1

Landscapes, lifestyles& livelihoods

SRES 11 March 2008

Andrew CampbellTriple Helix Consulting

www.triplehelix.com.au

2

Key Points

• Sustainability is the challenge of our age

• Business as usual is not a viable option

• We need new thinking for this challenge

• Young professionals are and will be crucial

• Some career tips from an antediluvian old fart

2

3

My perspectives

• Farming background western Victoria

• Forestry & rural sociology training

• Extension officer Vic govt

• Manager, Potter Farmland Plan

• National Landcare Facilitator

• Development of NHT & NAP in Aust Government

• 7 years as CEO of Land & Water Australia

• Now out on my own again…

4

Landscapes, Lifestyles and Livelihoods

•• Triple Triple HelixHelix, not triple bottom line, not triple bottom line—— interwoven and interdependentinterwoven and interdependent—— richer than an accountancy metaphorricher than an accountancy metaphor—— separates lifestyles from economicsseparates lifestyles from economics—— heterogeneity is implicitheterogeneity is implicit—— not not agri-centricagri-centric

•• Developing Developing AustralianAustralian Landscape Literacy Landscape Literacy•• We need an alphabet, grammar & canon,We need an alphabet, grammar & canon,

grounded in placegrounded in place

3

5

A word on ‘landscape’•• Managing Managing wholewhole landscapes landscapes

- - ““where nature meets culturewhere nature meets culture”” ( (SchamaSchama))- landscapes are socially constructed- landscapes are socially constructed- beyond - beyond ‘‘ecological apartheidecological apartheid’’- - NRMNRM means means peoplepeople management management- engage values, perceptions, aspirations, behaviour- engage values, perceptions, aspirations, behaviour

•• IntegrationIntegration--across issues across issues –– e.g climate, energy & water e.g climate, energy & water--across scales across scales –– fixing the Federation fixing the Federation--across the triple helixacross the triple helix

--landscapes, lifestyles & livelihoodslandscapes, lifestyles & livelihoods

6

Engaging the community

• no magic bullets, most knowledge resides in the community• we face major societal choices

– Sustain what? For how long? Over what area? For whose benefit?Measured by whom?

• sustainable NRM = behaviour change• economic & regulatory signals remain weak• many responses need to be collective• ‘trickle down’ adoption doesn’t work for sustainability• need new spaces for debate

– eg deliberative fora, citizens’ juries

4

7

• highly variable spatial and temporal scales

• the possibility of absolute ecological limits

• irreversible impacts and related policy urgency

• complexity, connectivity, uncertainty & ambiguity• cumulative rather than discrete impacts

• value-laden issues & new moral dimensions

• systemic problem causes

• contested methods and instruments

• ill-defined property rights and responsibilities• expectation of stakeholder/citizen participation

Australian NRM issues are typicallyAustralian NRM issues are typicallycharacterised bycharacterised by (after Dovers):(after Dovers):

8

a huge policy agenda• Defining environmental deliverables - leadership• Fostering innovation

– Breakthrough technologies– User-friendly metrics and measuring systems for carbon, water & energy– Smarter institutions, including markets

• Best-practice regulation• Sorting out the planning hierarchy (i.e. the Federation)

• Integrated, “whole-of-government, all governments” approaches to climate,water and energy interactions

• Setting minimum standards• Juicier carrots and smarter sticks• Monitoring and evaluating impact - including long-term sentinel system• Bringing the community along

5

9

•• a small young nation in a vast ancient continenta small young nation in a vast ancient continent

•• unique biological & cultural richness and diversityunique biological & cultural richness and diversityin a highly variable climatein a highly variable climate

•• communities on-sidecommunities on-side

•• few people and dollars per unit landscapefew people and dollars per unit landscape

•• malleable institutions, an open economymalleable institutions, an open economy

•• sufficient know-how to make progresssufficient know-how to make progress

•• the sustainability journey is the challenge of our agethe sustainability journey is the challenge of our age

through the through the macroscopemacroscope

Australia: the continent

• Area comparable to mainland US• 7% to 10% of world’s species• oldest, most isolated continent• oldest living life forms• tallest flowering plants• largest areas of coral reef and sea-grass• 37,000km coastline• 3rd largest fishing zone

