Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment - Ecological program
The geographical area being considered by the Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment includes a large proportion of Australia's intact rivers and wetlands, rainforests, eucalypt savannas and native grasslands. The objectives of the assessment's Ecological program are to:
- Understand the key water-dependent ecological assets across northern Australia
- Identify key high conservation value aquatic ecosystems across northern Australia
- Pinpoint those ecological assets most at risk from hydrological changes which might occur as a result of climate change, future development or other factors
Yellow Water Lagoon in Kakadu National Park, NT.
John Baker and DEWHA
For those key assets identified to be most at risk, the Ecological program will:
- Describe the surface- and ground-water regimes and ecological processes of the key ecological assets
- Assess the likely impacts (including cumulative) of possible development and climate change on the key ecological assets using, where relevant, information from the Water Resources program and other water planning processes and scenarios
- Identify thresholds of ecological concern for these assets and, where relevant, a framework for monitoring and reporting change against those thresholds
The outputs from the Ecological program will be integrated with those from the Water Resources and Cultural and Social programs in the Knowledge Base, to be useful to decision-makers. The outcomes of this program will also inform broader natural resource management issues in the north.
Assessment news
An initial review of existing ecological research initiatives and water planning processes across northern Australia was completed in April 2009. This review was undertaken to ensure the assessment doesn't duplicate existing or in-progress work.
For more information about the outcomes of the review see:
The outcomes of the review, along with additional requirements identified by the Aquatic Ecosystem Task Group (AETG), will form the basis of the next research project under the Ecological Program. This project is expected to commence in July 2009.
Contact us
For further queries or to receive updates, email northern.assessment@environment.gov.au or phone 02 6274 1111.
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