Climate Change
Parks and climate change
Parks cover more than 4 million hectares of Victoria. They protect many important environments but sit in a broader landscape that is changing.
They also play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity, providing clean air and water, regulating climate, maintaining healthy waterways, preventing soil erosion, maintaining genetic resources, providing habitat for native species and pollination.
Parks play an important role in removing carbon from the atmosphere, storing it in vegetation and soil is critical.
Climate change is recognised by the Victorian government as presenting major risks to our environment, our way of life and our economy.
Parks are at substantial risk from climate change. Increased incidence of extreme bushfire weather and conditions, storms and water shortages are already with us. Other emerging risks threaten the flora and fauna, opportunities for recreation, the tourism industry and our cultural heritage.
While uncertainty remains about the scale and timing of climate change impacts, and the best methods to reduce the greenhouse emissions that are driving the warming of the planet, park managers must adapt to cope with impacts that are already occurring.
Useful links
- Victorian Government - Understanding climate change
- National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
- Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research
- Parks Australia
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature
- CSIRO
- Bureau of Meteorology
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Mistletoe
25 Jan 2012
Mistletoes are semi-parasitic native plants which use other plants to obtain their water and nutrients. They often mimic the host and can have very colourful flowers. There are 85 species of native mistletoe throughout Australia. Their nectar is highly attractive to birds, particularly the mistletoe bird which plays an important role …
Latest posts
Jordie Campbell from Sandy Point has taken out his third Woorrangalook Victorian...View post | Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12.53
Ailsa and Brett at our Warrnambool office rescued this emu stuck in the mud at T...View post | Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16.32
Filming a short video of the flood recovery works at Grampians National Park. (D...View post | Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15.05
Please check out our new video on the flood recovery work at Lysterfield Park. T...View post | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13.21
YouTube
Lysterfield Park - Flood Recovery and ReopeningView post | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11.34