Indigenous Socio-economic values and river flows - Newsletter 1, August 2009

This newsletter is the first in a series reporting on research progress in the TRaCK Indigenous socio-economic values and river flows project. The research team, led by CSIRO’s Dr Sue Jackson, is now half way through the project and has the following results to present.

Australia’s tropical rivers account for about 70% of Australia’s total runoff. With water becoming an increasingly valuable resource in southern Australia, there is growing interest in water in the north, particularly for irrigated agriculture. There is also recognition that tropical river systems sustain important fisheries, and underpin other natural and cultural assets valued by society. If we are to ensure that greater use of water in north Australia is sustainable, then water planners and land managers will need good information on our tropical river systems – how they work and how people value and use them.