Integrating science into marine conservation management: a knowledge

exchange framework

D R K E L LY WA P L E S , D E PA R T M E N T O F B I O D I V E R S I T Y, C O N S E R VAT I O N A N D AT T R A C T I O N S

D R P E T E R B AY L I S S , C S I R O

D R S T U A R T F I E L D , D E PA R T M E N T O F B I O D I V E R S I T Y, C O N S E R VAT I O N A N D AT T R A C T I O N S

WAMSI

Better Science Better Decisions

Collaboration between Partners

WHAT?

• Movement of information between scientists and managers

• Influences management decisions and practices (policy, planning, operations)

• Relies on shared understanding, interpretation of science and understanding of applications

Better science Better decisions

Knowledge exchange

Research not related to

management questions

Information is not

available to managers

Cannot interpret

or use results/

products

Barriers to knowledge exchange

How?

1. Identify end users, their information needs and priorities

2. Focus research on agreed management questions

3. Undertake research – stick to the plan

4. Determine application to management strategies

5. Deliver findings and outcomes to ‘users’ in a useful format

Knowledge exchange

Key elements

• Identifying and including end users throughout

• Maintaining dialogue between scientists and end users

• Using an intermediary to interpret and drive process

• Ensuring data are available and accessible

• Tools and products

Interpretation Communication Data Management

Kimberley Marine Research Program

$12M investment $30M program

Undertake a program of marine research to support the conservation and

management of the proposed State marine parks in the Kimberley

“… to recognize and conserve one of the world’s last great wilderness areas”

Network of Indigenous Protected

Areas and jointly managed Marine

Parks

1. Identify end users and information needsTraditional owners State government

KMRP Science Plan

• Building a regional picture of the Kimberley

• Biological, physical and social characterization

• Ecosystem processes and human impacts

1. Identify end users and information needs

Social Physical

Plants and Animals

Environment and Habitats

Benthic biodiversity

Crocodiles

Sea turtles

Whales

Dolphins

Dugongs

Shorebirds

Benthic productivity

Mapping productivity

Connectivity

Recruitment and herbivory

Seagrass

Climate change

Geomorphology

Sediments

Remote SensingIndigenous knowledge

Human use

Social values

MSE Modeling

BiologicalValues and management Background

> 80 scientists, 25 projects,

10 indigenous communities

Processes

Calcification

Biogeochemistry

Land – Ocean links

Oceanographic dynamics

Social Physical

Plants and Animals

Environment and Habitats

Benthic biodiversity

Crocodiles

Sea turtles

Whales

Dolphins

Dugongs

Shorebirds

Benthic productivity

Mapping productivity

Connectivity

Recruitment and herbivory

Seagrass

Climate change

Geomorphology

Sediments

Remote SensingIndigenous knowledge

Human use

Social values

MSE Modeling

BiologicalValues and management Background

> 80 scientists, 25 projects,

10 indigenous communities

Processes

Calcification

Biogeochemistry

Land – Ocean links

Oceanographic dynamics

• What are the distribution and abundance of dugongs in the Kimberley?

• What, when and where are their critical habitats?

• What environmental factors may influence the above patterns?

• What are appropriate spatial management units?

• What cost-effective methods can be used to monitor dugong population

health, including the pressures?

2. Focus research on management questions

• Develop long-term partnerships with Kimberley Indigenous ranger groups and communities

• Integrate Indigenous & scientific knowledge to work out how best to monitor and manage populations

• Determine regional-scale patterns of dugong distribution & abundance

KMRP Dugong project aims

3. Undertake research

3. Undertake researchCultural maps were combined with scientific data on seagrass to design a more efficient survey

Survey blocks & transects

More survey transects/effort

located over cultural sites,

predicted seagrass areas, and

in shallow waters (<20m)

Cost savings ~ 35% less survey

time

3. Undertake research

Involving end users in research

Aerial survey Satellite tagging

Dugong hotspot areas in the Kimberley from combined knowledge sources

4. Determine application to management

• Relative abundance

• Marine park zoning

• Monitoring methods

5. Deliver findings and outcomes• Presentations to Indigenous rangers and Parks and Wildlife

• Recommendations on a cost effective monitoring program for local dugong populations

• Data, images and maps provided to joint managers

Lessons learned

• Focus on knowledge exchange leaves strong legacy

• Partnerships

• Cost effective use of resources

• Tools and products that can be used by managers

• Effective knowledge exchange relies on strong communication

• Shared understanding

• Ongoing dialogue

• Intermediary as driver

Better science Better decisions

Acknowledgments

The State Government of Western Australia and WAMSI partners

Researchers

• Tom Vigilante (WGAC), Jarrad Holmes (Dambi), Scott Whiting (DBCA), Tony Tucker (DBCA), Rachel Groom (NT DLRM), Mat Vanderklift(CSIRO)

Traditional owners

• From Balanggarra, Uunguu (Wunambal Gaambera), Dambimangari, and Bardi Jawi