Changing with our climate
MEDIA RELEASE
22 October 2009
CHANGING WITH OUR CLIMATE
On this, the world’s driest continent, climate change is threatening to end life as we know it in the bush.
There is no doubt that Australia’s climate is changing. Bureau of Meteorology records confirm that temperatures are increasing, and that rainfall is more variable in where and when it falls, and is declining drastically in most parts of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. The number of extreme events has also increased significantly.
There are huge challenges looming for the rural industry, but there are also opportunities. Just what those challenges are and how we deal with them, while making the most of the opportunities, will be the subject of an open forum in Longreach.
The Climate Change Adaptation Forum is being held on Thursday the 12th of November at the Agricultural College Auditorium, and will feature highly qualified and experienced speakers according to organizer, Colleen James of Desert Channels Queensland.
“It’s not often you’ll get as many expert speakers with the practical knowledge and ability to get information across in everyday language,” says Ms James.
“This forum is a rare chance for graziers across the region to talk to the experts and get specific information on what climate change means for their industry, and how they can adapt and take advantage of opportunities.”
Speakers include Emeritus Professor Bob Miles of Central Queensland University on the implications and risks to the pastoral sector and explores some of the ways forward; Queensland Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries Senior Scientist Dr Steven Bray on a greenhouse impact comparison of grazing versus destocking, discussing the tradeoffs in relation to livestock methane emissions reduction versus greater burning emissions; the CSIRO’s Dr Ed Charmley on reducing methane emissions while improving your bottom line; Tony Lovell of Soil Carbon Research, Bond University on using soil carbon to address biodiversity loss, build eco-system resilience, and help reverse desertification; and Alan Lauder, author of ‘Carbon Grazing - The Missing Link’ on reducing the impact of an increasingly variable climate.
The Climate Change Adaptation Forum is an initiative of Desert Channels Queensland working with the Cooper’s Creek and Georgina Diamantina catchment committees and is funded by the Queensland Government and the Blueprint for the Bush Program.
For more information please contact Colleen James at Desert Channels Queensland on 07 4658 0600 or check out our web page: www.dcq.org.au.
ENDS
