Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot

Bounded by ocean and desert, the isolated, predominately Mediterranean-climate region of south-western Australia (SWA) includes nine bioregions (circa 44 million hectares). The ecological integrity of the landscapes in this global biodiversity hotspot has been compromised by deforestation, fragmenta...

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Main Authors: Wardell-Johnson, Grant, Wardell-Johnson, Angela, Bradby, K., Robinson, Todd, Bateman, Bill, Williams, K., Braun, K., Beckerling, J., Burbridge, Michael
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Science Inc. 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13135
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author Wardell-Johnson, Grant
Wardell-Johnson, Angela
Bradby, K.
Robinson, Todd
Bateman, Bill
Williams, K.
Braun, K.
Beckerling, J.
Burbridge, Michael
author_facet Wardell-Johnson, Grant
Wardell-Johnson, Angela
Bradby, K.
Robinson, Todd
Bateman, Bill
Williams, K.
Braun, K.
Beckerling, J.
Burbridge, Michael
author_sort Wardell-Johnson, Grant
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Bounded by ocean and desert, the isolated, predominately Mediterranean-climate region of south-western Australia (SWA) includes nine bioregions (circa 44 million hectares). The ecological integrity of the landscapes in this global biodiversity hotspot has been compromised by deforestation, fragmentation, exploitation, and introduced biota. Nature and degree of transformation varies between four interconnected landscapes (Swan Coastal Plain; South-west Forests; Wandoo Woodlands; and Great Western Woodlands). A Gondwanan perspective emphasizes a venerable biota and a cultural component to deep time. The particular importance of remnants and protected areas is recognized in restoring ecological integrity to Gondwanan landscapes. The nature and magnitude of the restoration task in these ancient, and neighboring, landscapes require higher levels of investment and more time than do recent landscapes. The protection, conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of ecological integrity require multiple approaches in each landscape as well as consideration of the whole. Active conservation of biota and minimizing the impact of industrial- and agricultural-use are priorities. Integrating a climate focus and rethinking fire are critical restoration considerations to future trajectories under anthropogenic climate change. A legislative mandate to coordinate industrial-scale restoration and active conservation to build from protected areas must become a societal priority to restore ecological integrity.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-131352017-09-13T15:34:02Z Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot Wardell-Johnson, Grant Wardell-Johnson, Angela Bradby, K. Robinson, Todd Bateman, Bill Williams, K. Braun, K. Beckerling, J. Burbridge, Michael Bounded by ocean and desert, the isolated, predominately Mediterranean-climate region of south-western Australia (SWA) includes nine bioregions (circa 44 million hectares). The ecological integrity of the landscapes in this global biodiversity hotspot has been compromised by deforestation, fragmentation, exploitation, and introduced biota. Nature and degree of transformation varies between four interconnected landscapes (Swan Coastal Plain; South-west Forests; Wandoo Woodlands; and Great Western Woodlands). A Gondwanan perspective emphasizes a venerable biota and a cultural component to deep time. The particular importance of remnants and protected areas is recognized in restoring ecological integrity to Gondwanan landscapes. The nature and magnitude of the restoration task in these ancient, and neighboring, landscapes require higher levels of investment and more time than do recent landscapes. The protection, conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of ecological integrity require multiple approaches in each landscape as well as consideration of the whole. Active conservation of biota and minimizing the impact of industrial- and agricultural-use are priorities. Integrating a climate focus and rethinking fire are critical restoration considerations to future trajectories under anthropogenic climate change. A legislative mandate to coordinate industrial-scale restoration and active conservation to build from protected areas must become a societal priority to restore ecological integrity. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13135 10.1111/rec.12372 Blackwell Science Inc. restricted
spellingShingle Wardell-Johnson, Grant
Wardell-Johnson, Angela
Bradby, K.
Robinson, Todd
Bateman, Bill
Williams, K.
Braun, K.
Beckerling, J.
Burbridge, Michael
Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
title Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
title_full Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
title_fullStr Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
title_full_unstemmed Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
title_short Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
title_sort application of a gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western australian global biodiversity hotspot
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13135