposium 4: Climate change, 6–7 August 2008, Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn, Kakadu National Park Edited by S Winderlich1 1 Kakadu National Park, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Published by Supervising Scientist Division GPO Box 461, Darwin NT 0801 January 2010 Registry File SG2009/0282 (Release status – unrestricted) How to cite this report: Winderlich S (ed) 2010. Kakadu National Park Landscape Symposia Series 2007–2009. Symposium 4: Climate change, 6–7 August 2008, Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn Kakadu National Park. Internal Report 567, January, Supervising Scientist, Darwin. How to cite papers in this report – example: Bowman D 2010. Climate change and biodiversity conservation: some implications for Kakadu National Park. In Kakadu National Park Landscape Symposia Series 2007–2009. Symposium 4: Climate change. ed S Winderlich, 6–7 August 2008, Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn Kakadu National Park. Internal Report 567, January, Supervising Scientist, Darwin, 37–41. Location of final PDF file in SSD Explorer: \Publications Work\Publications and other productions\Internal Reports (IRs)\Nos 500 to 599\ Editor of this report: Steve Winderlich – Kakadu National Park, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch, PO Box 71, Jabiru NT 0886, Australia The Supervising Scientist is part of the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. © Commonwealth of Australia 2010 Supervising Scientist Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts GPO Box 461, Darwin NT 0801 Australia This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Supervising Scientist. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Publications Inquiries, Supervising Scientist, GPO Box 461, Darwin NT 0801. e-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.environment.gov.au/ssd (www.environment.gov.au/ssd/publications) The views and opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the Commonwealth of Australia. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this report are factually correct, some essential data rely on the references cited and the Supervising Scientist and the Commonwealth of Australia do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the contents of this report, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the report. Readers should exercise their own skill and judgment with respect to their use of the material contained in this report. Printed and bound in Darwin NT by Supervising Scientist Division Contents List of participants v Acknowledgments vii 1 Introduction 1 2 The views of Kakadu National Park’s Traditional Owners on climate change 3 S Winderlich 3 Climate change, fire regimes and biodiversity conservation: A national perspective 10 RJ Williams, RA Bradstock, GJ Cary, NJ Enright, AM Gill, AC Liedloff & C Lucas 4 River flow and climate in the ‘top end’ of Australia for the last 1000 years, and the Asian-Australian monsoon 15 RJ Wasson & P Bayliss 5 Climate change and biodiversity conservation: some implications for Kakadu National Park 37 D Bowman 6 Climate change and indigenous communities of the Kakadu region 42 GD Cook & E Woodward 7 The impact of climate change on Australian tourism destinations – developing adaptation and response strategies for the Kakadu/Top End region 47 P Tremblay 8 Bininj (Aboriginal) perspective on climate change 57 D Yibarbuk & P Cooke 9 The potential impacts of climate change on fire and vegetation 60 J Russell-Smith & A Edwards iii 10 Potential impacts of climate change on terrestrial biodiversity 64 S Garnett & JCZ Woinarski, 11 The potential effects of climate change on marine and coastal biodiversity 69 S Whiting & N Smit 12 The potential effects of climate change on wetlands and freshwater aquatic biodiversity 81 MM Douglas & LW Traill 13 Interactions between invasive species and climate change in a Kakadu context and national priorities for their management 86 A Sheppard, T Low & A Glaznig 14 Climate change adaptation: coasts and biodiversity activity at the national level 96 J Morley & L Dovey 15 Effect of extreme events in the Kakadu region 101 D Jones 16 Workshop summaries 111 M Ibbett iv List of participants Name Group Alderson Jessie BOM, KNP, TO Andersen Alan CSIRO Anderson Stephen KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Atkins Sally-Anne KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Baird Fred KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Banggalang Michael BOM, TO Bartolo Renee ERISS Billington Meredith KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Blyth Mary KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Bowman David UTAS Bulkua Basil ERA Butler Peter KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Cahill Paddy KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Cochrane Peter Parks Australia Cook Garry CSIRO Cook Peter Warddeken Cumming Bruce DEWHA Davies Andy KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Davies Christy ERISS Delahunt Anne Marie Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Dettrick David EWLS Douglas Michael CDU Dovey Liz DCC Edwards Andrew NRETAS Ferdinands Keith NRETAS Fordham Billy KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Flores Trish KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Gale Emma DCC Garnett Stephen CDU Gillies Jeff Crocodile Holiday Inn Jabiru Harbour Alan KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Harty Bryan KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Hatt Michelle KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Higgins Michelle DCC Hooke Amber EWLS Houghton Richard ERISS Jones David ERISS Johns Steve KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Katapa Peter WWF PNG Kepui James ERA v Name Group Kerin Sarah KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Koh Jason KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Kokoba Willy WWF PNG Lawson Violet TO Lee Jeff BOM,TO Lindner David Buffalo Farm Mahney Terry KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Manbai Benja WWF Indonesia Markham Joe KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Markham Robbie KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Matson Grant KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch McGregor Sandra Kakadu Native Plants Mellick David WWF PNG Millard Ken KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Milnes Tony ERA Moliere Dene ERISS Morley John DCC Muir Mandy Murdujul Murphy Brett NRETAS Murray Wendy ERISS Nayinggul Jacob BOM,TO Nock Ed ERA Nou Tida KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch O’Dea Anne KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch O’Loughlin Gabrielle KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Palmer Helen KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Pizzey Sarah Parks Strategic Development Section, Parks Australia Puig Philippe EWLS Ramshaw Peter WWF Raphael Lyn DCC Richardson Darren DCC Russell-Smith Jeremy KRAC/NRETAS Salau Buck KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Schiebe Ollie KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Schinkel Hank KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Schmid Thomas WWF PNG Seeliether Kristine KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Sheppard Andy CSIRO Smith Natasha KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Staben Grant ERISS Stuchbury Matt KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Tiernan Brendan CINP vi Name Group Traill Lochran Adelaide University Tremblay Pascal CDU Try Pak Wasur Indonesia Rawlinson Margaret KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Valentine Eric CDU Vanatea Carina ERA Variss Philipa ERA Ward Megan DCC Wasson Bob CDU Waterman Peter USC Wattimena Martinus WWF Indonesia Whiting Scott NRETAS Whittaker Chantal KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Williams Denise BOM, TO Williams Dick CSIRO Winderlich Steve KNP, Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Worboys Patty Parks Operations and Tourism Branch Yibarbuk Dean Warddeken Acknowledgments The climate change symposium was made possible thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated individuals in particular Meredith Billington, Steve Winderlich and Tida Nou of Kakadu National Park; Sarah Pizzey from Parks Australia, and Peter Bayliss and Renée Bartolo from eriss. The staff of the Natural and Cultural Programs unit of Kakadu National Park also played an integral role in the success of the symposium and Ann Webb of the Office of the Supervising Scientist (oss) was instrumental in getting the proceedings together and published. Thanks to Dr Bill Phillips of MainStream Environmental Consulting who contributed as part of the organising committee and also filled the difficult job of facilitator for the symposium. The efforts of this group in pulling together, running the forum and getting the proceedings published are much appreciated. The symposium received significant contributions from the Department of Climate Change and from Energy Resources of Australia Ltd – without these funds the symposium would not have been possible. Thank you also to the management and staff of the Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn where the symposium was held. vii This page has been left blank intentionally. viii 1 Introduction The Climate Change Symposium is the fourth in the series of symposia and workshops being held by Kakadu National Park focusing on agents of landscape change. Previous forums have included a landscape change overview and workshops