Peer review

2016

The Overview, Drivers and theme reports were peer reviewed.  This document will be available in the coming days.

Peer review

2011

Peer review of the Australia State of the Environment 2011 report.

Independent, transparent and rigorous peer review forms part of the process of producing the SoE report. This report outlines the principles and process of independent expert review of the draft chapters of SoE 2011, with a view to improving scientific credibility and reliability of the final product.

Other

2011

A framework for assessing resilience in SoE 2011 reporting

SoE 2011 is the first to present assessment of the resilience of the environmental assets which it discusses. This background paper provides definitions and discussion of the concept of resilience in environmental and social-ecological systems: specified versus general resilience, social versus ecological resilience, adaptability and transformability, scale and context.

Australia State of the Environment 2011 (SoE 2011) Overview

This presentation provides an overview of the Australia State of the Environment 2011 (SoE 2011) report.

How the 2011 State of the Environment Report might increase cross-sectoral dialogue about natural resource governance in Australia

Abstract: The 2011 SoE report is bolder than previous national SoE reports in several ways. With encouragement from the responsible Ministers and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC), graded 'report-card' style assessments are included to provide insight into the state and trends of aspects of the environment, the pressures upon it, and the effectiveness of management. These also include an indication of strength of the evidence for assessments with a 'level of confidence'. In addition, SoE 2011 has a greater focus on the resilience of Australia's coupled social-ecological systems, as well as discussion of remaining and future risks, and for the first time in national SoE reporting includes outlooks for the future. These steps were intended to stimulate dialogue both about the conclusions themselves and the adequacy of information on which they were based. One key conclusion is that Australia has many of the ingredients for governance and information systems capable of dealing with the sorts of linked environmental, social and economic challenges Australia might face in the next few decades, but that if the nation fails to build on these ingredients wisely and quickly the negative consequences could be considerable. Crawford School Presentation: 30 May 2012

Presentation to the Pacific Environment Forum

Presented at the September 2012 Pacific Environment Forum.

 Overview

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Overview

2011

There is no supplementary material for this theme

 Atmosphere

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Atmosphere

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Atmosphere chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

Assessing the condition of ambient air

Assessing the condition of ambient air This paper presents percentage frequency distributions of the Air Quality Index categories for eight state and territory capitals and a small number of major regional or industrial centres, based on analysis of air quality monitoring data for ozone and particles (PM10) collected in accordance with protocols under the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure.

 Antarctic environment

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Antarctic environment

2011

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Biodiversity

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Biodiversity

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Biodiversity chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

The role of soil biodiversity in providing ecosystem services

This paper provides an account of the role of soil organisms in providing key ecosystem services, including soil formation, decomposition and nutrient cycling, carbon and nitrogen fixation and sequestration, infiltration, purification and storage of water.

 Built environment

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Built environment

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Built environment chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

 Coasts

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Coasts

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Coasts chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

 Drivers

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Drivers

2011

There is no supplementary material for this theme

 Heritage

2016

National Heritage Place Monitoring Initial Survey Report - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report and results of a voluntary survey of National Heritage place managers in early 2016 by the Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division of the Department of the Environment and Energy

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017 Survey Responses WHAM National Heritage Place Monitoring.pdf

Heritage Officials - State of the environment 2016 workshop - meeting record

Summary of proceedings of a workshop for Australian 'Heritage Officials' of the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand (HCOANZ) to share and invite comment on an evolving draft Table of contents for the 'Heritage' section of SoE 2016; gather high level opinion on major threats, responses and outlooks for Australia's natural heritage; and seek advice on potential information sources.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017a Workshop Meeting Record Heritage Officials 9 Nov 2015.pdf

Australian Committee for IUCN - State of the environment 2016 workshop - meeting record

Summary of proceedings of a workshop designed to brief officials and members of the Australian Committee for International Union for the Conservation of Nature on the process for preparing the SoE report for 2016; invite comment on the evolving draft chapter on Heritage; gather high level opinion on key messages, major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's natural heritage; and identify potential contacts for additional information.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017b Workshop Meeting Record ACIUCN 4 March 2016.pdf

Australian Heritage Council - State of the environment 2016 workshop - meeting record

Summary of proceedings of a workshop designed to brief members or the Australian Heritage Council on the process for preparing the SoE report for 2016; invite comment on the evolving draft chapter on Heritage; gather high level opinion on key messages, major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's natural heritage; and identify potential contacts for additional information.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017c Workshop Meeting Record Australian Heritage Council 1 Dec 2015.pdf

