Corangamite CMA Climate Change Response

Native plants and animals

It is expected that climate change will impact the region’s native vegetation, for example loss of plant species because of higher temperature and lower rainfall, changes to natural fire and flooding regimes and climatic conditions favouring new and established weed species.

Many flora and fauna species have evolved over thousands of years and may not have the ability to adapt to what will be a rapidly changing climate. A climate that is hotter and drier will lead to other indirect impacts such as changes to natural fire and flooding regimes.

Our native vegetation will play a significant role in climate change mitigation, through its role in carbon sequestration but also in helping our landscapes become more resilient to climate change. We need to help flora and fauna populations adapt to a changing climate, as well as create more climate adaptive landscapes.

Waterways

The region’s waterways are expected to be impacted through projected increases in temperature and overall decrease in rainfall. However, extreme rainfall events will also mean more frequent flooding. On top of this, many of our waterways have undergone decades of stress and it is expected that waterways such as the Moorabool, Leigh and waterways along the Otway Coast will suffer the greatest.

Climate change will impact both the region’s extent and quality of wetlands. A reduction in the frequency and duration of rainfall events, combined with an increase in the duration of drier periods will lead to the drying of shallow wetlands.

Estuaries and coasts

Projected sea level rise, temperature increase, reduction in rainfall and an increase in extreme natural events (i.e. flooding) are all expected to impact the ecology and dynamics of the region’s estuaries. Existing threats, such as acidification, changes to natural estuary openings and nutrient levels may also be exaggerated by the indirect impacts of climate change.

Sea level rise will impact the region’s 175km of coastline with increasing inundation and erosion as well as direct impacts on coastal habitats and biodiversity. Projected increases in storm surges will also directly impact many of the region’s coastal assets. Coastal habitats such as seagrass meadows and mangrove communities also play a significant role in carbon sequestration and must be protected.

Land use and soils

Hotter and drier conditions will reduce the viability of some traditional crops and pasture systems, meaning many farms will have to change their products and approaches. Those changes include a shift toward drought-tolerant crops, changed grazing patterns, or shifting from grazing to cropping (or vice versa). On reserves and other public land, historical vegetation types may no longer thrive and climate adapted planting or even managed change in ecological type may be necessary to support forests, woodlands and grasslands to persist. Future climate conditions are also likely to favour some of our most invasive weeds and pest animals, putting greater pressure on control options.

Higher temperatures and reduced rainfall will lead to lower soil moisture, affecting plant growth and increasing erosion risk. More intense rainfall events and dry spells will cause more significant soil erosion, especially on slopes and degraded lands, and slower groundwater recharge may increase dryland salinity in vulnerable areas, which combined poses risks to agricultural productivity and waterway health alike.

• Barwon South West Climate Alliance. A regional partnership working to increase effective climate adaptation, reduce the risks and impacts of climate change, share knowledge and experience, and to co-ordinate a range of mutually beneficial climate adaptation and mitigation projects.
• The Barwon South West Carbon Offset Program. A joint initiative to support the region’s Councils to offset their carbon emissions locally, through aligning carbon offsets with local natural resource management outcomes coordinated by the region’s two CMAs (Corangamite and Glenelg Hopkins).
• Moorabool River Environmental Flows. Developing and negotiating better environmental flows for the Moorabool River and its tributaries
• Bunanyung Landscape Alliance – Biolink Project. Working with the community and landholders to link the landscapes through strategic biolinks to support native fauna between Enfield and Wombat State Forests

• Blue Carbon Projects. Ongoing coastal wetlands projects (including Karaaf) that align with blue carbon offset opportunities.
• Teal Carbon Projects. Research to quantify carbon offset opportunities at the western District Lakes and Farm Dams, through future teal carbon methodologies
• Soil Carbon Projects. Linking carbon offset markets with soil management outcomes, a partnership project between Landcare and the carbon market industry
• Diverse Farms Resilient Catchments Project. Tailored education programs that support farmers to increase their biological diversity and resilience on farms, in communities and across the landscape
• Testing the Waters Project. Empowering farmers and landowners to make their farms and dams more resilient in a changing climate
• Adaptation Pathways. Developing adaptation strategies for the region’s most impacted natural asset, the Western District Lakes, under climate change