Decision support tools

A software package is being developed to evaluate different management scenarios for tropical rivers

To manage and preserve our natural resources effectively, we need to have a level of understanding of how they will respond to (combinations of) various management actions. The large uncertainties involved in managing these complex systems are one of the major challenges of natural resource management. The causes of these uncertainties include our ignorance, their natural variability, and the often large number of connected processes involved.

These uncertainties often limit our predictive abilities, making long-term planning unfeasible unless we create some level of feedback to inform how we're tracking towards our objectives. Adaptive management is an approach that helps us to deal with these challenges.

Building on work started in Project 1.4, the project team has developed a prototype software package that integrates the knowledge of researchers and natural resource management organisations in the Daly River catchment.

The software has been specifically configured to evaluate management strategies for the Daly, which allows users to design and support adaptive management plans while still including specific answers to management questions, such as the effects of water allocation planning on social, economic and environmental performance indicators.

Staff from the Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport (NRETAS) are providing feedback on the software package, which could be applied to, for example, the development of water allocation plans.

The project team is also seeking feedback from the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, the Western Australian Department of Water and the Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities about how this management support approach could be applied in their jurisdictions.