Parks agencies natural heritage survey report - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report of an online survey of representatives of parks agencies who were invited to contribute to SoE 2016 about natural heritage issues.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017d Survey Responses Parks Agencies.pdf

ACIUCN natural heritage survey report - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report of an online survey of members of ACIUCN who were invited to contribute to SoE 2016 about natural heritage issues.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017e Survey Responses ACIUCN.pdf

DoEE Indigenous Advisory Committee - State of the environment 2016 workshop - meeting record

Summary of briefing and workshop discussion involving the DoEE Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), to share the process for preparing the SoE report for 2016; invite comment on the evolving draft chapter outline on Heritage; gather high level opinion on major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's Indigenous heritage; and identify potential contacts for information.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017f Workshop Meeting Record DoEE Indigenous Advisory Council 30 Nov 2015.pdf

Indigenous Heritage agencies - cultural heritage survey report - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report of an online survey of members of Australian Indigenous Heritage agency representatives who were invited to contribute to SoE 2016 about cultural heritage issues.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017g_survey_responses_indigenous_heritage_agencies.pdf

Australia ICOMOS - State of the environment 2016 workshop - meeting record

Outcomes of a briefing and workshop discussion with members of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Australia ICOMOS) held in Sydney on Friday 25 February 2011 as part of the preparation for the SoE 2016 report. 

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017h Workshop Meeting Record Australia ICOMOS 21 Feb 2016.pdf

Australia ICOMOS cultural heritage survey report - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report of an online survey of members of Australia ICOMOS who were invited to contribute to SoE 2016 about cultural heritage issues.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017i Survey Responses - Australia ICOMOS.pdf

National Trusts of Australia cultural heritage survey report - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report of an online survey of members of the National Trusts of Australia who were invited to contribute to SoE 2016 about cultural heritage issues.

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017j Survey Responses - National Trusts of Australia.pdf

NERP and NESP funding related to heritage places - State of the environment 2016 report

Summary report of approximate funding through NERP and NESP (partial) that are related to listed heritage places

soe2016-supplementary-heritage-2017k NERP and NESP funding related to Heritage places.pdf

 Heritage

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Heritage chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

Australian committee of the IUCN - State of the environment 2011 workshop - summary notes

Summary of proceedings of a workshop designed to brief officials and members of the Australian Committee for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature on the process for preparing the SoE report for 2011; invite comment on the evolving draft chapter on Heritage; gather high level opinion on key messages, major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's natural heritage; and identify potential contacts for additional information.

Australian Heritage Council - State of the environment 2011 workshop - summary notes

Summary of proceedings of a workshop designed to brief members or the Australian Heritage Council on the process for preparing the SoE report for 2011; invite comment on the evolving draft chapter on Heritage; gather high level opinion on key messages, major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's natural heritage; and identify potential contacts for additional information.

HCOANZ - State of the environment 2011 workshop - summary notes

Summary of proceedings of a workshop for Australian 'Heritage Officials' of the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand (HCOANZ) to share and invite comment on an evolving draft Table of contents for the 'Heritage' section of SoE 2011; gather high level opinion on major threats, responses and outlooks for Australia's natural heritage; and seek advice on potential information sources.

DSEWPaC Indigenous Advisory Committee - State of the environment 2011 workshop - summary notes

Summary of briefing and workshop discussion involving the DSEWPaC Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), to share the process for preparing the SoE report for 2011; invite comment on the evolving draft chapter outline on Heritage; gather high level opinion on major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's Indigenous heritage; and identify potential contacts for information.

Australia ICOMOS - State of the environment 2011 workshop - summary notes

Outcomes of a briefing and workshop discussion with members of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Australia ICOMOS) held in Sydney on Friday 25 February 2011 as part of the preparation for the SoE 2011 report. The workshop had three purposes:

• To share the current version of an evolving draft chapter outline for the heritage section of the SoE 2011 report and to invite comment;
• To review and critique some of the proposed key heritage issues and messages; and
• To gather high level opinion on key messages, major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's cultural heritage through an interactive discussion.

Parks heads of agencies - State of the environment 2011 workshop - summary notes

Outcomes of a briefing and workshop discussion with the heads of the Australian national parks agencies held in Sydney on Friday 27 August 2010 as part of the preparation for the SoE 2011 report. The workshop had three purposes:

• To share the current version of an evolving draft chapter outline for the heritage section of the SoE 2011 report and to invite comment;
• To review and critique some of the proposed key heritage issues and messages; and
• To gather high level opinion on key messages, major issues, threats and potential responses for Australia's cultural heritage through an interactive discussion.

