Discover the CLLMM Research Centre's Community Advisory Forum (RCAF) and its impactful individuals. This month, we explore the motivations behind Monika Rhodes participation.
Dr Monika Rhodes holds a PhD in ecology and has over twenty-five years experience of nature conservation and environmental management across government, academia, and the industry. In 2019, Monika took on the position of Principal Officer Environmental Strategy in Alexandrina Council, in charge of environment and climate change. She moved to Goolwa because of the natural beauty with its diverse and significant biodiversity values. She has developed close relationships with key partners across this region. As Alexandrina Council’s representative, Monika brings to the Research Centre Advisory Forum a detailed knowledge of the environmental and climate change challenges faced in the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region.
What does the CLLMM region mean to you?
I love this region with its unique ecosystems, its beauty and the variety of flora and fauna species across the terrestrial, riverine, estuarine and marine environments.
What do you think are the greatest issues facing the region in relation to climate change?Reduced rainfall in our region and along the whole of the Murray Darling Basin together with increased temperatures means that our biodiversity will need to adopt to the new norm. The Millennium Drought taught us about the direct link between the ecosystem’s health and the economic, social and cultural wellbeing. This means that we need to manage carefully the natural resources that are given to us.
Why did you want to join the Advisory Forum of the Research Centre and how do you think the CLLMM Research Centre can help the region? I am very passionate about protecting and conserving the region’s environment. The issues we face to manage our land, biodiversity and waters across the CLLMM region can’t be managed alone. This requires collaboration across the region with the community, land managers, government, and research institutions working together.
What do you hope for the future of the CLLMM region?
That the beauty and importance of our region will remain and is not lost to increased pressures of climate change, population growth, and increased industrialisation. I hope that the next generation continues to enjoy the region’s unique environments and nature.
Following the approval of our research plan and final planning a series of research projects officially commenced in September. Each project will involve cutting edge research reflects community and First Nations priorities whilst addressing critical needs across the region.
One of the projects is focusing on conserving waterbird populations of the CLLMM and broader landscape under climate change and is being led by Dr Tom Prowse for the University of Adelaide with the project team including experts from Flinders University, CSIRO, Bio-R, Birdlife Australia, Nature Glenelg Trust and SA Shorebirds Foundation. It includes a series of sub-projects looking at (1) tracking of birds to better understand the movement and habitat use, (2) understanding threats to beach-nesting shorebirds, (3) conservation modelling of waterbird species to understand how they will fare under climate change scenarios, and (4) a citizen project that will utilise photos from community members and groups to automatically (through AI) assess the body condition of waterbirds and habitat across the region.
Each sub-project presents opportunities differing opportunities for community and First Nations to be involved. For the citizen science sub-project, the project team will be hosting an introductory event at the Research Centre on the 8th October. This is a must for all those who are interested in waterbirds or hearing about what is involved in becoming a citizen scientist in the region. More information can be found here https://www.cllmmresearchcentre.org/event-details/get-involved-with-shorebird-citizen-science.
Please reach out if you want to find out more about the waterbirds project or any of the projects of the Research Centre. Email here>
We are excited to announce that the Sea Country Stories from Ngarrindjeri Country, on the lower Murray River and Coorong, will be soon featured at the CLLMM Research Centre. Stay tuned for the exhibition opening!
The exhibition is an immersive experience of being on Yarlawa Ruwi [Sea Country] with cultural icon and Ngarrindjeri elder Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner as he demonstrates how to make the kaiki [the freshwater reed spears] harvested from Lake Alexandrina and yarns about what story and Sea Country mean to him. You will hear stories about fishing with the pelicans, spearing flounder at night, and how to find a stingray in the stars! Then join the kuti fishers and artists at Goolwa, who shuffle for cockles in the sand, sharing how they practice sustainable fishing using traditional techniques to protect the kuti [pipi cockles] for the future.
Support for this project was provided by National Science Week 2022, South Australian Maritime Museum, Kuti Co., Goolwa Pipi Co., and Marine Stewardship Council.
Stay tuned to our socials and website for opening dates.