The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences to advise the authority on key parts of its strategy.

 

"The Authority is committed to an ongoing discussion about the science and socio-economic knowledge needed to support the adaptive management of the basin over the next few years.  I see this Committee as an essential part of assisting us with that endeavour,” MDBA Chair Craig Knowles.

 

"We are keen to establish this independent advisory committee to help us focus our future science and knowledge priorities over the next few years. We are looking for the best and brightest minds in the fields of hydrology, ecology, social sciences and economics."

 

The recommendations of the CSIRO-led review of the science behind the draft plan will be part of the work of the Advisory Committee. The CSIRO review found that draft Basin Plan represented a sufficient basis to begin an adaptive process of managing the Basin.

 

The role of the Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences is to provide advice on:

 

  1. The development and implementation of the MDBA's science and knowledge strategy;
  2. Science and knowledge priorities to support the MDBA in the implementation of the Basin Plan and related programs including, but not limited to:
    1. Guidance on how to progress the recommendations from the CSIRO review of the hydrological and environmental science bases of the environmentally sustainable level of take;
    2. Guidance on how to progress matters arising from the social and economic synthesis report;
    3. Guidance on any recommendations arising from the current research project on cultural flows;
    4. Guidance on adaptive management, monitoring and evaluation.
  3. The communication of science related matters with Basin stakeholders and to the broader community; and
  4. Any other research and analysis activities undertaken by the MDBA where requested.