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Supporting Central Coast Council on the expansion of its conservation estate

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posted on 2022-08-03, 01:37 authored by Anu Vijayan

Among the many causes of habitat loss, urbanisation coupled with climate change has produced some of the greatest local extinction rates and has led to the loss of a large number of native species. Managing native vegetation in a rapidly expanding urban setting requires land management strategies that are cognizant of these impacts and in particular how species and communities may adapt to a future climate. This study assessed patterns of land use changes and examined these in relation to four threatened vegetation communities, using habitat suitability models. The aim was to identify climate refugia for these communities within the constraints of land-cover changes. The research was focused on a local government area in New South Wales, Australia, that is undergoing residential, commercial and agricultural expansion resulting in the transition of native forest to other more intensive land-uses. Our results showed that the key drivers of change from native vegetation to urban and agriculture classes were population density and proximity to urban areas. We found that two of the most cleared vegetation community types are physically restricted within land owned or managed by council, suggesting their long-term viability is more uncertain under a warming climate. We propose complementary management measures including biodiversity offsets and acquisition of climatically suitable land to secure a network of habitats for these communities.

History

Table of Contents

Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendix

Notes

Master of Research Thesis submitted on 06/07/2020 Includes bibliographical references (pages 37-41)

Awarding Institution

Macquarie University

Degree Type

Thesis MRes

Degree

Thesis (MRes), Macquarie University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department, Centre or School

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Year of Award

2020

Principal Supervisor

Joseph Maina Mbui

Additional Supervisor 1

Peter Davis

Additional Supervisor 2

Michael Chang

Rights

Copyright disclaimer: https://www.mq.edu.au/copyright-disclaimer Copyright Anu Vijayan 2020

Language

English

Extent

44 pages

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