Evaluation of an ecosystem forecasting system for rehabilitated arid landscapes
Research Program
Data Integration, Forecasting and Scale
Project Leader
Professor Eric Veneklaas
Project ID
4.8
Summary
The mining industry is increasingly being asked/challenged by governments and communities to predict ecosystem changes for improved mine site decision-making and closure planning. It is broadly recognised that short-term ecological forecasting – from days to years into the future – has tremendous potential to improve the quality and timeliness of information available to guide resource management and rehabilitation decision-making. However, the reliable production and delivery of operational and closure ecological forecasts will require a sustained commitment by research agencies, in partnership with industry and government agencies, to maintain and improve forecasting tools and capabilities.
The aim of this project is to evaluate an ecological forecasting model system developed for rehabilitated arid landscapes in the Mid-West and Pilbara region, Western Australia, for near-term changes in rehabilitation success and ecological condition. This project is associated with further testing and developing the ecological forecasting system for the wider mining industry.
Project Partners
BHP, Rio Tinto, The University of Western Australia
Advisory Partners
WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
Duration
6 months