For further information please contact
|
|  Yüklə 0.57 Mb.
|
AIM 7: FACILITATE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCHAdaptive management experiments and studies using historical data from kangaroo industry returns and population data are essential to improving our understanding of kangaroos and their interaction with environmental, social and economic systems, and thereby effectively maintaining viable populations of kangaroos throughout their ranges. Research into particular aspects of kangaroo ecology or harvest management can also assist in ensuring that kangaroo populations are maintained at sustainable levels across their range in the long term. While there has been a large body of research on the ecology and management of kangaroos, there are information gaps which, when filled, may lead to more effective management of the commercial harvest. ACTION 23: Historical data relating to the commercial kangaroo harvest in South Australia will be analysed during the life of this plan to identify trends; this analysis will be considered in future kangaroo management programs. Previous kangaroo management programs have obtained a wide range of information relating to the commercial harvesting of kangaroos in South Australia. This information will be analysed to provide data on trends in kangaroo populations, utilisation rates, average weights and other specific information relating to the commercial harvest. The analysis of historical data relating to the commercial kangaroo harvest in South Australia may be undertaken by a range of individuals or organisations including tertiary students, university professionals, consultants or DEWNR. Performance indicators: 23.1 Analysis of historical kangaroo harvest and management data is undertaken during the life of this plan. 23.2 The results of analysis and research using historical kangaroo harvest and management data are published in an appropriate forum. Consideration of research findings and the results of any analysis are essential in not only the development of future Commercial Kangaroo Harvest Management Plans, but also for facilitating the adaptive management of kangaroo populations, which in turn will aid in maintaining viable populations of kangaroos throughout their ranges. The appropriate forum will vary according to the type of research or analysis. At a minimum, the results of any research undertaken using DEWNR data should be provided to DEWNR, and ideally be made available from the Kangaroo Management Program web page.
Under active adaptive management, management activities are conducted as a deliberate experiment. Alternative strategies are viewed as treatments and are implemented through statistically valid experimental design; monitoring is the data-collection step of the experiment. Active adaptive management can establish cause-and-effect relationships between activities and changes in ecological conditions. All proposals for adaptive management must be approved in accordance with the provisions of this plan prior to implementation. Proposals to undertake adaptive management trials will be assessed on the basis of:
At the time of writing, a new commercial harvest region is being trialled, in the south-east of South Australia, This trial will continue for three years, unless earlier assessment determines that the commercial harvest region is not viable. Performance indicators: 24.1 All proposals to undertake active adaptive management experiments are reviewed and assessed by DEWNR in accordance with the criteria outlined in this plan. 24.2 All necessary approvals – including animal care and ethics – are obtained prior to commencement of experiments testing deliberate management interventions. Commonwealth approval is required if the adaptive management experiment will result in a harvest rate that is in excess of the harvest rate set out in this plan. 24.3 All adaptive management experiments are continuously monitored and conducted according to approval conditions. As per the criteria outlined above, all active adaptive management experiment proposals must have monitoring programs incorporated. Monitoring programs must be maintained during the life of the experiment. All monitoring must be conducted in accordance with any conditions imposed with the approval. 24.4 Results of all experiments testing deliberate management interventions are published in an appropriate forum. The appropriate forum for dissemination will vary according to the type of research and the target audience. However, it is expected that any research conducted as an active adaptive management experiment in accordance with the provisions of this plan will be made available for the information of the Kangaroo Management Reference Group and DEWNR for inclusion on the Kangaroo Management Program web page.
DEWNR will work with external research organisations to identify and investigate issues relevant to the commercial harvest of kangaroos. Research may include aspects of the biology and ecology of kangaroos as they relate to the commercial harvest, survey techniques, or the impact of commercial harvesting processes on numbers of non-native predators and scavengers. Contributions by DEWNR may include funding and/or in-kind support such as the provision of harvest data. Performance indicator: 25.1 Issues associated with the ecology of harvested species and the management of the commercial harvest are identified and research proposals are sought from universities and other research institutions during the life of this plan. |