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Public Acquisition Overlay - Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats Analysis.
Fauna
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In the 1960's the Flinders Shire Council ill conceived a plan for a freeway on the Southern Peninsula some thing that needs to be removed.
Strengths.
Biodiversity.
Biodiversity is put simply, OUR PLANET, an incredible, finely tuned and complex machine where everything, including plants, animals and environments, all work together in harmony creating the web of life.
So where do wetlands like the Tootgarook Swamp fit into this web?
Well amazingly right at the very top. They are considered the most biologically diverse of all the planets ecosystems, the cradle of species diversity. Nevertheless despite this wetlands are still being destroyed at an alarming rate.
You might wonder, will the loss of a few wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp really make much difference?
Well, biodiversity is a complex fragile structure. It may be helpful to think of the ecosystem as a woven carpet, if you pull on a loose thread it might only affect the thread and those closest to it, or it might unravel the whole carpet. Wetlands are threads keeping the ecosystem carpet together and as we pull out more wetland threads the ecosystem begins to unravel causing lots of problems.
Strengths.
Biodiversity.
Biodiversity is put simply, OUR PLANET, an incredible, finely tuned and complex machine where everything, including plants, animals and environments, all work together in harmony creating the web of life.
So where do wetlands like the Tootgarook Swamp fit into this web?
Well amazingly right at the very top. They are considered the most biologically diverse of all the planets ecosystems, the cradle of species diversity. Nevertheless despite this wetlands are still being destroyed at an alarming rate.
You might wonder, will the loss of a few wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp really make much difference?
Well, biodiversity is a complex fragile structure. It may be helpful to think of the ecosystem as a woven carpet, if you pull on a loose thread it might only affect the thread and those closest to it, or it might unravel the whole carpet. Wetlands are threads keeping the ecosystem carpet together and as we pull out more wetland threads the ecosystem begins to unravel causing lots of problems.
Weaknesses.
As mentioned before, wetlands are described as the interface between land and marine ecosystems and are known as the cradle of diversity.
No two wetlands can be the same as they will not have the same conditions. There are many ingredients that add to these conditions, like the PH or alkalinity of water, soil types, climate, land shape, geology, water seasonality, atmospheric precipitation cycle, hydrology, and salinity. All these ingredients combine in many different ways to create a unique genetic diversity seen only in wetland environments and specially balanced and suited to the species that inhabit it.
As mentioned before, wetlands are described as the interface between land and marine ecosystems and are known as the cradle of diversity.
No two wetlands can be the same as they will not have the same conditions. There are many ingredients that add to these conditions, like the PH or alkalinity of water, soil types, climate, land shape, geology, water seasonality, atmospheric precipitation cycle, hydrology, and salinity. All these ingredients combine in many different ways to create a unique genetic diversity seen only in wetland environments and specially balanced and suited to the species that inhabit it.
Opportunities.
High biodiversity indicates a healthy ecosystem, whilst low biodiversity indicates an ecosystem which is stressed or highly disturbed.
The higher the diversity the better the chances for survival. Species need a variety of genes to ensure successful survival. Without this, the chances of extinction increases and the loss of a species will have flow on effects to other plants and animals who rely on each other for survival.
A healthy biodiverse wetland will include lots of species of plants and animals which all work in harmony together as a team to create a balanced healthy ecosystem.
A healthy biodiverse ecosystem in wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp provide a number of benefits. These benefits are known as ecosystem services.
High biodiversity indicates a healthy ecosystem, whilst low biodiversity indicates an ecosystem which is stressed or highly disturbed.
The higher the diversity the better the chances for survival. Species need a variety of genes to ensure successful survival. Without this, the chances of extinction increases and the loss of a species will have flow on effects to other plants and animals who rely on each other for survival.
A healthy biodiverse wetland will include lots of species of plants and animals which all work in harmony together as a team to create a balanced healthy ecosystem.
A healthy biodiverse ecosystem in wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp provide a number of benefits. These benefits are known as ecosystem services.
Threats.
The Tootgarook swamp plays a key role on the Nepean Peninsula, with advantages including;
The way management of a wetland is handled is a perfect example of how your activities can have benefits at local, countrywide and international levels.
The Tootgarook swamp plays a key role on the Nepean Peninsula, with advantages including;
- Protection of water resources, collection and re-release of water over time, enabling recovery from unpredictable events and safeguarding the landscape against severe heat and cold, as well as drought.
- Act like sponges (especially wetlands with peaty soil) to buffer against the impact of floods.
- Pollution breakdown and absorption; filtering and trapping sediments and recycling nutrients.
- Soils formation and protection.
- Helps recharge the aquifer by trapping excess surface water and displaying the aquifers health.
- Help mitigate climate change by contributing to climate stability and carbon dioxide storage.
- Reduce weed invasion through inundation.
- Life support processes such as pollination and water purification.
- Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems.
- Provides a vital food, breeding and habitat source for over 130 species of birds, and many other mammals, reptiles, fish, frogs and insects.
- Aid in local food production.
- Recreation and tourism.
- Life fulfilling conditions such as beauty and serenity.
- Provide economic benefits, through the marketing of wetland ecosystem services. (The benefits of ecosystem services may be underestimated as future research may reveal more valuable scientific research over time).
- Cultural, spiritual, and religious value bequests.
The way management of a wetland is handled is a perfect example of how your activities can have benefits at local, countrywide and international levels.
That is quite a lot of services we get for free!
The cost of replacing these ecosystem services (if possible) would be extremely expensive.
Costs for constructing wetlands can vary greatly depending on the configuration, topography, location, site specific condition (including hydrogeology, soil, temporal patterns and seasonal temperature variations), volumes, flow rate and pollutant removal targets.
