Community survey on human responses to climate change and subsequent
impacts on biodiversity
Herberton, QLD, Australia
Interviewee info:
Male, age range 54-70; 5-year resident of Herberton
B1: What are some of the biggest changes you have observed over the last few
years? (Not weather-related)
Rise of the far right in American and Australian politics; the US is more “in
your face” about it than Australia.
B2: What are the biggest changes in weather you have observed over the last few
years? [NOTE: this response was based on both his personal observations, the
observations of his peers, and what he’s read in Australian scientific literature.]
The wet season is more “erratic,” tending towards “shorter and sharper,” but
on average, it is not noticeably drier. He also noted that there has been more
mist in Herberton than rain. For changes in temperature, he said that he has
not been on the Tablelands long enough to judge – “I’m too mobile to be a
good temperature gauge.” He mentioned that he experienced two frosts, both
in his first year living in Herberton, and that there have been none since. He
stated that there has been a trend towards higher intensity cyclones, but in
general they are more spread out. He said that this is following the
predictions that climate scientists have made. For example, there have been
three category 5+ storms in the past decade: Yassi, Monica, and Larry. He
denied any noticeable increase in fires because they have always been
present in Australia.
C1a: How have the changes in weather you mentioned impacted “the main
livelihood”?
Changes in weather have not impacted Herberton in a major way due to their
diverse economy; income comes from a lot of smaller sources (schools,
mining, agriculture, tourism) as opposed to being heavily dependent on a
single source. He said the biggest risk is to water supply, which he predicts
will be a problem soon. Personally, in recent years he has received more
funding for research focusing on climate change, for example he was the coeditor of the book “Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Australian Birds”
(2014). He attributes this to increased awareness, specifically in politics, that
has made it more likely to get funding for climate change-based research.
C1b: How have people responded to these impacts?
No response yet; research has shifted somewhat towards climate change.
C2a: How have the changes in weather you mentioned affected the availability of
natural resources?
There have been no big impacts yet. He predicts that the dry season will
lengthen, and the current water reserves in the local Wild River will not be
plentiful enough to last through these extended, harsher dry seasons.
Currently, there is more mist in the wet season than rain, but it rains in the
upland wet sclerophyll forests that feed the reservoir. He says that he
watched the reservoir regularly over the past year, and that it was still full by
late September 2016, and because of the upland rains, the town was able to
hold through a very dry November without major water restrictions. He said
that overall, the severe predictions for cloud forests like the Wet Tropics
have not yet been realized.
C2b: How have people responded to these impacts?
The Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) recently standardized the cost of
water across the region. For Herberton, this meant increased cost per liter of
water, and a decreased connection fee. On average, the cost of water did not
change, but this meant that heavy water users would be penalized, hopefully
increasing water awareness. Personally, he has started managing his own
water use, and said that in the past 6mo, his water bill decreased by $85. He
worries that if there is a water shortage in the future it will prompt the
building of a second reservoir on the Wild River, which he said would be
detrimental to water quality.
C3: Are there any other impacts or responses to the changes in weather you
mentioned?
On the Tablelands, voters have become more conscious of conservation,
especially after the election of regional councilor Kate Eden, who does
believe in evidence based decision making and has made the TRC less
polarized and more environmentally aware. He also says that the Tablelands
are a more left-leaning area compared to the rest of North Queensland
because of their diverse and educated population. Conversely, he has noticed
that other parts of North QLD have become less accepting of science and
climate change theory, specifically in the Pastoral Belt.
D1: Which responses potentially have negative impacts on biodiversity?
Response 1 – water shortage
Water-dependent fauna will be restricted to areas where water still persists,
which will result in reduced abundance. There will also be negative effects on
aquatic species dependent on bodies of water that flow year round. These
effects will be heightened if the human population increases in Herberton,
which will increase the demand for water.
Response 2 – reservoir
“It depends on how they build it but they will probably do it badly.” The Wild
River will consequently run for fewer days per year, and species dependent
on permanent pools such as the platypus will decline. (The platypus has
likely declined already, but no one has bothered to notice.) The cessation of
water flow may also cause toxins to accumulate in the river.