State of Indigenous cultural heritage 2011

This thematic report provides data, information and analysis to inform the Indigenous heritage content of SoE 2011. The report focuses on two important indicators of the state of Indigenous heritage which have been identified as priorities for reporting by the Australian SoE Committee: the physical condition and integrity of Indigenous heritage places, and the use of Indigenous languages. It also provides data and information on other important aspects of Indigenous heritage including access, control and use of lands and waters, cultural practices and Indigenous knowledge.

Study of condition and integrity of historic heritage places

The study takes the form of a physical survey of a proportion of the places entered in the Register of the National Estate and in some cases the various State heritage registers. The survey covers every state and territory, and includes as wide a regional coverage as the existing heritage registers allow, with a particular emphasis on an equal spread of places in rural and urban environments. The survey provides a simple overview of the continued existence, condition, integrity and use of a sample of the nation's historic heritage, and allows trends in the health of that heritage to be identified. In total, 1,092 places were inspected in 2011.

The study repeats the survey first undertaken for the 2001 State of the Environment Report, repeated in 2004, and trends apparent over the intervening seven year period are identified.

Condition and integrity assessment of natural heritage places

The purpose of the study was to assess the condition and integrity of natural heritage places focusing on the identified natural heritage values and their current condition and integrity. A sample of 75 places located on public and private. The assessment focused on the identified natural heritage values and their current condition and integrity. These places include a range of formal reserves from iconic World Heritage places to private conservation places. Each place has its own natural heritage significance and many form part of the National Reserve System.

 Inland water

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Inland water

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Inland water chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

AUSRIVAS - Australia's in-stream biological health 2003-2010

This report presents the results of the AUSRIVAS (Australian River Assessment System) survey which uses standardised monitoring of riverine aquatic macroinvertebrates (a diverse range of insects, crustaceans and mollusks) to provide information about river health and change over time.

National Water Quality Assessment 2011

The National Water Quality Assessment 2011 was commissioned to provide a snapshot of water quality across inland waters of Australia. The water quality indicators examined include turbidity, salinity, pH, nutrients and algal blooms (specifically cyanobacterial blooms), and faecal contamination (microbial quality).

 Land

2016

Fractional cover data

Two animated maps of Australia from 2000 - 2015, (i) fractional cover and (ii) fractional cover anomaly. Derived from AusCover, the images show the proportion of bare soil, photosynthetically active vegetation and non-synthetically active vegetation

Fractional cover timeseries animation (11 MB) →

Fractional cover anomaly timeseries animation (17 MB) →

 Land

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Land chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

Fractional-cover data

Provides a "live" map of Australia from 2000 - 2011 - fractional cover derived from MODIS data from the beginning of 2000 to May 2011. The images are derived from remotely sensed data, showing proportion of bare soil, photosynthetically active vegetation and non-synthetically active vegetation.

View animation (1MB) →

Analysis of continental scale vegetation cover over the last decade

This report provides an analysis of a ten year time series of vegetation greenness from data collected by sensors carried on satellites that make regular passes over Australia reveal the extent to which green vegetation cover (greenness) varies in response to fluctuations in rainfall, and major disturbances such as wildfires, cyclones and severe storms.

Assessments of status and trends in soil organic carbon workshop - summary notes

This report provides the Workshop outcomes from a group of experts in soil carbon and land resource assessment which developed an assessment of the state and trends of soil carbon across Australia.

Connectivity conservation in Australian landscapes

Connectivity conservation areas interconnect protected areas with natural and semi-natural lands, they help maintain large-scale natural Australian landscapes and ecosystem processes and they are a natural biodiversity conservation partner to the National Reserve System. This report provides an overview of connectivity conservation and management of seven large-scale connectivity conservation areas in Australia.

Indigenous land and sea management - a case study

The report provides an overview of Indigenous land and sea management, also referred to as "caring for country".

Status and trends in soil acidification workshop - summary notes

This report provides the Workshop outcomes from a group of experts in soil acidification and land resource assessment, which developed an assessment of the state and trends of soil acidification across Australia.

Wind erosion and land management in Australia during 1940-1949 and 2000-2009

The paper provides the outcomes of a project on wind erosion: quantifying wind erosion across Australia for 1940-1949 and 2000-2009; examining the likely impact of changes in land management on wind erosion in the two periods; and presents annual wind erosion maps across Australia for 2000-2009.

 Marine environment

2016

There is no supplementary material for this theme.

