NSW National Parks and Wildlife, Blue Mountains City Council and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute have joined forces in the development of a research agenda designed to address the key threats to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. We aim to be leaders in the effective and inclusive management of protected areas.
Background
The Greater Blue Mountains Area (GBMA) is the largest integrated system of protected areas in New South Wales, inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2000 for two natural World Heritage criteria: the outstanding representation of eucalypts, and the remarkable diversity of habitats and plant communities that foster globally significant species and ecosystems. The exceptional biodiversity values are complemented by other significant values including Aboriginal cultural heritage and relationships, post-European-settlement cultural values, geodiversity, water systems, wilderness, recreation and natural beauty.
However the area faces unique challenges. Geographically, it straddles the transition zone from Sydney's urban coastal region to the agricultural landscape west of the mountains. The site faces multiple internal and peripheral land uses, including providing ecosystem services to Greater Sydney. The Blue Mountains is the primary catchment for Sydney’s drinking water, and a popular tourist destination for residents and visitors. The encroachment of urbanisation poses a constant threat. A corridor of townships, home to a population of 80,000 and comprising local government and privately-owned land, divides the northern and southern sections of the World Heritage site. This fragmentation disrupts wildlife pathways and causes habitat degradation.
A shared commitment to protect
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute (BMWHI) are working on a shared research agenda designed to address the vulnerability of the site and focus on building ecosystem resilience in the face of multiple pressures such as Climate Change, Fire and Biodiversity Loss. This research agenda reflects a shared commitment to better manage, protect and promote the natural and cultural values of the Greater Blue Mountains through collaborative research that builds and integrates multiple knowledge bases and enables adaptive management.
Purpose of a shared research program
Our shared goal is to design and implement a strategic research program that supports effective planning and management of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Our research program will underpin adaptive management implemented by all relevant agencies, so collectively we protect the natural and cultural values, and associated socio-economic use of the site. We aim to provide a model for collaborative research and management with insights that can be shared globally.
Our strategic research program will:
Identify and build an understanding of key threats and risk mitigation.
Support better decision-making systems and evidence-based interventions.
Ensure effective monitoring of OUVs, predictive modelling of impacts, and guiding responses to threats.
Support reporting on trends and conditions of OUVs.
Inform design and implementation of effective statutory protection and planning instruments.
Enable prioritising, planning and evaluation of management actions.
Inform strategies to enhance ecological resilience in key areas and support adaptation to change.
Enable local community engagement through informed local stewardship.
The priorities of the research program will address the unique challenges and opportunities of the GBMA associated with:
Its geographical transition between the coast, the mountains and the plains.
Impacts and risks from surrounding land-use.
Impacts of urban expansion both internally and adjacent and the site’s provision of ecological services to Australia’s largest urban centre.
Increasing visitor numbers.
Importance to seasonal migrating species.
Opportunities to integrate a deep resource of local and First Nations knowledges into management
Core Research themes
First Nations knowledge and Traditional Custodian partnerships
We aim to create a model of integrated management for the GBMA with its First Nations custodians supported by their cultural knowledge of the region. We appreciate the profound cultural relationship and obligation of First Nations Peoples to care for Country and aim to learn from this and ultimately develop an inclusive and intergenerational approach to management of GBMA and its surrounds.
Climate change
Processes of change and adaptation are better understood, and predictive modelling is used to inform interventions such as translocation or other support for species and ecosystems adaptation. Innovative management strategies provide safe havens and augment populations. The climate change theme intersects strongly with the themes of fire, natural values and invasive species.
Fire
World Heritage values are recognised and protected as intergenerational assets. Research informs agile management in bushfire risk analysis and mitigation with improved management tools and practices to protect World Heritage values, life and property.
Invasive species
Improved prediction and measuring of impacts, prevention where possible by controlling vectors across boundaries, informed decision-making leading to more targeted control. An integrated multi-species and ecosystem approach is taken to manage invasive species.
Biodiversity and other natural values
Natural values are safeguarded and enhanced. This includes biodiversity, geodiversity, air, water and wilderness. Species and ecosystem resilience is enhanced, impacts from localised and pervasive threats are managed and innovative responses to identified needs such as creating safe havens.
Socio-political context
The full social and political dimensions of the GBMA and its management are understood with a view to expanding a collective stewardship model across all relevant jurisdictions, levels of government and wider community.
Adjacent land use
Adjacent land use is managed and regulated to protect World Heritage and other values. Research to evaluate broader trends and cumulative impacts supports adaptive and collaborative planning and management systems that contribute to sustainable development.
Visitors
Visitation is managed to enhance visitor experiences, minimise visitor impacts and protect World Heritage and other values. Visitor experience helps to sustain World Heritage values through an engaged and informed community that has a deep understanding and drive to protect the GBMA.
Aligned with research themes, partners have agreed on management outcomes, research focus areas and priority research questions in a Research Prospectus.
We invite governments, universities, businesses, philanthropists and other interested parties to engage with us on the implementation of this research agenda to help address critical knowledge gaps across the natural, cultural and socio-political spectrum to protect and enhance the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
If you are interested in partnering or hearing more about the key agency collaboration please contact ceo@bmwhi.org.au