Water for a Healthy Country Update


Science challenges in the Great Barrier Reef catchment The science challenges facing the catchment of one of the world's most recognized areas, the 2000km-long Great Barrier Reef (GBR), have been explored in a report by CSIRO Flagship Fellow Dr Robert Ferrier. Dr Ferrier undertook an independent and expert view on science challenges facing the GBR catchment as a Fellowship under the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship. The challenges are great. The GBR contains the world's largest marine protected area. Runoff into the GBR lagoon comes from 423,000 square kilometres of mainly grazing and cropping land where savannah, woodlands and forest have been cleared or thinned, and significant areas of wetlands have been lost. Export of nitrogen and phosphorus is high and increased hillslope erosion rates have resulted in increased nutrient and sediment loads reaching and influencing inner shelf reef and benthic ecosystems. These pollutants are generated from diffuse sources and evidence from other areas suggests that by the time their widespread effects are identified, the reef systems will be irreversibly damaged. Dr Ferrier's report says remediation needs to focus on land stewardship over large spatial scales and must address actions of individual citizens as well as private and public entities. His report calls for a systems approach to reef catchment science that represents sources and sinks of pollutants and is constrained only by boundaries relevant to the point of impact. "The key science challenge is to provide a solid platform for policy development and implementation," says his report summary. Dr Ferrier leads the Catchment Management Group at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland, which is the United Kingdom's leading land use research institute. His research program focuses on the hydrological, and hydrochemical consequences of environmental change and subsequent impacts on ecological. The research group links biophysical and ecological scientists with social scientists and economists to deliver a holistic approach to catchment management, and provide an evidence base for policy development and support. Flagship Visiting Fellowships were initiated to enable distinguished researchers to work with the CSIRO-led National Research Flagship program as part of the federal government's $97 million Flagship Collaboration Fund. Read the full report Ferrier R. 2007. Science challenges to support diffuse pollution management in the Great Barrier Reef. CSIRO Flagship Fellow Report. Water for a Healthy Country. 54 pp. or the summary. Contact: Mike Grundy, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship		IN THIS EDITION: Update Home Message from the Director Major collaboration aims to improve energy efficient water desalination Water Research Alliance for South-East Queensland Greenhouse gases cut WA rainfall Climate impacts on water security investigated for regional NSW New study predicts the impact of forests on water Valuing Recreation in the Murray Science challenges in the Great Barrier Reef catchment WATER RESOURCES: Quenching Data Thirst the First Step to Water Security New sensor technology advances Australia's water management Publications Conferences About this email Meet some scientists from the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Meet Dr Sébastien Lamontagne Meet Manh Hoang EARLIER UPDATES December 2006 April 2006 September 2005 April 2005 November 2004
The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.
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Water for a Healthy Country Flagship CSIRO Editor: Leane Regan CSIRO Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, ACT, 2601 Phone: +61 2 6246 4565 Fax: +61 2 6246 5560 editor.healthycountry@csiro.au www.csiro.au/healthycountry/	To Subscribe to this electronic newsletter enter your email address and click Subscribe.


June 2007	National Research Flagship	Water For A Healthy Country