Climate Change

The Lachlan Catchment Management Authority has a strong commitment to building the capacity of our catchment community to deal with climate variability in a sustainable way. We strongly believe that in the short term we first must develop and implement resilient land management practices that are both sustainable and profitable in our variable climate. These management techniques will then put our catchment community and our natural resources in an advantageous position as the Climate Change scenarios are played out.

With the current climate modelling and Climate Change predictions’ painting a bleak picture for many in our catchment over the next 30-50 years and beyond, it is now that we must build the capacity and resilience of our remote and rural communities to be able to cope with what may lay ahead. This scenario is not isolated to the Lachlan Catchment but applies to all catchments across NSW and much of Southern Australia.

The LCMA also has a strong commitment to partnerships and collaboration, and realise that without strong partnerships with both Private and Public Sector entities that we will not achieve what we need to achieve to protect and enhance our natural resources to improve our catchments resilience in a variable climate.

Impacts of Climate Change in the Lachlan Catchment

Although average changes in temperature, rainfall and evaporation will have long-term consequences for the catchment, the impacts of climate change are predicted to be felt through extreme weather events. Projections suggest there will be more hot days, bushfires, droughts and intense storms. These can all place human life, property and natural ecosystems at increased risk.

For more information on Impacts of Climate Change in the Lachlan Catchment see:-
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/climatechange/LachlanDetailedFinal.pdf

Adapting to Climate Change

Adaptation is a risk management strategy involving actions to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and take advantage of new opportunities that may arise. The types of adaptation measures adopted will vary from region-to-region. Because some of the decisions we make today will have lasting implications for future climate vulnerability, we must start planning our adaptive responses now. By doing so, we may help to lessen some of the environmental, economic and social costs of climate change.

Some examples of potential adaptation measures relevant to the Lachlan Catchment include:

• Improving water-use efficiency.
• Changing to crops that are more tolerant of heat and drought.
• Changing planting times and practices for crops.
• Providing more shade and cooling for livestock.
• Providing migration corridors for vulnerable animal species.
• Reviewing flood and fire management arrangements.

What’s Happening in the Lachlan Catchment ?

The following activities are currently underway within the Lachlan Catchment with the goal of improving both knowledge about climate variability and change in the catchment, and adaptation options to reduce the catchment’s vulnerability:

The Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has developed a Catchment Action Plan and annual investment plan for improving the condition of natural resources through improved community awareness, education and land management.
The CMA is involved in the development of macro water sharing plans that will govern the extraction and regulation of water based on sustainable yields that consider the economic and environmental constraints of the water source.
The CMA is supporting a number of workshops delivering climate change and variability information sessions within the catchment. In addition, the CMA is developing programs to deliver workshops on climate change and enhancing climate change training for land managers, CMA staff and other stakeholders.
The CMA runs Property Management Planning involving physical property planning, whole farm financial, enterprise evaluation and provides monitoring tools for improved matching of enterprise to land capability, water use efficiency, sustainability and profitability.
The implementation of the Biodiversity and Native Vegetation Program to assist with the improvement of environmental services including the provision of clean air, clean water, mitigation of greenhouse effects, provision of food and habitat for insects, birds and other animals.
The CMA is working with the community to conserve remnant vegetation, revegetate riparian zones and over
cleared landscapes, and encourage the connectivity of the existing large remnants within the catchment.