2.1: The value of Australia’s tropical rivers

Leader:

Anna Straton

Abstract

The aims of this research are to work with communities, businesses and the government to identify the uses, values and benefits of three of Australia's tropical rivers and to quantify some of them in dollar terms so that their extent and importance can be accounted for in decision making. The project will also examine how the uses, values and benefits of the river have changed through time so that we can learn from history about how some potential development actions may impact on future uses, values and benefits

Outcomes

Communities, industry and government will have a greater awareness of the full value of Australia's tropical rivers, and decision-makers will have improved knowledge about community preferences for the future of Australia's tropical rivers.

Decision-makers will have knowledge of the economic value of several tropical river features and will also have knowledge of the economic value of several options for the future of Australia's tropical rivers in dollar terms. This can provide direct input into the evaluation of alternative development pathways for Australia's tropical rivers.

Decision-makers will also have more detailed knowledge about the social, economic and ecological components of tropical river systems that have historically and may in the future contribute to the maintenance of the value of Australia's tropical rivers or the creation of new value. This will provide decision-makers with (a) a new conceptual framework for understanding and assessing value, and (b) input into decisions in the form of improved understanding about potential vulnerabilities in the capacity of Australia's tropical rivers to continue to support key activities and uses, and provide the services and benefits they do currently.

Where is the research happening?

This research is being undertaken for the Fitzroy River in WA, the Daly River in the NT and the Mitchell River in Qld. The research will work across all three catchments simultaneously.

Who's involved

The project is being lead by Dr Anna Straton from CSIRO in Melbourne. She is working with other researchers from CSIRO and Charles Darwin University (Darwin) as well as Griffith University (Brisbane). Other organisations with a key role in the project include the Daly River Management Advisory Committee, the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group Inc., the Kimberley Land Council and the Kowanyama Aboriginal Land and Natural Resource Management Office.