Risk assessment of terrestrial protected areas to extreme wind hazards: A case study in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Terrestrial protected areas (TPAs) are vital for ecosystem conservation and can easily be threatened by human activities or natural disasters. The causes and impacts of human intervention on TPAs have been documented in previous studies, while assessing the exposure and vulnerability of TPAs to natural hazards, particularly wind hazards, is scarce. This study developed a model for assessing the risk of TPAs’ habitat destruction to wind hazards. The model was built upon the risk components of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability and has been applied to wind risk assessment of TPAs in Queensland, Australia. A TPA risk map has been created by integrating the intensity and frequency of cyclones, gusts, and tornados from 1970 to 2018; the lands, animals, vegetation and water of TPAs exposed to wind hazards; and environmental and socio-economic vulnerability. We also compared the risk of different TPA types and developed a district-based risk map at the administrative level to understand the TPA risk better. The results show that the risk assessment model could successfully identify high-risk TPAs (e.g., Staaten River), high-risk TPA types (e.g., National Park Aboriginal), and high-risk districts (e.g., Carpentaria) in Queensland. The successful application of the model in the study area demonstrates a useful approach for quantifying the potential risk of TPAs to wind hazards, facilitating effective risk adaptation and management.