Rainfall has declined significantly across South Australia and there have been more days above 40 degrees Celsius according to new environment report cards available from the Department for Environment and Water (DEW).
The Department said the 38 Trend and Condition Report Cards which track State-wide changes over time, drew on more than 30 years of data and were developed in consultation with the Environment Protection Authority; the Department for Primary Industries and Regions; regional Landscape Boards; the Bureau of Meteorology; and the Country Fire Service.
It said the Cards covered a range of areas including climate, air quality, water resources, native vegetation and soil, and key pressures that impacted landscapes.
Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs said the release of the Report Cards provided a comprehensive picture of the State’s long-term environmental trends to 2020.
“The latest River Murray report cards show the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is working, with positive improvements in a number of ecological indicators, but more work is still required to achieve all of the objectives of the plan,” Mr Speirs said.
He said the Cards also highlighted where the State was facing complex challenges, with the latest data showing a decline in biodiversity and worsening climate measures including rainfall, temperature and sea level.
The Minister said that for the first time the Report Cards dealt with fire danger weather, including tracking changes in air quality due to smoke.
The individual Report Cards can be accessed on DEW’s Enviro Data SA website at this PS News link and the 65-page Tracking changes in South Australia’s environment: 38 trend and condition report cards 2020 Report at this link.
