Constructed Wetlands Suitability for Sugarcane Profitability, Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Adam D Canning; James C R Smart; Joshua Dyke; Graeme Curwen; Syezlin Hasan; Nathan J Waltham

doi:10.1007/s00267-022-01734-4

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Constructed Wetlands Suitability for Sugarcane Profitability, Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Constructed Wetlands Suitability for Sugarcane Profitability, Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Adam D Canning, James C R Smart, Joshua Dyke, Graeme Curwen, Syezlin Hasan and Nathan J Waltham

Environmental management (New York), Vol.71, pp.304-320

02/2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01734-4

PMID: 36269373

Appears in Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

Animals

Biodiversity

Cattle

Conservation of Natural Resources

Ecosystem

Fishes

Fresh Water

Saccharum

Wetlands

Restoration

Flood reduction

Flow regulation

Fish habitat

Crop production

Freshwater ecosystems, such as wetlands, are among the most impacted by agricultural expansion and intensification through extensive drainage and pollution. There is a pressing need to identify ways of managing agricultural landscapes to ensure food and water security without jeopardising biodiversity and other environmental benefits. Here we examine the potential fish biodiversity and landholder financial benefits arising from the integration of constructed lagoons to improve drainage, flow regulation and habitat connectivity within a sugarcane dominated catchment in north Queensland, Australia. A hybrid approach was used, combining the findings of both fish ecological surveys and a financial cost-benefit analysis. We found that the constructed lagoons supported at least 36 native freshwater fishes (over half of all native freshwater fishes in the region), owing to their depth, vegetated margins, moderate water quality and high connectivity to the Tully River. In addition to biodiversity benefits, we estimated that surrounding sugarcane farms would have financially benefited from reduced flooding of cropland and the elevation of low-lying cropland with deposited spoil excavated from lagoon construction. Improved drainage and flow regulation allowed for improvement in sugarcane yield and elevated land increased gross margins from extending the length of the cane production cycle or enabling a switch from cattle grazing to cane production. Restoring or creating wetlands to reduce flooding in flood-prone catchments is a globally applicable model that could improve both agricultural productivity and aquatic biodiversity, while potentially increasing farm income by attracting payments for provision of ecosystem services.

Details

Title: Constructed Wetlands Suitability for Sugarcane Profitability, Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Creators: Adam D Canning - James Cook University
James C R Smart - Griffith University
Joshua Dyke - Griffith University
Graeme Curwen - Griffith University
Syezlin Hasan - Griffith University
Nathan J Waltham - James Cook University
Publication Details: Environmental management (New York), Vol.71, pp.304-320
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
Identifiers: 991013092673302368
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Constructed Wetlands Suitability for Sugarcane Profitability, Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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