6

11

The driest, flattest, most poorly drained, nutrientdepleted and geologically stable continent

12

0

Australian lowland rivers

Based on Puckridge et al (1998)

Means that Australian lowland rivers areMeans that Australian lowland rivers arethe most variable on Earththe most variable on Earth(Martin (Martin ThomsThoms))

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

amaz

on

sao

syr

vis

mis

sis

sth

yang

tze

nth

colo

rado

son

god

ree

hua

ura

fitzr

oyva

a

limpo

po

coop

er

Index ofIndex ofVariabilityVariability

High

Low

Mississippi

Colorado

The lowest run-off and The lowest run-off and streamflow streamflow of any continent,of any continent,and the worldand the world’’s most variable climates most variable climate

7

• 12 mega-diverse countries have 60-70% of world’s biodiversity–Oz the only industrialised economy of the 12

EXTRAORDINARY ENDEMISM–Centre of marsupial radiation

–1350 endemic terrestrial vertebrates(Indonesia is next highest with 850 species)

–30,000 sp flowering plants (85% endemic)

–>300,000? Invertebrate taxa (>95% endemic)

–93% amphibians; 89% reptiles; 85% mammals

–world’s highest reptile diversity

Biodiversity

14

Biodiversity• One of the world’s most diverse fish faunas

(3500 spp)

• 50% of the world’s sharks and rays

• Southern coastline– Highest known diversity of red and brown algae

( > 1150 species)

– Highest known diversity of crustaceans, sea squirtsand bryozoans

8

15

watery facts• Water use is increasing• Water supply is probably decreasing

– (and definitely becoming less reliable)

• Community concern is very high• Water is a major political and policy priority• Water is cheap to buy, but expensive to move

– Especially up hill, or through small pipes/nozzles– Energy, climate and water issues are converging

Perth’s Annual Storage Inflow GL (1911-2005)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

19

11

19

14

19

17

19

20

19

23

19

26

19

29

19

32

19

35

19

38

19

41

19

44

19

47

19

50

19

53

19

56

19

59

19

62

19

65

19

68

19

71

19

74

19

77

19

80

19

83

19

86

19

89

19

92

19

95

19

98

20

01

20

04

To

tal

an

nu

al*

in

flo

w**

to

Pe

rth

da

ms

(G

L)

Annual inflow 1911–1974 (338 GL av) 1975–1996 (177 GL av) 1997–2004 (115 GL av)

Notes: * year is taken as May to April and labelled year is beginning (winter) of year

** inflow is simulated based on Perth dams in 2001 and 2005 is total until 3 August 2005

9

Murray-Darling Basinfrom Bryson Bates (CSIRO)

Present: Past 5 years driest 5-year period on record Australian droughts have become hotter since 1973 SE Australia snow depths @ October 1 decreased 40% in

last 40 years Climatic record will be subjected to intense scrutiny through

South Eastern Australia Climate Initiative

Runoff projections (Beare & Heaney, 2001) 2050: −10 to −19% (B1) or −14 to −25% (A1) 2100: −16 to −30% (B1) or −24 to −48% (A1)

Projected agricultural costs: US$0.6B (B1) to US$0.9B(A1)

18

Unhelpful assumptions

• “the driest inhabited continent”

• “governments can’t agree on water”

• “cities could take all our water”

• “environmental flows and irrigation security are

incompatible”

10

Existing farming & grazing systems

•• ‘‘LeakLeak’’ water, sediments, nutrients, biocides, $$$$$, water, sediments, nutrients, biocides, $$$$$,

CO2, CH4, and biodiversity in many regionsCO2, CH4, and biodiversity in many regions

•• export young people from rural communitiesexport young people from rural communities

•• Most degradation occurs in Most degradation occurs in ‘‘extremeextreme’’ (if not unexpected) events (if not unexpected) events

•• Ad hoc broadacre land clearing is no longer tenableAd hoc broadacre land clearing is no longer tenable

•• Clearing & grazing of rivers & streams amplifies problemsClearing & grazing of rivers & streams amplifies problems

