We know that climate change is with us but how can we plan for such an uncertain future? This is the challenge facing natural resource management (NRM) organisations and local communities across Australia. We know that the earth is generally getting hotter, but where and when will the rain fall? How will our overseas markets react to climatic and other challenges? Some land use changes that might seem sensible from an economic point of view, will not be viable with changed land and water regimes. How will our rich biodiversity adapt and thrive in their changing environments? How can we plan to make sure they can adapt? To address these challenges, NRM organisations across the Southern Slopes Cluster have worked together with the researchers from universities and state agencies involved in the Southern Slopes Cluster Climate Change Adaptation Research Partnership (SCARP). Together they have synthesised relevant information and importantly drawn on research in Australia and overseas to develop fit for purpose approaches that will assist NRM organisation embark on ongoing adaptation to climate change. Partnerships and Pathways were the key elements in this endeavour. SCARP has shown us ways we can look at our challenge from different points of view in order to develop and implement strategies. These new strategies will need to be workable over normal planning horizons, yet not compromise our options for the future. The resultant Pathways approach to planning for climate change adaptation will help us to do this. This Playbook steps us through an adaptation pathways planning process, specifically developed for use in NRM. The Playbook also provides an overview and guide to the compendium of relevant information in SCARP's Portal Report.
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