 Marine environment

2011

Presentation: SoE 2011 - Marine environment chapter overview

This presentation is one of a series of SoE 2011 presentations given by SoE Committee members and departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011 report. This material is provided as an overview and the full report should be referred to for understanding the context of this information.

Australia's coral reefs in a changing ocean

In the past two decades severe coral bleaching on Australian reefs were mainly confined to the Great Barrier Reef and other reefs at low latitudes (e.g. Scott Reef), however, recently the first extensive bleaching events have occurred around Ningaloo, Lord Howe Island, Houtman Abrolhos and Rottnest Island. As Australia moves into a high-CO2 era, ocean warming and acidification are predicted to continue from low to high latitudes. The medium to long-term projections indicate that the frequency and severity of coral bleaching events will continue to increase, accompanied by progressive ocean acidification.

Factors potentially affecting the resilience of temperate marine populations

Six main categories of factors have the potential to influence population resilience of fish species; these are climate change, fishing, coastal development, introduced marine pests, infectious diseases and the socio-economic influences associated with fishery management. Four different case studies of Australian commercial fish stocks; western rock lobster, southern rock lobster, eastern gemfish and tiger flathead; are used to provide a contrast to marine population resilience.

SoE 2011 National marine condition assessment - decision model and workshops

In the absence of strong regional or national indicator datasets, and to limit the bias inherent in a narrow information base, the SoE 2011 process adopted an expert elicitation approach to assess the condition and trends of Australia's marine environment. A select representative group of marine experts from various disciplines were engaged for a series of assessment workshops. The decision model, grading system and procedures are described. The overview results of the six assessment parameters for the five marine bioregions are presented.

Phytoplankton dynamics in shelf waters around Australia

A comprehensive summary of phytoplankton bloom occurrences, both in-water and surface expressions, for five coastal sites around Australia based on earth observation data of up to eight years (2003-2010). Concentrations in chlorophyll-a (CHL), a widely-used measure of algal biomass, were estimated for each site from the NASA-MODIS (Aqua) ocean colour sensor. Surface algal bloom expressions, likely composed of different phytoplankton species than the in-water algal blooms, were mapped by the ESA-MERIS (Envisat) ocean colour sensor. Time-series of satellite-derived CHL and surface bloom expressions are presented and discussed for the five reporting regions. Results show that the phytoplankton biomass varies in its cycle and amplitude depending on the Australian continental shelf region considered.

Case study: the resilience of the nature-based tourism system on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Factors that affect the resilience of the nature-based tourism system on Australia's Great Barrier Reef include climate change and the sediments, nutrients, and pesticides from agriculture and coastal development. The lifestyle values of enterprise owners and staff are significant predictors of enterprise resilience to crises and change. Higher lifestyle values are also associated with a higher level of enterprise support for reef conservation, and a greater level of participation in reef conservation activities.

Vulnerability and status of marine fishes for the Australian State of Environment report 2011 - temperate species

An assessment of vulnerability were conducted on two species in the south-east corner of Australia: the red Morwong (Cheilodactylus fuscus), and the southern Maori wrasse (Ophthalomolepis lineolata). The red morwong, although locally abundant with high numbers of reproductive individuals, was classed as 'Vulnerable' because of its restricted spatial distribution. It is sensitive to climate change and local recreational fishing. This species responded rapidly to closure to fishing. The southern Maori wrasse is locally abundant, with high numbers of reproductive individuals, and its range extends longitudinally to Western Australia. Despite being landed in commercial numbers as bycatch, as well as landed locally by recreational fishers its vulnerability is low.

Vulnerability and status of marine fishes for the Australian State of Environment report 2011 - tropical species

Assessments of vulnerability and population status were completed for two species of coral reef fishes: the redfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus), and the leopard coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus). The inherent vulnerability to extinction for both species was considered Low, given their reasonably large geographic ranges and ability to utilise a wide range of different reef habitats. The current population status for both C. lunulatus and P. leopardus was considered Good, with no evidence of long-term, reef-wide declines in abundance. The two species (C. lunulatus and P. leopardus) are each facing distinct threats, due to habitat degradation (especially coral loss) and direct fisheries exploitation, respectively. Current fisheries for Plectropomus spp. on the Great Barrier Reef do appear to be sustainable, and populations exhibit considerable resilience. With the recent expansion of no-take marine reserves, populations on reefs closed to fishing have recovered very quickly. In contrast, C. lunulatus appears to have Poor population resilience, with no recovery observed >5 years after severe coral bleaching in the central Great Barrier Reef.