IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT A report to the DEPARTMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE and the DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WATER, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS. Prepared by The Australian National University The Australian National University cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party. Image Credits Cover 1 Subtropical rainforest in Lamington National Park, Paul Candlin and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 2 Indigenous Rock Art site, Tom Smith and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 3 King Penguins on Heard Island, G. Budd and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 4 Dugongs, Lochman Transparencies. Title Pages p.1 Leura Cascades Blue Mountains National Park, Mark Mohell and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. p.43 Royal Penguins at The Nugget, Macquarie Island, Noel Carmichael and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 ISBN: [978-0-9806342-0-4] Format: Paperback Publication Date: 12/2008 Recommended Retail Price: $0.00 This report is also available online at <www.environment.gov.au>. ISBN: [978-0-9806342-2-8] Format: Online Publication Date: 12/2008 Recommended Retail Price: $0.00 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 Commonwealth, available from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: Assistant Secretary International Heritage and Policy Branch Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for Climate Change and Water and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Note on the names of departments referenced in this report Name changes to the Australian Government’s environment department have occurred over the past several years. This report refers to: • The Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH)—former name • The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)—current name • The Department of Climate Change—current name (part of which was formerly the Australian Greenhouse Office in DEH) Citation The report should be cited as: Australian National University (2009) Implications of climate change for Australia’s World Heritage properties: A preliminary assessment. A report to the Department of Climate Change and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by the Fenner School of Environment and Society, the Australian National University. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society thanks the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for the opportunity to undertake this project. We particularly acknowledge the cooperation, engagement, feedback and contributions made by Liz Dovey, Anna van Dugteren and Anne-Marie Wilson from the Department of Climate Change and Bruce Wellington, Ken Heffernan, Veronica Blazely, Madeleine Maple and Megan Smith from the Heritage Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. We also wish to acknowledge the contributions made by Lance Heath, Will Steffen and Bruce Arnold of the ANU Climate Change Institute (formerly the ANU Institute for Environment). Many people contributed to this project and report through discussions, comments on early drafts and provision of written material. Comments and contributions on the World Heritage properties were received from Tony Auld, Jane Balmer, Linda Beaumont, Dana Bergstrom, Corey Bradshaw, Ross Bradstock, Dick Braithwaite, Adam Britton, Virginia Chadwick, Bob Conroy, Bart Currie, John Day, Michael Driessen, Max Finlayson, Marc Hockings, David Hilbert, Angela Hill, Harry Hines, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Ian Houshold, Lesley Hughes, John Hunter, Stephen Goosem, Kate Hammill, David Jones, Kate Kiefer, Karen King, Roger Kitching, Adam Leavesley, W J F McDonald, Michael Mahony, Paul Marshall, John Merson, Joe Morrison, Bronwyn Ness, Peter Ogilvie, Michael Pemberton, David Priddel, Sarah Pizzey, Lynda Prior, Don Sands, Peter Sharp, Stephen Swearer, Ray Tonkin, Paul Tregoning, Steve Turton, Peter Waterman, Ian White and Eric Woehler. Apologies if anyone has been missed. We are very appreciative of all your contributions. iii IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT iv PREFACE BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT World Heritage properties are important to all people and have a universal value that transcends national boundaries. Australia’s 17 World Heritage properties include the largest World Heritage property, the Great Barrier Reef, extensive natural and Indigenous places like Kakadu National Park, isolated marine and terrestrial areas such as Macquarie Island, and Sydney Opera House, an architectural masterpiece. Climate changes such as sea level rise, reduced rainfall and higher temperatures are expected to threaten the resilience of our World Heritage properties, exacerbating issues such as habitat loss and degradation, spread of invasive species and changing fire regimes. Committed to protecting the values of Australia’s World Heritage properties, in 2006 the Australian Government asked the Australian National University to assess the exposure, potential impacts, vulnerability and adaptive capacity of our World Heritage properties to climate change and to identify major knowledge gaps. This resulting report will inform management plans and government policy on World Heritage and climate change adaptation into the future. Some of our World Heritage properties have already embarked on far-sighted initiatives to manage the effects of climate change. For example, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has completed a detailed vulnerability assessment and is implementing an $8.9 million Climate Change Action Plan, and a $200 million Reef Rescue Plan, funded by the Australian Government. A range of other Australian Government and intergovernmental studies and initiatives are contributing to our understanding of the risks posed to biodiversity and natural landscapes from climate change. The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework is the basis for government action on adaptation over the next five to seven years, and it includes actions to assist the most vulnerable sectors and regions of the country. $126 million has been provided towards the implementation of the framework, including the establishment of a Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, which will lead Australia’s researchers in generating robust biophysical, social and economic information that decision makers need to manage the risk of climate change. One of the first countries to ratify the World Heritage Convention in 1974, Australia is committed to helping other countries protect World Heritage. Keen to share our skills and experience on World Heritage and climate change, in 2007 we provided significant input and guidance on the World Heritage Convention’s Climate Change Policy. Our election to the World Heritage Committee in 2007 for a four-year term provides further opportunities for collaboration. v IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT vi CONTENTS Acknowledgements iii Preface by the Australian Government v Executive summary xi PART 1—SYNTHESIS OF IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES 1 1. Introduction 3 1.1 Scope of the report 3 1.2 What is a World Heritage property? 4 1.3 Climate change scenarios for 2030 7 2. Important aspects of climate change for World Heritage properties 9 2.1 Australian impacts 9 3. Summary of potential impacts of climate change on Australia’s World Heritage properties and values 21 3.1 Potential impacts on natural heritage values 21 3.2 Potential impacts on cultural heritage values 27 4. Flow-on effects for industry and society 31 5. Adaptation to impacts 33 6. Key findings and recommendations 35 6.1 Opportunities for mitigation 35 6.2 Adaptation and management 35 6.3 Creating and sharing knowledge 36 7. Bibliography—Executive Summary and Part 1 39 PART 2—SYNTHESIS OF IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR EACH OF AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES 43 8. Climate change impacts on Australia’s World Heritage properties 45 8.1 Kakadu National Park 45 8.2 Great Barrier Reef 53 8.3 Willandra Lakes Region 65 8.4 Lord Howe Island Group 70 8.5 Tasmanian Wilderness 79 8.6 Gondwana Rainforests of Australia 95 8.7 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 103 8.8 Wet Tropics of Queensland 106 8.9 Shark Bay, Western Australia 119 8.10 Fraser Island 125 8.11 Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte) 130 8.12 Heard and McDonald Islands 133 8.13 Macquarie Island 140 8.14 Greater Blue Mountains Area 146 8.15 Purnululu National Park 153 8.16 Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens 157 8.17 Sydney Opera House 161 vii IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S