CATH MORAN ecological
ABN 97 843 362 276
Our Projects
Collaboration and partnership are key themes in our work to identify evidence-based, strategic approaches to decision-making and planning.
Understanding climate change impacts and adaptation options for natural resource management in north-eastern Australia
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The area of land cleared dramatically outweighs the amount of revegetation that can be undertaken to restore habitat. Cath Moran ecological is working with Central Queensland University and Terrain NRM to develop a strategy for revegetation in the Wet Tropics region of far north Queensland.
This work uses ecological principles and practitioner NRM knowledge to address multiple objectives for biodiversity. This project will support decisions at the regional scale and can include specific values and objectives that vary between individual projects.
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Climate change will increasingly have far-reaching impacts across all communities. Working with CSIRO, James Cook University and the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Federal Environment Department, Terrain & Cape York NRM groups, Reef Catchments and the Torres Strait Regional Authority, this work delivered an up-to-date synthesis about the likely impacts of climate change on terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments, infrastructure and industries, and cultural and social systems.
Identifying priority areas for revegetation in the Australian Wet Tropics
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Biodiversity and ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change. This project identified ways that managers of natural systems in Queensland may be able to adapt plans, policies, on-ground interventions and research to minimise negative impacts of climate change for biodiversity. The work was conducted jointly with the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) for the Queensland Department of Environment & Science (DES). The project delivered a sector-led report that provides a road map for collaborative, strategic management for the adaptation of biodiversity and ecosystems to climate change.
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Coastal communities around the world are already experiencing impacts from climate change, including rising sea levels. Pormpuraaw Shire is situated on the Gulf of Carpentaria on the western side of Cape York Peninsula. Various Kuuk Thaayorre Traditional Land Owners hold connections to the town and surrounding land and sea country. Much of the land area is low-lying (<ca. 5m above sea level) and already subject to prolonged inundation from heavy rainfall during the wet season. In this project, we work with RAIN Pty Ltd, Cape York NRM and the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council (PASC) to assess risks from sea level rise, storm tide and coastal erosion to built assets as well as biocultural values. This work satisfied Phase 2 of the Queensland Government's QCoast2100 program.
Coastal hazards adaptation planning in Pormpuraaw Shire
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Revegetation practice in the Wet Tropics of Australia has developed over more than three decades of experience. But, it was difficult to find detailed information about the specific on-ground methods used to revegetate tropical forest landscapes. we worked with revegetation practitioners and researchers to document the range of methods used to replant rainforest in the region and to set out the rationale for using specific methods. This work also identified key knowledge gaps and possible future directions in rainforest replanting and has formed the basis for subsequent research projects.
Biodiverse rainforest revegetation in wet tropical Australia
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Cath Moran ecological worked with Cape York NRM and the Balngarrawarra and Lama Lama Land & Sea Rangers, as well as the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance to co-develop understanding of the likely impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, cultural practices and heritage, and Traditional Owner health, safety and well-being. The project also developed knowledge about potential implications for burning practices, turtle population conservation management and food resources.
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Consequences of climate change for management of land and sea Country by Indigenous Rangers
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The Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Councils (ASCs) sought more information about projected changes in temperature, rainfall, sea levels and extreme weather for their Shires, together with high level assessment of impacts. Working with the ASCs, National Climate Adaptation Research Facility and Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, we developed better understanding of potential climate change impacts on factors such as people's health and well-being, homes, land and sea Country, access to food and medicine, road access, security of town water supply, cultural keeping places and so on. The project delivered a short film produced by Mulong.
Aboriginal Shire Councils managing climate change impacts
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The community-based tree planting group Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands (TREAT) and Terrain NRM were interested to understand the potential for the Australian Carbon Farming Initiative to deliver economic returns on small-scale, non-commercial rainforest plantings in the Wet Tropics.
By implementing an on-ground carbon farming case study, this project clarified the process for participating in the Australian carbon market, together with associated costs and potential economic returns. Findings from this work have been used by revegetation groups, landholders and government agencies.