Development of resources, e.g. through mining, agriculture and other industries, can potentially lead to long-term changes in ecosystems. Typically both the magnitude and likelihood of any change needs to be quantified so that impacts can be actively managed, and – where possible – mitigated through on-ground practices, regulation and trade-offs. Quantitative modelling underpins the assessment and prediction of those impacts. This session focuses on applications related to resource development in sectors such as mining, energy and agriculture, and seeks contributions on the modelling of impacts, including cumulative impacts, over space and time; the characterisation and quantification of uncertainty in impacts; the identification of potential impact pathways; and the prediction of potential ecosystem impacts that may arise from changes in water and other stressors.
Key topics: Impact assessment, Ecosystems, Resource development