Research Program

The Murray-Darling Basin faces an uncertain future as the long-term impacts of river regulation and over abstraction are increasingly exacerbated by the intensification of climate change. This poses profound challenges for water security, biodiversity and communities across the Basin, and forces transformational change for communities and management. There will be greater demand for water resources and, increasingly, trade-offs will need to be considered. Now more than ever, a strong evidence base is necessary to provide guidance in addressing the critical needs of community and management. The CLLMM region at the end of the Basin is among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and requires science-informed actions to maintain social, economic, environmental and cultural values.

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The CLLMM Research Centre’s Science Program provides critical knowledge to inform management of the region as climate change impacts become more acute. It considers the complex interdependencies that influence the region and helps to inform end-users in a way that best meets the needs of our rivers and wetlands, communities, industries and government agencies with their decision-making. The Science Program is strongly focused on reflecting community and First Nations values and priorities in the creation and implementation of the research projects. Under the overarching focus of climate change, the research of the CLLMM Research Centre aligns with the research themes established through previous engagement prior to the establishment phase of the Research Centre. These research themes are climate adaptation, ecosystem services, climate mitigation and threatened species and biodiversity.