•• Water needs to be used much smarterWater needs to be used much smarter

20

Variation in water use efficiencywithin sectors

6.853.3Pears*

12n/a5.6Maize #

n/a

n/a

5.7

9

Average

124Cotton #

13.54Citrus #

10.62.8Peach/Nectarines *

176Dairy Pasture ML/Ha

HighestLowest

this shows extension is needed as well as R&D

~ DRDC - More Milk and Dollars, * MDBC project I7044, # Schofield and Thompson

11

We need farming systems that are

•• diverse, resilient, well-buffered, anticipatory, flexible,diverse, resilient, well-buffered, anticipatory, flexible,responsive, opportunisticresponsive, opportunistic

•• highly tuned to a variable climatehighly tuned to a variable climate

•• optimally leakyoptimally leaky

•• much more profitablemuch more profitable–– eg. twice the production from half the area with quarter the watereg. twice the production from half the area with quarter the water–– producing carbon, energy and water where appropriateproducing carbon, energy and water where appropriate

•• integrated into regional economiesintegrated into regional economies

•• attuned to lifestyle aspirationsattuned to lifestyle aspirations

22

Existing farming & grazing systems

• not tuned to Australian climates, soils, biota• Quotes from two graziers (Qld & WA):

“If we had discovered England, do you think we’d have shot all the sheep and cattle,cleared all the oak forests, and grazed it with kangaroos?”

and

“I am sick and tired of trying to keep aliveanimals and plants that just want to die in this country,

while shooting and clearing animals and plants that are adapted to itand just want to live in this country.”

12

23

On-ground change for individuals

three pillars– people need to want to change, to know what to do,and have the means to do it

• commitment– influenced by sense of place and of community (local & wider)

• know-how– options need to be viable and adoptable

• capacity– can be helped at the margins with incentives

24

Adoption reality check

• Old adoptability rules still apply (Pannell et al 2006)• Economic & regulatory signals remain weak• On-farm change is more likely where innovations:

– Offer relative advantage over existing systems/approaches

– Are not too complex

– Can be trialled, tested and evaluated (preferably on a modest scale)

– “Fit” with the farmer’s outlook, capacity and farming system

– Offer good returns within a reasonable timeframe

• But relative advantage can be defined in interesting ways….

13

25

A farmer perspective

Tom & Cynthia Dunbabin, “Bangor”Dunalley, Tasmania, Winners of the 15th McKell Medal

Too many policies remainprescriptive

Farmers have a strong sense ofplace, built on generations of landmanagement.

Partnerships with landholders,based on trust, and respectful oftheir sense of place are anessential precursor to moresuccessful approaches.

26

The Dunbabin Sense of Place Model

• Landholders’ strong sense of placedrives environmental actionsthrough responsibility towards, andpassion for the place (farm, beach,mine etc).

• Shared knowledge (science, culturalhistory etc), and broaderunderstanding of place, greatlyhelps in developing andimplementing positive actions.

14

27

The Dunbabin Sense of Place Model (2)

• When legislation, or other forcedchange impacts on the SoP of thelandholder, responsibility becomesaccountability and passion becomessocial stigma - driving a negativereaction rather than a positive action.

• Measures such as stewardshippayments have to be tailored in away that strengthens the passionand responsibility that drive thepositive actions.Figure 2

28

The Dunbabin Sense of Place Model (3)

• well designed programs add to theeffectiveness of the original model –not overturn it...

• There is no need to change thestrong Sense of Place farmers orother resource users have. It is farbetter to enhance that by addingadditional values, values shared bythe wider community.

Figure 3

15

29

Sustainabilityanother form of relative advantage

• Still a useful term – won’t go away• Needs to be unpacked & grounded at farm and landscape scale

• Sustain what? Over what area? For how long? For whose benefit? As

measured by whom?

• SAGE farmers– A group of leading farm businesses from across diverse commodities– Convened by LWA to look at how leading businesses understand and

measure farm sustainability performance– Working on a

Farm Sustainability Dashboard

SAGE Sustainability dashboard

16

31

Fitzgerald wilderness

Wholelandscapecommunity ledconservation

32

Bush wisdom with the community

• Information collection on an area basis, notsubject or species

• Research hot wired to action

• Information stored in and spread from a regionalbase

• Continuity of work, staff and population

17

The regional NRM investment modelan integrated approach

•• The regional model (56 catchment bodies) is an ambitious attempt toThe regional model (56 catchment bodies) is an ambitious attempt toimplement sustainable NRM at a landscape scale:implement sustainable NRM at a landscape scale:–– Devolve decision making & resource allocation to appropriate scaleDevolve decision making & resource allocation to appropriate scale

