Community members needed to collaborate. For more information visit.
Community adaptation to worsening droughts and floods in the CLLMM
Project Lead: Neville Crossman (Flinders University)
Project Team: John Kandulu (Flinders University), Lia Bryant, Doreen Donovan, Bridget McFarland (University of South Australia), Kerri Muller (AU2100), Mike Dunlop, Nicky Grigg (CSIRO)
Project overview
Increased frequency and intensity of floods and droughts under climate change threaten the ecosystem services which underpin community livelihoods. These services are of significant social, cultural and economic value. Examples include recreation and tourism activities, provision of fresh water for consumption and agriculture, cultural and spiritual pursuits, and amenities related to biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
More intense and frequent droughts and floods will compromise the local ecosystem’s ability to continue supplying and supporting these services. Consequently, they threaten community well-being and lifestyles. However, the extent of the impact and how communities can respond remains unknown.
This project will collaborate with CLLMM communities in planning adaptation responses to the impacts of increased drought and flooding in the region due to climate change.
This project has two main objectives:
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Understanding the risks to the values of the main ecosystem services in the CLLMM from worsening droughts and floods under several climate change scenarios. This involves applying economic valuation tools to estimate the incremental changes between the different scenarios.
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Partnering with local CLLMM communities using creative methods to document how communities adapt to worsening droughts and floods under climate change. This participatory action research will be a two-way learning experience: the research team will
better understand community adaptation and response potentials, and communities will better understand the risks posed by climate change-induced floods and droughts, and their options in response.
A cross-disciplinary team from economics, social sciences, and cultural and creative industries will be assembled to meet these objectives.
This project will be delivered in partnership with communities, including First Nations, farmers, local governments, conservation groups and business leaders through targeted workshops.
Understanding the future threats to the values associated with ecosystems and their services, and the adaptation options communities desire will help ecosystem managers design protection and restoration activities that are most supported by communities.
First Nations culture and traditions are rooted within an ancient historical connection with country and countless generations of studying their local environment as a way of life. First Nations traditional ways of life, including land and water management, sustainable harvesting, and the conservation of local species can provide vital perspectives into the ways we manage the lands and waters into the future.
First Nations people of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) will potentially be some of the most impacted people from cumulative and more frequent drought and flood events.
The destruction, inconsistency and instability of more frequent droughts and floods would have detrimental effects on the social welfare of First Nations people, inhibiting their ability to undertake or preserve significant cultural practices and values. Foreseeing and documenting this impact may help preserve the health of the people themselves, along with future planning for the environment.
Economically, many First Nations people rely on 'working on country' or tourism employment, utilising cultural knowledge, practices and natural resources as a way of earning an income. This includes First Nations owned and operated businesses that could be severely impacted by the shifting climates and environment.
Cultural significance
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Community Members Needed
The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) communities understand droughts and floods. We know the land and waters we love are undergoing significant transformations due to climate change, and this is ongoing and will persist into the future.
Our 'Community adaptation to worsening droughts and floods in the CLLMM' project, led by Neville Crossman from Flinders University, is an opportunity for community members to express themselves creatively to help people understand what values are at risk and what our pathways to adaptation might be.
The project team is looking for up to 15 adults from all walks of life who live, work or play in the region to co-design something creative together as a legacy of our times. Please see attached invitation for details of how to participate. There will be five workshops held in the region over several months, the first will be Monday 7 April 2025 at a time and location that suits registered participants.
If you want to learn more or be involved, please reach out:
Science Program Manager Nick Whiterod - nick.whiterod@goyderinstitute.org or 0409023771
Project team - Bridget McFarland - bridget.mcfarland@unisa.edu.au by the 21 March 2025.
For more information see the invitation - https://shorturl.at/yllDw
To learn more about the project - https://www.cllmmresearchcentre.org/community-adaptation...
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