Over the next four years [2009-2012], the Adaptation Research Network for Marine Biodiversity and Resources (or simply, the Marine Adaptation Network) will work closely with the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) to deliver on its vision to build adaptive capacity and adaptive response strategies for the effective management of marine biodiversity and natural marine resources under climate change.
Given the recent predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicating that global warming will affect the planet over at least the next couple of centuries, it is clear that new paradigms, policies, and governance systems will be essential for Australia in order to sustain the capacity of its marine ecosystems and for securing future economic and societal development. Unfortunately, the degree of resilience and adaptive capacity of many marine species to climate change risks and potential impacts, for example corals and coral reefs, are still poorly known.
The Marine Adaptation Network aims to implement a strong interdisciplinary organisational framework to engage researchers, governments and industry in a way that will enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability of Australia’s marine biodiversity and resources to climate change risks.
The Marine Adaptation Network encourages the synthesis of research answering marine sectoral questions of Australian regional or national importance. In 2011/2012 the network is funding a series of workshops to develop issues papers that synthesise existing and emerging research to address key marine climate change adaptation knowledge gaps.