–– Tap into and build on deep local knowledge and connection to placeTap into and build on deep local knowledge and connection to place

–– Work across issues and industries in an integrated wayWork across issues and industries in an integrated way

•• integration means making wholeintegration means making whole–– across scales, issues, land tenures and land usesacross scales, issues, land tenures and land uses–– in the usersin the users’’ context context - landscapes, lifestyles & livelihoods - landscapes, lifestyles & livelihoods

•• that requires that requires excellent relationshipsexcellent relationships

•• And And comprehensive knowledgecomprehensive knowledge

•• The The ‘‘redesignredesign’’ imperative does not just apply to farming imperative does not just apply to farmingsystemssystems

•• Cities also have a huge ecological footprintCities also have a huge ecological footprint

•• Urban lifestyles are equally unsustainable, with a biggerUrban lifestyles are equally unsustainable, with a bigger

disconnect from resource conditiondisconnect from resource condition

People in neo-Georgian housesPeople in neo-Georgian housesshouldnshouldn’’t throw stonest throw stones

18

The urban-rural divide- not as wide as we think?

Some parallels:Some parallels:•• income distribution (Neil Barr)income distribution (Neil Barr)

•• lifestyle aspirations (lifestyle aspirations (Lia Lia Bryant)Bryant)

•• systemic systemic unsustainabilityunsustainability

•• shifts in perceptions & values neededshifts in perceptions & values needed

•• gap between expert aspirations and availability of practical,gap between expert aspirations and availability of practical,profitable, easily-adoptable solutionsprofitable, easily-adoptable solutions

•• desperate need for new optionsdesperate need for new options–– technologies & systems technologies & systems

A A ‘‘true Australiantrue Australian’’ would would

•• only use drinking water for drinkingonly use drinking water for drinking

•• live & work in buildings, towns & cities tuned to climate andlive & work in buildings, towns & cities tuned to climate andlandscape (eg AGO, 60L, Homebush)landscape (eg AGO, 60L, Homebush)–– check out check out www.60Lgreenbuilding.comwww.60Lgreenbuilding.com

•• use more renewable energy (sun, wind, wave)use more renewable energy (sun, wind, wave)

•• emphasise native species/habitats in cuisine, gardening, pets,emphasise native species/habitats in cuisine, gardening, pets,holidaysholidays

•• put comparable voluntary effort & $$$ into environmental repairput comparable voluntary effort & $$$ into environmental repairas they expect of farmersas they expect of farmers

19

37

Rethinking the environment

• as integral to national identity

• from a cost to an opportunity

• from ‘fixing problems’ to strategic repositioning

• from public policy problems to vibrant, globally

sexy industries

The environment industries(1996-97 figures from EIAA report)

•• a dynamic, a dynamic, ‘‘new economynew economy’’ sector sector

•• $500B global market growing 7% per year$500B global market growing 7% per year

•• Oz market $8.6 BillionOz market $8.6 Billion (ex tourism)(ex tourism)–– 1.6% GDP1.6% GDP–– resource providers 14%, equipment manufacturers 28%,resource providers 14%, equipment manufacturers 28%,

services 58%services 58%–– 2000 firms employing 127,000 people2000 firms employing 127,000 people–– $300m exports growing fast$300m exports growing fast

•• know-how can be a major export earnerknow-how can be a major export earner

20

39

Young professionals

• Will continue to be in great demand• Can shape remarkable careers• Mobility and flexibility crucial, BUT;

– Build on a solid base of skills and expertise

– Understand yourself, how you relate to others,how others see you

– Take time out to sharpen the saw (several times)– Cultivate mentors, patrons, exemplars

• Don’t forget to have a life!

40

Take home messages• Sustainability is the challenge of our age• You are key players in the biggest game of all• The Australian environment, and sustainability industries, are

critical to national identity and competitiveness• Rich and diverse opportunities for environmental professionals in

almost every aspect of economy and society• Work out what you want and what you have to offer• Be opportunistic, but don’t lose sight of long term goals

GO FOR IT!