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  4. Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub

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  • National Environmental Science Program
    • Phase 1
      • Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub
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Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub

Research to support the sustainable development of Australia’s northern environments.

About this hub

The Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub ran from 2014-15 to 2020-21. Its research delivered new knowledge, practical tools and on-ground partnerships to support the sustainable development of the region’s natural and cultural environments.

Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub impacts highlights some of the hub’s impacts across its 6-year research program.

Download

NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub impacts (PDF 2.7 MB)
NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub impacts (DOCX 1.1 MB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

At a glance

NESP funding $23.88 million
Host organisation Charles Darwin University
Hub leader Professor Michael Douglas
Hub partners
  • Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources
  • North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd
  • Griffith University
  • CSIRO
  • Queensland Department of Environment and Science
  • James Cook University, University of Western Australia
  • Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
  • Western Australian Department of Biodiversity
  • Conservation and Attractions
Hub website www.nespnorthern.edu.au
Approved projects Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub Projects

Research snapshots

Gouldian Finch environmental DNA

Hub research showed that tests can detect ‘environmental DNA’, known as eDNA, in the soil and water animals use. This research approach can help monitor threatened animals, pests and culturally-important species.

Hub researchers were at the forefront of using new eDNA technology to detect wildlife in the Top End, with the endangered Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) as the test case.

Feral animal management

Hub research supported more effective management of feral pigs, cattle, horses and buffalo in northern Australia.

This research supported Wik Traditional Owners to manage their Country and better understand contemporary values associated with wetlands and feral animal impacts. Through important conversations with Traditional Owners, valuable insight has been gained into potential conflicts between feral animal management and community values. This includes the importance of feral pigs and cattle as a food source for people versus the important cultural and resource values of wetlands.

Fire and weeds

Parts of northern Australia’s savanna woodlands have been transformed by grassy weeds and changed fire patterns. This project drew on existing information about the ecological impacts of grassy weed invasion and changes to fire patterns on the savanna landscapes.

Researchers collected additional data and using collated information to model the likely scenarios of changes in ecosystem function over the next 30 years in the Greater Darwin region. This understanding is critical to land use planning and conservation management to predict, and hopefully prevent, ecosystem failure as well as improving fire safety for people and infrastructure.

Kakadu healthy Country indicators

We need better cross-cultural approaches to monitor and evaluate the health of Country in protected areas. As in other protected areas around Australia, staff and Traditional Owners in Kakadu National Park are committed to working together to protect the health of important values on Country.

To care for important areas, cross-cultural monitoring and evaluation frameworks were co-designed. These were trialled by the hub and Indigenous partners to develop appropriate measures of success, data sharing processes and methods for identifying priority management actions.

Hub website

Northern Australia Environmental Research website

nespnorthern.edu.au

Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub logo
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Last updated: 22 March 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.