Projects and impact

Knowledge management and the carbon economy in Indonesia

Knowledge management (KM) is the systematic management of information to develop strategy and guide practice. This is particularly relevant in the context of forest and land management in Indonesia where policy development and application is informed by a diversity of issues (e.g. demography, culture, ethnicity, religion, economics, environment, climate, geography). There are also structural issues such as location (capital city versus regional town), organisation (e.g. central vs. provincial or district agency).

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Contact:
Dr Paul McShane
paul.mcshane@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0739

Capacity Building: The National Council on Climate Change Indonesia

The Government of Indonesia (GOI) has made a serious commitment to address climate change, reflecting its status as the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG). Its emissions are mainly from deforestation and forest fires and the GOI has recently commissioned the development of a low carbon growth strategy for the nation. It has also established the National Council on Climate Change (DNPI) including seven working groups chaired by the President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. DNPI is supported by a secretariat responsible for capacity building and inter agency communication.

An AusAID funded project aiming to strengthen capacity for Indonesia to more effectively address climate change has commenced following a recent inception meeting (October 2009). The Monash Sustainability Institute's (MSI's) Dr Paul McShane met with the Chair of the Secretariat of DNPI, Dr Agus Purnomo and the DNPI Co-ordinator of Capacity Building, Dr Agus Supangat, at their offices in Jakarta. He also met with AusAID's Mr Dan Heldon and Mr Tim Jessup who are responsible for directing climate change programs in Indonesia.

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Prediction of the Impact of Increasing Frequency of Bushfire on the Water Resources of the Forested Upland Catchments of the Murray Basin

Comprehensive understanding of climate change and its consequences for water resources and quality at a river basin or large catchment scale is vital to planning the future management of the Murray Darling Basin. Changes in Australia's climate are causing increased uncertainty about the likely impacts at a river basin scale, of events such as repeated bushfires, on whole ecosystems and the consequences for water resource availability and quality. Climate change will simultaneously impact on the vegetation, biogeochemistry, terrestrial and aquatic ecology and the hydrology of catchments. View report.

Contact:
Dr Phil Wallis
phillip.wallis@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9905 8709

Melbourne's Water Situation: The opportunity for diverse solutions

Drier and warmer climatic conditions are predicted for south east Australia. The frequency and magnitude of rainfall events, particularly in late autumn is already exhibiting signs of a shift to a drier climate. Late Autumn rainfall has decreased over south east Australia in recent years (Cai and Cowan, 2008a). A recent climate report presented a range of greenhouse gas emission scenarios, based on IPCC methodology, and projected warmer and drier climatic conditions for south eastern Australia (CSIRO, 2007). As a consequence, increased frequency of drought and increased fire weather risk are predicted. Regional drying appears to have been occurring for over 40 years (Cai and Cowan, 2008b). View report

Investigating Transport Disadvantage, Social Exclusion and Well-being in Metropolitan, Regional and Rural Victoria

An ARC project in collaboration between Monash University (Lead Researcher, Professor Graham Currie), the Department of Transport, Victoria, the Bus Association of Victoria, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Oxford University and University of Ulster. The project life is three years, due to finish at the end 2009.

Contact:
Dr. Janet Stanley
janet.stanley@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0737

Comprehensive Review of Complementary Measures to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme for the South Australian Government

A short project which is a collaboration between MSI/CWA and KPMG. Project contributors are: Professor Dave Griggs, Professor John Thwaites and Dr. Janet Stanley.

Contact:
Dr Janet Stanley
janet.stanley@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0737

Study of equity issues for a proposed Westernport adaptation strategy project

This project is to provide an Issues Paper for the Department of Environment and Sustainability on the particular issues on adaptation that will be faced by members of the community who are disadvantaged, with low finances, and who may be at risk of social exclusion.

