Ecological Assessment and Monitoring of Coastal Wetlands in Australia's Wet-Dry Tropics: A paradigm for Elsewhere

The Alligator Rivers Region in northern Australia is renowned for its habitat values but is under threat as a consequence of predicted climate change and sea level rise. In order to determine the likely extent and rate of change an assessment and monitoring framework for the coastal floodplain wetlands was designed. This resulted in a paradigm for developing a wetland assessment and monitoring program that included consultation with and involvement of local stakeholders. The components of the paradigm are:establishment and empowerment of an expert assessment and monitoring center,consultation with and empowerment of key stakeholders,identification of major processes and causes of ecological change,collation and coordination of available data and information,identification of potential collaborators and partners,design and implementation of technical assessment and monitoring projects,audit and, if necessary, termination of assessment and monitoring projects,implementation of management prescriptions based on results of the assessment and monitoring projects.