Terrestrial Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network

"This document is a summary of the key issues for policymakers derived from a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to the impacts of climate change. The assessment was commissioned by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC). It was undertaken by an independent Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Will Steffen from the ANU, reporting to the Department of Climate Change.

This is the first such national assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to climate change.

The assessment’s main focus is on terrestrial biodiversity. This is partly because there has been a recent analysis of the impacts of climate change on marine biodiversity generally1 (and the Great Barrier Reef in particular2); and partly because there is relatively little research to date on the consequences of climate change for freshwater biodiversity. Work is now underway to provide a preliminary assessment of implications for high conservation value freshwater systems..."

Prepared for the Australian Government by the Biodiversity and Climate Change Expert Advisory Group: Will Steffen, Andrew Burbidge, Lesley Hughes, Roger Kitching, Davind Lindenmayer, Warren Musgrave, Mark Stafford Smith and Patricia Werner - Published by the Department of Climate Change

Biodiversity Vulnerability Assessment Summary for Policy Makers