Example 1
Reserve design in Northern Territory
Introduction
Much of northern Australia is biologically unknown compared
with eastern and southern Australia, and less than 0.2% of the Northern
Territory landscape has been substantially modified, compared with
between 32-69% in other Australian states. This provides a unique
opportunity to assess the flora and fauna communities that are likely
to be similar to pre-European occupation of the area. With increasing
economic development, there is a need to document the biological
diversity and to monitor changes in the environment in relation
to increasing land-use pressures.
Description of project
A comprehensive database of all biological records of plants
and animals was established for the whole of the Northern Territory.
This included data from a wide range of sources including formal
surveys, museum records, journal articles and anecdotal observations.
Mathematical models and software have been developed using existing
records. Modelling is then used to work out the reserve system that
would protect the maximum amount of biodiversity in the Northern
Territory. This required an analysis of the representativeness of
the existing national park system. A benchmark was set for the reservation
of 5% of all classes (i.e. vegetation types).
A mathematical model and software were developed (see weblinks
below for links to software) to discover the most effective and
cost-efficient method of prioritising areas to be included into
the national park system.
Outcome of project
The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory,
through their Parks Master Plan, adopted the findings of this research.
Without fauna and flora surveys, this systematic assessment would
have been impossible. The surveys done in the past, along with historical
information, provided the basis for such a process. Reserve selection
in the past had been done in a much more ad hoc manner.
For more information
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Recommended readings
Price, O., Woinarski, J.C.Z., Liddle, D. & Russell-Smith,
J. (1995). Patterns of species composition and reserve design
for a fragmented estate: monsoon rainforests in the Northern
Territory. Biological Conservation 74:9-19.
Woinarski, J.C.Z., Price, O. & Faith, D. (1996). Application
of a taxon priority system for conservation planning by selecting
areas which are most distinct from environments already reserved.
Biological Conservation 76: 147-159.
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weblinks
1.http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/
protecte/nrs/nrsindex.htm
Home page for the National Reserve System Program of Environment
Australia. Outline of all the projects currently funded by
the program. A good overview of an enormous scope in developing
a cohesive approach to national parks across Australia.
2.
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mbedward/
coda/coda.html
Home page of the software designer for the design of the national
park reserve system in the Northern Territory.
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