Ms Alice Howie1,2, Associate professor Melanie J. Bishop2, Dr Simon Reeves1
1The Nature Conservancy, , Australia, 2Macquarie University, Biological Sciences, Sydney, Australia
Globally and locally, there is growing interest in restoring shellfish reefs, kelp forests and the ecosystem services they support. Successful restoration requires that present-day environmental conditions are suitable for the growth, survival and reproduction of each species and their provision of desired ecosystem services. It also requires that there is stakeholder and community support and that the restoration is feasible given other existing estuarine uses.
Over the past two years, the restoration suitability modelling process has been applied across 5 States, 12 estuaries and 4 shellfish species, to inform site selection for shellfish reef restoration under The Nature Conservancy’s Reef Builder program. More recently, we have constructed the first restoration suitability model for giant kelp in Australia.
Here we present and discuss the stakeholder-supported restoration suitability modelling process for two temperate reef ecosystems, the native flat oyster: Ostrea angasi and the charismatic giant kelp species Macrocystis pyrifera. Where the model considers: (1) how environmental conditions match biological requirements of two target reef species, (2) conflicting estuarine uses, and (3) stakeholder support and historical knowledge. Additionally, we compare these study sites to other restoration suitability modelling projects conducted in the country, and discuss lessons learnt and ways forward.
Presentation Slides – Alice Howie
