The combination of global warming, low rainfall, reduced recharge/run off and increasing water extraction/demand has resulted in (falling groundwater levels ) a situation that is no longer ecologically or socio-economically sustainable fresh water system. Simply in Gnangara mound groundwater system, more water is leaving the system to meet consumptive demand than is coming into the system through rainfall/recharge. This situation resulted in decline water table/level significantly in some parts of the mound. This impact observed as dieing vegetation, drying wetlands and caves and reduced sustainability of the system into future. Water authorities are now facing a great challenge to meet requirements with new urbanization plan, reallocating horticultural area, increasing population and increasing demand. This paper provides a better understanding of how the groundwater system on Gnangara mound responds to the change in the climate and landuse with evaluation of its socio-economic impacts and tradeoffs. In order to evaluate this system, an object-oriented system dynamics approach has been used to develop an integrated model. Preliminary results from the development and application of the model for quantifying sustainability of Gnangara mound system is presented with emphasis on the understanding of the tradeoffs of changing climatic conditions and landuse planning. Water levels vary significantly under different climatic conditions (recharge regimes). Changing and reallocating landuse is able to improve recharge in some parts of the system but this cannot reverse the overall trend of falling levels as the climate signal is pervasive.

Global warming and drought conditions lead to reduced water availability. Competing and conflicting water uses and other water-related environmental problems are rapidly increasing in many parts of the world, including Australia. Moreover, water demand for irrigation is driven by cropping activities which, result in higher river flows during summer and altered flow regimes that in turn alter the seasonality of flows considering climatic uncertainty. This can have important ecological and economic impacts. Therefore, there is a need to explore new management system to integrate all the available information and values (economic, environmental and social) considering uncertainty involved to better understand the trade-off between environmental performance and water productivity.

Using a combined system-dynamics and optimisation approach, plus spatial and modelling data, an integrated hydrological economic environmental model (DSS) can be developed to assist the land and water managers to make decisions based on the evaluation of the trade-off between Agricultural productivity and environmental performances with the triple bottom line (environmental, social and economic).

Global warming has impacted the four dimensions of the food security problem, namely: availability (including production and trade); stability of supply (dependent on available water); accessibility; and utility. The food-water security system is diverse in size, in character, and in time. Moreover, the food-water security system management is complex due to the uncontrolled nature of the climate change variables, and because the assessment of the efficacy of management decisions is difficult due to the complexity and interconnectivity of water systems components (environment, physical, agricultural and socio-economic). Further complexity is added where natural resource management (NRM) is decentralised and a catchment or region is covered by several management bodies.

Essentially most of the quantitative assessments in the previous studies show that climate change has adversely affected food security. Climate change will increase the dependency of developing countries on imports and accentuate existing focus of food insecurity on many countries around the world. Also, previous assessments show that the socio-economic environment is more important than the impacts that can be predicted from the biophysical changes of climate change. Accordingly, this study aims at introducing an integrated system model for food and water security management system for Egypt case study. The framework is designed in more flexible fashion using a simple graphical user interface through VENSIM platform to allow the decision makers to have the ability of selecting several policy making variables and change them over the assigned planning time horizon. The model is able to simulate different scenarios and alternatives for different time horizon. The developed integrated framework shows robustness in dealing with such complicated issues and allows the decision maker to have a reliable vision for the future situation regarding water and food security.

This paper presents the use of water banking concept (using aquifers as a natural underground dam) combined with different changing landuse such as crop mixes to improve river water productivity and environmental performance. The goal of water banking, in general, is to efficiently allocate all available water to achieve an economic growth while achieving an environmental sustainability. As a case study, Water banking, along with two methods of managed aquifer recharge, have been modeled and tested under different crop mixes by using a dynamic modeling system approach for Murrumbidgee River Basin in Australia,. The results indicated that there is a clear trade-off between improving water use efficiency, agricultural productivity and environmental performance. Water banking is able to better manage biophysical demand, and enhance in-stream flows that are biologically and ecologically significant.

