Abstract 1: Spatial scenario modelling for regional climate adaptation
Embedding climate change in regional natural resource management (NRM) decision-making and project design is vital to achieving practical actions aligned with regional climate adaptation priorities and national nature-positive and net-zero targets. Despite broad acceptance of this necessity, practical tools and place-based information for facilitating regional discussions and decision-making remain scarce. Climateworks Centre, Deakin University, North East CMA and Goulburn Broken CMA are collaborating to test the use of the Land Use Trade Offs v2 model (LUTO2) to enhance regional decision-making. The project will involve co-development of scenarios to inform nature-positive climate mitigation and adaptation in relation to national-level targets. It will also enable the development of automated regional-level reports of LUTO2-derived scenarios, which will be available to all NRM regions. The collaborative project is in the early stages, and the team will share initial lessons from the scenario development and regional report template planning processes.
Speaker: Ashley Rogers & Jo Sanson
Abstract 2: Risky resilience: putting climate change and biosecurity centre stage
In response to the escalating impacts of climate change and successive natural disasters, North Coast Local Land Services undertook a social research project to understand how to support staff, landholders, and industries in building resilience. Partnering with NSW Department of Customer Service and funded by the NEMA Disaster Risk Reduction Fund, the project surveyed and interviewed rural landholders to explore their experiences, preparedness, and barriers to resilience. Findings revealed that resilient landholders actively seek advice, maintain social connections, and invest in on-farm infrastructure. With Board endorsement, North Coast LLS embedded climate risk, biosecurity and the findings from this social research project into its strategic and operational planning. All programs must align with this focus, including a key partnership with the NSW Reconstruction Authority Business Beyond Disasters program, an initiative that equips agribusinesses with practical tools to plan, adapt, and thrive in the face of ongoing climate and biosecurity challenges.
Speaker: Louise Orr
Abstract 3: Low flammability vegetation as a nature-based solution to reducing fire risk.
South West NRM (SWNRM) is conducting a trial of a series of living firebreaks within the farmed landscape across different rainfall zones in SW WA. Research questions are focused on better understanding the design elements that influence performance of a living firebreak with regards to reducing risk in the SW WA landscape context, considering both physiological and morphological traits, the ecosystem co-benefits that living firebreaks can deliver, and a cost-benefit analyses of the NbS approach in consideration of establishment-maintenance-and avoided costs.
This presentation will explore the concept of nature-based solutions and provide insights into their potential for application in the south west of WA specifically to address fire risk mitigation.
Speaker: Linda Metz
Abstract 4: Building resilience naturally: Scaling nature-based flood mitigation in Australia through partnerships, data and science
Natural disasters currently cost Australia $38 billion annually, with projections suggesting this could double by 2060. Flooding, one of the most frequent and damaging hazards, is intensifying due to climate change, urbanisation, and historical land-use decisions. Prevention is not only possible – it’s more cost-effective. Every $1 invested in resilience can save up to $10 in recovery.
Despite their proven benefits, widespread adoption of nature-based solutions has been constrained by gaps in evidence, decision-making tools, funding, and the complexity of coordinating action across multiple land tenures and beneficiaries. NRM organisations are uniquely positioned to overcome these barriers, working across sectors to deliver scalable, tailored solutions.
While rainfall is vital for sustaining Australia’s freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services, disaster-scale flooding has increased since European settlement. Although the role of catchment attributes in flood behaviour is well understood, natural mitigation remains underutilised as both an alternative and complement to structural interventions like levees and dams.
We are forging cross-sector partnerships that accelerate environmental improvements by leveraging unlikely partnerships to foster nature-based solutions to build flood resilience and addressing the growing toll of disasters on Australia’s landscapes and communities.
Backed by 25 years of data and on-ground expertise, our science-led approach focuses on restoring and strengthening ecosystems – wetlands, riparian corridors, and forests – that act as natural buffers, absorbing and slowing floodwaters.
We will share how, through strong partnerships with councils, governments, industry, and communities, we are co-designing and delivering bespoke science and solutions that protect both people and landscapes – working with nature, not against it.
Speaker: Jorgen Schmidt
Abstract 5: Stabilsing Soil – Managing Flood and Fire Risk in a Productive Landscape
This project focuses on the stabilisation of waterways and hydrological systems on-farm utilising established but not locally implemented principles of stabilisation, rehydration and flood mitigation. A damaged water cycle causes soil erosion, which worsens flooding and decreases the land’s ability to filter and hold water, the intention is to prove the possibility to reverse damage to the water cycle of the heavily modified agricultural system without impacting the broader context of impacting agricultural productivity. The works will focus on reducing the velocity of water movement through riparian stabilisation, revegetation and groundcover/fodder systems that stabilise soils and allow for agricultural production. Stabilising the landscape and reducing the nutrient, soil, and carbon loss, that is currently accelerated by the lack of ponding and filtering, will reduce the impact of the annual flushing of these systems and increase the resilience of tributary systems and low-lying agricultural land to larger flood events.
Speaker: Katherine Allen
