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Joint Rainforest CRC & CRC Reef Media ReleaseForest observatory proposed to determine the fate of north Queensland's "Green Dinosaurs"22 November 2005 Many of North Queensland’s rainforests have been dubbed “green dinosaurs”, believed to be the oldest in the world, but can they live with the unprecedented threat of a changing climate? Eminent rainforest researcher Professor Nigel Stork, CEO of the Rainforest CRC, said the lack of long-term data prevents the monitoring of insidious and rapid environmental changes like global warming and increased CO2 levels. At the “Rainforest meets Reef” conference starting in Townsville today he will propose a “forest observatory” to enable high-tech monitoring of tropical forest animal and plant populations not previously seen in Australia. Rainforests act almost like the lungs of the earth, and the exchange of gases at the heady heights of the forest canopy is thought to play a major role in regulating the Earth’s weather. Almost half of all terrestrial life forms could exist in rainforest canopies, many of which rarely visit the ground. This explains why canopy research is vital to gaining a full understanding of the function of rainforests and potential response to change. “Carbon dioxide levels are predicted to double over the next 25-50 years, how plants will respond. Rainfall patterns are already changing, how the forests will cope with diminishing water resources is also up in the air,” Prof Stork said. Prof Stork is proposing two rainforest observatory sites, one in the Daintree Rainforest where a
canopy research crane already exists and another in upland forest on the Atherton Tablelands. Researchers would monitor two 50 hectare plots, measure roughly 250 000 trees and follow their progress through time. Over the plot canopy scientists would simulate the effects of warming by irrigating sections with carbon dioxide to see how the vegetation responds to enriched CO2. This plan would dovetail an international effort to establish networks of such forest observatories. “Australia’s wet tropics is one the most well known rainforest regions in the world because of the depth of research on plants and animals. All eyes are now watching us and waiting to learn of the potential impact of climate change. Australia’s contribution is vital,” Prof Stork added. The Rainforest meets Reef conference has been organised by the Rainforest and Reef CRCs and will be held at the Southbank Convention Centre in South Townsville 22-24 November. Prof Nigel Stork will be presenting at 8:45am Tuesday 22 November. Media contacts:
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