The Warrion region in south west Victoria, Australia, has been subjected to land cover changes, groundwater pumpage and irrigation. Declining groundwater levels over the past decade has focused attention on the impacts of irrigation practices and research to date has identified groundwater extraction as the primary cause of falling groundwater levels and the drying of a significant group of lakes. However, recent declines in groundwater levels have coincided with reduced rainfall, and it has been hypothesised that severe drought over the past ten years has affected groundwater levels in the Warrion more significantly than has been thought. To test this hypothesis a simple one-dimensional model was developed to determine how well groundwater behaviour could be estimated from rainfall and evapotranspiration. The region is understood to be a local groundwater system with recharge occurring along the elevated ridge of the central range and groundwater discharge into the lakes on either side. The system was conceptualised as three connected reservoirs, with an upper, recharge, reservoir (the groundwater store) draining to two lower, discharge, reservoirs (the lakes). Input to the upper reservoir is a function of rainfall and evaporation, while outflow to the lakes is a function of the height difference between the upper and lower reservoirs and hydraulic conductivity –- in accord with Darcy's Law. A system dynamics approach has been taken to modelling the system using the object oriented programming language, VENSIMTM. The model was calibrated to recorded monthly groundwater level measurements. The best fit was obtained where the model was calibrated using the last half of the record (R2 = 0.95) and validated using the first half. An R2 of 0.925 was obtained for the full historic record (total 83 monthly values). No lag was required for the rainfall record. Results show groundwater fluctuations can be simply modelled using rainfall and lake levels data. Recharge is estimated at around 30%. This has led to the conclusion that groundwater trends are strongly linked to reduced rainfall.

Water demand is driven by cropping activities which result in higher river flows in the reaches upstream of the irrigation areas. This situation led to alter flow regime in turn alters the seasonality of flows which significantly causing important ecological impacts. The combination of regulation, operation and water polices has also resulted in a significant reduction in flow variability. Maintaining irrigation supply flows and increasing river flows for environmental requirements downstream represent a critical challenge and requires innovative solution.

One promising option to achieve these two objectives is the conjunctive use management of surface and groundwater using water banking. The aim of this study is to present and investigate the use of water banking concept to the farmers and water mangers as it is critical and important as its design and operation to improve the environmental performance of the river. Water banking has been modeled and introduced to the integrated hydrological, economic and environmental river modelling framework (NSM) for the Murrumbidgee River catchment using system dynamics approach. The model has been tested water banking under different management scenarios under different climatic conditions and two recharging methods (infiltration and injection). Results indicate two strong messages; Firstly there is clear trade-off between agricultural income, environmental performances and water use; Secondly; water banking performed as a good mechanism that is can managing irrigation demand, and in turn improve the seasonal flows and enhance in-stream flows that are biologically and ecologically significant.

ABSTRACT Nature has so much to offer to the current challenges facing societies and world, but unfortunately, societies tend to ignore or resort nature’s offer/solution as the last option. Nowadays, world/mankind is facing a huge number of environmental problems. However, if researchers pay more attention to studying and understanding nature and nature’s positive laws, it should help them play a critical role in overcoming and healing most of these problems. The main focus of this study is to present humanity and termites as design partners in the creation of a new dimension of water and soil conservation understanding. This understanding is based upon the likelihood that termites, as truly symbiotic detrivores, have developed optimal architecture and design for water and soil conservation in ecosystems over millions of years. In this biomimicry concept study the objective is to present and discuss termite design for better water and soil management by government, industry and the public. Termites create environments that regulate and maintain near-constant moisture and temperature (green energy technology). Termites also create self-regulating energy systems that need no mechanical power for cooling and/or heating. In tropical climates, termites improve soil structure and moisture holding capacity and conserve water irrespective of changing environmental conditions. Thus, the focus/emerge question is can water and soil stakeholders mimic termite management systems in their bid to manage and sustain natural water and soil systems? KEY WORDS: Biomimicry, Soil degradation and conversation, management, Termites, natural rehabilitations, Water infiltration and Ecosystem approach