There is little available cost data for constructed wetlands. Typical construction costs presented in Weber (2002)[2], cited in Taylor and Wong (2002)[3] and based on examples, range from approximately $500 000 to $750 000 per wetland hectare.[4] The two key variables behind the construction costs are the extent of earthworks required and the types and extent of vegetation, also some indigenous vegetation is not replaceable or even obtainable for planting, meaning that no constructed wetland will ever have the ability to function as an original natural wetland system. The ability to construct an ecological vegetation community without some of these specific plants is then unobtainable, resulting then in lost biodiversity. For example the constructed wetland may lack a certain feature that encourages a particular animal, plant or organism that plays a role in balancing the wetland, it is also the reason why habitat removal is biodiversity’s greatest threat.
The Centre for Watershed Protection (1998)[5], Webber (2001) [6] and United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001)[7], cited in Taylor (2005)[8], reported annual maintenance costs of approximately 2% of construction costs[9]
These maintenance costs usually involve many ongoing issues of a biological nature, with the most vital biological issues related to plant nutrient levels (from excessive nutrient runoff) to avoid the unwarranted possible causes of eutrophication increasing algal toxins such as blue-green algae, non-balanced insect control (especially of those species which serve as paths of arboviral and other human diseases), and controlling the growth of noxious plant and animal species (often including exotic species from garden escapes).
The nature and severity of these issues varies geographically, and also hydro-logically though in all cases there remains a need for ongoing wetland management that includes preventive measures, monitoring and corrective activities to guarantee that perceived wetland values continue to be maintained.
Unfortunately, activities of this sort are often assigned a lower priority than is required for effective management; it is easier to obtain short-term capital funding for projects of clear community benefit and visible political advantage than it is to obtain long-term recurrent costs for proper maintenance of a wetland.[10]
It therefore makes more economic and development sense to protect our wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp (Figure 13) so they can continue to provide for us and the planet for generations to come, and avoid long term hidden costs that result from the loss of our ecosystem services.
The cost of replacing these ecosystem services (if possible) would be extremely expensive.
Costs for constructing wetlands can vary greatly depending on the configuration, topography, location, site specific condition (including hydrogeology, soil, temporal patterns and seasonal temperature variations), volumes, flow rate and pollutant removal targets.
There is little available cost data for constructed wetlands. Typical construction costs presented in Weber (2002)[2], cited in Taylor and Wong (2002)[3] and based on examples, range from approximately $500 000 to $750 000 per wetland hectare.[4] The two key variables behind the construction costs are the extent of earthworks required and the types and extent of vegetation, also some indigenous vegetation is not replaceable or even obtainable for planting, meaning that no constructed wetland will ever have the ability to function as an original natural wetland system. The ability to construct an ecological vegetation community without some of these specific plants is then unobtainable, resulting then in lost biodiversity. For example the constructed wetland may lack a certain feature that encourages a particular animal, plant or organism that plays a role in balancing the wetland, it is also the reason why habitat removal is biodiversity’s greatest threat.
The Centre for Watershed Protection (1998)[5], Webber (2001) [6] and United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001)[7], cited in Taylor (2005)[8], reported annual maintenance costs of approximately 2% of construction costs[9]
These maintenance costs usually involve many ongoing issues of a biological nature, with the most vital biological issues related to plant nutrient levels (from excessive nutrient runoff) to avoid the unwarranted possible causes of eutrophication increasing algal toxins such as blue-green algae, non-balanced insect control (especially of those species which serve as paths of arboviral and other human diseases), and controlling the growth of noxious plant and animal species (often including exotic species from garden escapes).
The nature and severity of these issues varies geographically, and also hydro-logically though in all cases there remains a need for ongoing wetland management that includes preventive measures, monitoring and corrective activities to guarantee that perceived wetland values continue to be maintained.
Unfortunately, activities of this sort are often assigned a lower priority than is required for effective management; it is easier to obtain short-term capital funding for projects of clear community benefit and visible political advantage than it is to obtain long-term recurrent costs for proper maintenance of a wetland.[10]
It therefore makes more economic and development sense to protect our wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp (Figure 13) so they can continue to provide for us and the planet for generations to come, and avoid long term hidden costs that result from the loss of our ecosystem services.
[1] International Peat Society – Functions of Peatlands.
[2] Webber, T. 2001 and 2002, Tony Weber, Senior Waterways Program Officer (Water Quality), Brisbane City Council, Queensland, personal communication; not seen, cited in Taylor and Wong (2002).
[3] Taylor, A.C. and Wong T.H.F. 2002, Non-structural Stormwater Quality Best Management Practices – a literature review of their value and life cycle costs, Technical Report 02/13, Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Melbourne, Victoria.
[4] http://www.water.wa.gov.au/PublicationStore/first/84992.pdf WA Water.
[5] Center for Watershed Protection 1998, Costs and Benefits of Storm Water BMPs: final report, Center for Watershed Protection, Elliot City, Maryland, United States of America; not seen, cited in United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001).
[6] Webber, T. 2001 and 2002, Tony Weber, Senior Waterways Program Officer (Water Quality), Brisbane City Council, Queensland, personal communication; not seen, cited in Taylor and Wong (2002).
[7] United States Environmental Protection Agency 2001, National Menu of Best Management Practices for Storm Water Phase II. United States Environmental Protection Agency on-line guideline available via http://www.epa.gov/npdes/menuofbmps/menu.htm
[8] Taylor, A.C. 2005, Structural Stormwater Quality BMP Cost/Size Relationship Information from the Literature (Version 3), Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Melbourne, Victoria.
[9] http://www.water.wa.gov.au/PublicationStore/first/84992.pdf WA Water.
[10] http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/abs.html#constructed Department of Environment.
