5 December 2016
A drop in crop yields and the extinction of the Western Mouse by 2070 are just two of the predicted impacts of climate change in the Wheatbelt.
The forecast comes from a new website that has collected information from the country’s leading scientific agencies.
The Climate Change Portal was developed by natural resource management group Wheatbelt NRM and funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
For the first time the website brings together data from the CSIRO, University of Western Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Department of Agriculture and Food, WA, specific to the region.
Wheatbelt NRM’s Dr Dimity Boggs developed the site and said it would help farmers, governments and environment groups deal with climate change.
Dr Boggs said the focus was on the predicted impact climate change could have on rainfall, temperature, biodiversity and agriculture.
“In nearly 50 years time and under a high emissions scenario, average rainfall was forecast to drop nearly 25 per cent, or 85 millimetres,” Dr Boggs said.
“This would result in a decrease in crop yields on average by nine per cent, and the problem of frost would be replaced by heat stress.”
Dr Boggs said the consequences of climate change on the region’s native flora and fauna were equally concerning.
“By 2080 there may be no suitable climate in the Avon River Basin for the Western Mouse, Ring-tailed Possum or Black-flanked Rock-wallaby.”
Dr Boggs said armed with the Climate Change Portal information, landholders, governments and environmental groups could start preparing.
“Different crop varieties could be planted while local councils could plan to maximise water use efficiency,” Dr Boggs said.
“For landholders, there is also the opportunity to access support for rehabilitating remnant vegetation, to help save our threatened species.”
The Climate Change Portal was expected to be updated annually and can be accessed via www.nrmstrategy.com.au
Media contact: Dr Dimity Boggs, Wheatbelt NRM, (08) 9670 3100.