Contact:
Dr Janet Stanley
janet.stanley@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0737

Melbourne’s water situation: the short and long-term outlook: Scenarios of supply and demand

Project contributors are: Dr. Bob Birrell, Dr. Mike Grace, Professor Dave Griggs, Dr. Ernest Healy, Professor John Langford, Janet Stanley and Dr. Philip Wallis. View report

Contact:
Dr Janet Stanley
janet.stanley@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0737

Forestry Management and Climate Change - Indonesia

Monash Sustainability Institute leads a collaborative project developing an integrated approach to catchment management for sustainable water use in response to climate change. Working with Indonesia’s Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and its National Council on Climate Change (DNPI), researchers from Monash Biological Sciences, Business and Economics, Chemistry, Geography and Environmental Science are evaluating scenarios relating to likely climate change. In particular, Indonesia has an opportunity to develop strategies for climate change mitigation (reduced emissions, deforestation, land degradation (REDD)) and climate change adaptation (improved water management policies for ecologically sustainable development). Studies of the Ciliwung river basin are focusing on the consequences of increased frequency and severity of floods, particularly on the economic, social and environmental impacts on Jakarta. Studies of the Sebangau catchment in Central Kalimantan are examining REDD opportunities in the context of land clearing, deforestation and proactive recovery programs. This links directly with the recently established Indonesia Australia Forest Carbon partnership.

Contact:
Dr Paul McShane
paul.mcshane@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0739

Integrated catchment management - India

A project assisting Indian government agencies to respond proactively to climate change is being led by the Monash Sustainability Institute. Working with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, which has recently joined with Monash University to form the IITB Monash Research Academy, Monash will assist in building multidisciplinary capacity in integrated catchment management and in developing cost-effective adaptation strategies. Climate change is expected to impact on India’s major river systems through increased snow melts in Himalayan catchments. This is likely to lead to increased flooding impacts. Using the Mahanadi river basin as a case study, performance metrics for environmental, social and economic development will be developed in collaboration with Indian agencies (Central Water Commission, Department of Water Resources) consistent with India’s National water policy. 

Contact:
Dr Paul McShane
paul.mcshane@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0739

Integrated catchment management - Viet Nam

Monash Sustainability Institute is co-ordinating a multidisciplinary project for integrated catchment management in response to climate change. Linking to similar projects being undertaken in Indonesia and in India, the study in Viet Nam is developing case study analyses of the Mekong river delta and of the Red River basin. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Viet Nam National University (Hanoi) and the Viet Nam Ministry of Natural resources and Environment. Monash is providing capacity through its schools of Geography and Environment, Economics, Biological Sciences and Civil Engineering. It is also providing support through its Water Studies Centre and Centre of Policy Studies. Researchers from Viet Nam, India and Indonesia will be joining Monash researchers for an International symposium on catchment management in September 2009.

Contact:
Dr Paul McShane
paul.mcshane@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0739 

Developing integrated management strategies for river basin management in response to climate change: the Mahanadi River Basin, India

The Monash Sustainability Institute, and participating faculties from Monash University, are collaborating with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NIT), the Forest, Environment, and Wildlife Management Department (Government of Sikkim, India), and the Orissa Water Planning organisation (Orissa, India). Supported by AusAID, the project is identifying gaps in social, economic, and environmental factors important in responding to likely climate change scenarios (increased severity of droughts and floods). > more

Contact:
Dr. Paul McShane
paul.mcshane@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0739

Melbourne's Water Situation: The Opportunity for Diverse Solutions

Drier and warmer climatic conditions are predicted for south east Australia. The frequency and magnitude of rainfall events, particularly in late autumn is already exhibiting signs of a shift to a drier climate. Late Autumn rainfall has decreased over south east Australia in recent years (Cai and Cowan, 2008a). A recent climate report presented a range of greenhouse gas emission scenarios, based on IPCC methodology, and projected warmer
and drier climatic conditions for south eastern Australia (CSIRO, 2007). As a consequence, increased frequency of drought and increased fire weather risk are predicted. Regional drying appears to have been occurring for over 40 years (Cai and Cowan, 2008b).

To see the full report, click here.

Contact:
Dr. Janet Stanley
janet.stanley@msi.monash.edu.au
+61 3 9902 0737