Implications of Climate Change for Australia's World Heritage ...

IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA’S WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
10. Mammal species endemic to the Wet Tropics of Queensland considered vulnerable to a 1.0 °C rise in
temperature. For these species a loss of 50% of their core environment is predicted (Adapted from:
Williams et al. 2003). 116
11. Bioclimatic characteristics of bird species endemic to the Wet Tropics of Queensland
(Crome & Nix 1991). Species are listed in order of vulnerability. 117
12. Temperature and rainfall change based on a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario 130
13. Current estimates of selected seabird populations on Heard and McDonald Islands, their
population trends, and IUCN status (Birdlife International 2000; IUCN 2007). Errors of estimates
are unknown. (Source: Woehler 2006: 129) 136
14. Average annual rainfall for 2030 relative to 1990 for Australia’s World Heritage properties
(adapted from: CSIRO 2006). Note: does not include all World Heritage properties, e.g.
Lord Howe Island, Macquarie Island, Heard and McDonald Islands, and Shark Bay. 199 199
15. Summary of climate change scenarios by 2030 (as an estimate of change) for each World Heritage
region derived from CSIRO climate modelling for Australia relative to 1990 (Source: CSIRO 2006).
Figures are based on a ‘high’ greenhouse gas emissions scenario (the A1FI scenario (IPCC 2000)). 201
Boxes
Box 1. Natural heritage criteria (ix) and (x) 22
Box 2. Natural heritage criteria (vii) and (viii) 25
Box 3. Cultural heritage listing criteria (iii) to (vi) 27
Box 4. Cultural heritage listing criteria (i) and (ii) 28
Box 5. Coral vulnerability and thresholds 58
Abbreviations
AAD Australian Antarctic Division
AGO Australian Greenhouse Office (now the Department of Climate Change)
BOM Bureau of Meteorology
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
DCC Department of Climate Change
DEH Department of the Environment and Heritage (now the Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts)
DEWHA Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
EAC East Australian Current
ENSO El Niño Southern Oscillation
EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
GBRMPA Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
GIS geographic information systems
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
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