Resilience is “the ability of a system to absorb disturbance and re-organise so as to retain the same structure, function, feedbacks and (therefore) identity.” Resilience Alliance
The discussion held at the Resilience Forum with Dr Brian Walker(see conferences/events page on www.widcorp.com) sparked considerable interest with respect to how resilience thinking can be applied to the Western Victoria region. The discussion was guided by the following questions raised by Dr Brian Walker:
i) Can you develop an evolving list of “slow” variables that have, or might have, thresholds, at various scales, that the region should be concerned about?
ii) And, at the same time, how do you maintain or enhance general resilience? What are the systems building blocks?
Groups identified social ecological and economic variables which are likely to take the system to its threshold, and nominated underlying factors which enhance the resilience of the region:
Social/Econmic Resilience
Social/Economic 'slow variables' suggeted as affecting the West Victoria region were:
Population, natural resources, transport/access, knowlege and values, demographics, climate, food supply, water, structural adjustments, landuse and agriculture, social networking, connectedness, ecological footprint, equity.
Social/Economic building blocks suggested were broadly grouped as:
Access to resources (natural resources); access to infrastructure and services; access to knowledge; diversity of expertise; and access to social networks.
Environmental Resilience
Environmental slow moving variables:
Biodiversity, temperature, water, soil health, population, land cover
Environmental building blocks suggested were:
Biodiversity (distribution and density), knowledge and management systems; social values and behaviour, native vegetation resources, water management and allocation.
Obviously it is not a suprise that the three domains are interrelated.
From your perspective, are there other variables or building blocks to add to this list? Do you have comments on the list in general? Does this list relate to your region or is there something else to consider?
Please relay your thoughts to this discussion. Click on 'Add comment' below.
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( 3 / 2204 )The Water in Drylands Collaborative Research Program is interested in understanding the implications of a major water reform (Wimmera Mallee Pipeline) on the sustainability of a dryland region.
This blog is designed to share information and add value to our research program. Please feel free to join in the discussion.
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( 2.9 / 183 )WIDCORP has found there are both perceived benefits and disadvantages of conversion from open earthen channels/dams to pipelines for water delivery in dryland regions. Some major benefits are:
a reliable and flexible supply of quality water
better on-farm management
improvements to economy and wellbeing
water savings through reduction in seepage and evaporation; and in turn
environmental flows to rivers and water bodies.
Disadvantages include the loss of recreation (such as swimming, fishing) and wildlife through closure of channels and farm dams.
We are investigating further the relationship between water reform and its impacts on populations in the community (ie. farmers, small businesses, urban compared with rural users), as well as the community processes that drive innovation and change to acheive regional sustainability outcomes.
Do you have a pipeline that delivers water to your dryland region? Has it made a difference to your community? What are your observations/experiences of water pipelines in your region, or regions that you have studied?
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