The aim of this study is to present humanity and termites as design partners in the creation of a new dimension of human understanding. This understanding is based upon the likelihood that termites have developed optimal architecture and design for water and soil conservation in ecosystems over millions of years. In this biomimicry study the objective is to apply and perfect termite system designs for better water and soil management by government, industry and the public. Termites create structures that regulate and maintain near-constant moisture and temperature. Termites also create self-regulating energy systems that need no mechanical power for cooling and/or heating. In tropical climates, termites improve soil structure and moisture holding capacity and conserve water according to changing environmental conditions. Can our water and soil management systems mimic termite management styles? This study also focuses on using termites’ techniques to improve soil physical characteristics. Termites play an important role in rehabilitating degraded ecosystems and widening soil microbial diversity. Accessing water sources from underground and the burrowing and feeding activities of termites can slow and reverse land degradation. In addition, termites have the potential to improve the structure of crusted soils, including their capacity to limit soil compaction, increase soil porosity and improve the water infiltration and retention capacities of soils. Such conditions encourage root penetration, vegetative diversity, and restores primary productivity; all preconditions for food and prosperity security in Australia. The role of termites in organic matter decomposition and water conservation is well recognized. However, few studies have examined the behavioral and ecological approach of termites in relation to water and soil conservation. Sustainable water and soil management is a key to every society’s survival and development. Degraded soil structure and surface sealing of soils impede water infiltration and plant root growth, limiting the usefulness of local lands for crop and animal production.

ABSTRACT

Global warming issue and increasing vulnerability of biodiversity are the main issues facing the world and particularly Australia. Australia has a rich fauna of termites mainly in mainland areas. Termites are primarily tropical and subtropical insects, and play an important role as an ‘ecosystem engineers’ because of their ability to decompose wood material. They have major effects as nutrients recyclers, and in influencing energy flow. In recent times there are few study attempted to identify and establish the link between termites’ distribution (phylogeographgy), invasions and climate; and how this distribution might change with global warming and changes in drought frequency.

Australia is facing sever drying conditions and reduced rainfall and precipitation which in turn reduced soil moisture and changed soil physical characteristics. Hence, this study attempts to study the link between termites phylogenography and climatic conditions by applying molecular DNA bar-coding analysis for termites species from different climatic zones and states to develop a multidisciplinary integrated distributional model for Australian termite fauna and biodiversity in consideration of several factors such as vegetation type, ecosystem nature, temperature average, average rainfall, evaporation rate and soil type. Preliminary results show there is a clear tradeoff between climate conditions and termite’s distribution and biodiversity, the most sensitive parameters are rainfall, soil moisture, precipitation and temperature.

Abstract Improving the efficiency of water allocation has long been recognised as a key problem for the water resources management decision-makers. However, assessing the efficacy of management decision is difficult due to the complexity and interconnectivity of water resource systems. For this reason, it is vital that robust modelling approaches are employed to deal with the feedback loops inherent in the water resource systems. Whilst many studies have applied modelling to various aspects of water resource management, little attention has been given to innovations in modelling approaches to deal with themodelling challenges associated with improving decision-making. The aim of this study is to apply a System Dynamics modelling approach to improve the efficiency of water allocation incorporating a myriad of irrigation system constraints. The system dynamic approach allows the different system components to be organised as a collection of discrete objects that incorporate data, structure and function to generate complex system behaviour. Through the application of a system dynamic approach, a robust model (named the Economical ReallocatingWater Model (ERWM)) was developed which was used to examine the options of re-allocating water resources that minimize the water cost all over an irrigated agricultural area. The ERWM incorporated a wide range of complexities likely to be encountered in water resource management: surface and ground water sources, water trading between sources, system constraint such as maximum ground water pumping, rates, maximum possible trading volumes and differential water resource prices. Two hypothetical systems have been presented here as an example. The results show that the System Dynamics approach has a significant advantages in estimating and assessing the outcomes of alternative water management strategies through time and space.