All in Northern Territory

Indigenous participation in the National Water Initiative thought the TRaCK initiative

superuser — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:04:29 +0000

More information

Download Building better Indigenous Participation from the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK ) website

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

Indigenous Natural Resources Management

LWA Project Code:

TRC13

Subjects

Subjects:

Indigenous

Rivers and Wetlands

Tropical Rivers

Project Information

Summary:

Indigenous participation in the National Water Initiative thought the TRaCK initiative

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Location

State & NRM Region:

Northern Territory

Enhancing Noogoora Burr biocontrol in northern Australia

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:39:37 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Defeating the Weed Menace R&D Program

Program Theme:

Identifying biocontrol agents for priority weed species

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CEN7

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Entomology

Researchers:

Dr Louise Morin

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Threats and Pests

Weeds

Keywords:

Weeds

weed

Noogoora burr

biocontrol

Project Information

Summary:

This project investigated ways to improve the biollgical control of the highly invasive weed Noogoora Burr (Xanthium occidentale). The project was designed to assemble the necessary information to support an application to release additional strains of the Noogoora Burr rust fungus to enhance the impact of biological control in northern Australia. The introduction of additional exotic rust strains better adapted to tropical conditions is being investigated as a means of controlling Noogoora Burr in tropical areas.

Outcomes:

Following field surveys carried out in tropical America, rust-infected material from 12 sites in Dominican Republic and Mexico was imported into the containment facility. No infection of Australian Noogoora burr accessions was obtained with the imported rust material. In contrast, plants inoculated with two Australian rust strains developed severe symptoms; confirming that experimental conditions were suitable for infection. As a result, it was not possible to establish cultures of exotic strains and perform host-specificity tests.

Microscopic examination of leaves inoculated with exotic rust-infected material revealed typical plant resistance responses. Xanthium specimens collected in Dominican Republic and Mexico were found to be morphologically and genetically different to Australian Noogoora burr accessions and other Xanthium spp. These genetic differences may explain why no infection occurred on Australian Noogoora burr inoculated with rust-infected material from tropical America.

A diagnostic microsatellite marker to differentiate between exotic and Australian rust strains was successfully developed to provide a tool for monitoring strain establishment after release. Baseline data on Noogoora burr populations and prevalence of biocontrol agents were collected at sites on three river systems in the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. This data will be essential to assess the impact of additional strains of P. xanthii, should any be released in the future in Australia.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Noogoora burr (Xanthium occidentale; ranked 28th during the WoNS process and an approved target for biocontrol) forms monocultures across the northern regions of Australia. The exotic rust fungus, Puccinia xanthii, illegally or accidentally introduced in the mid-1970s to Australia, has been highly effective in controlling Noogoora Burr in south-eastern Queensland, but has failed to have a major impact in tropical northern Australia (Morin et al., 1996).

Aims:

The project objectives were:

collect, characterise and test host-specificity of exotic strains of Puccinia xanthii that are better adapted to the tropical climate, and
gather baseline data of Noogoora burr populations in northern Australia.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Western Australia

Northern Territory

Sustainable Northern Landscapes and the Nexus with Indigenous Health: Healthy Country, Healthy People

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:42:30 +0000

The Sustainable Northern Landscapes and the Nexus with Indigenous Health: Healthy People, Healthy Country project was undertaken at the behest of Traditional Owners in central Arnhemland in collaboration with a transdisciplinary team of medical, ecological and social researchers.

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

Indigenous Natural Resources Management

Research Type:

Research Project

Research Scale:

State

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

NTU7

Host Organisation:

Northern Territory University

Researchers:

Stephen Garnett

David Bowman

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Conservation

Landscape Management

Indigenous

Socio-Economic

Keywords:

Indigenous health

ICNRM

indigenous cultural

indigenous NRM

indigenous rangers

Project Information

Summary:

Outcomes:

he project concludes that a range of benefits may arise from Indigenous NCRM. These include improved environmental outcomes, health benefits, and other socio-cultural benefits. Indigenous NRM is a significant initiative in remote areas of northern Australia requiring further support and investment.

Without active management by Indigenous people, northern landscapes will continue to degrade.
Threatening processes include poor fire management and the impacts of exotic plants and animals.
Indigenous people have demonstrated their determination to be active in the landscape. One of the most powerful recent expressions of that determination is the Indigenous ranger movement.
Indigenous participants involved in active management of natural and cultural resources have better physical health than their counterparts who have been less involved.
Associated health outcomes include major reductions in risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes that not only severely disrupt Indigenous society but also require large public expenditure for treatment.
The broader Australian society benefits from increased activity of Indigenous people in northern landscapes, by mitigating adverse environmental outcomes and potentially reducing public health outlays.
The signals are sufficiently strong to warrant immediate and recurring investments to support Indigenous resource managers.

National policy analysis is required to:

Ensure that investments of this sort are not undermined by contradictory Indigenous policy in such areas as support for outstations, remote housing, education and definitions of legitimate work.
Review current investments to ensure that their scale is congruent with the seriousness of both the environmental and human problems confronted in remote and regional north Australia, with and the anticipated benefits of this integrated approach.
Develop governance procedures so that investment success is measured in terms of cultural and natural resource management outcomes, and health outcomes, and not simply process-related targets.

More information

Professor Stephen Garnett

School for Environmental Research
Charles Darwin University Darwin NT Australia 0909
Phone: +61 8 8946 7115
Email: stephen.garnett@cdu.edu.au
Website: www.cdu.edu.au

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Location

State & NRM Region:

Northern Territory

Locations:

Arnhem Land

Resources

External Links:

Healthy country, healthy people (EurekAlert! 7 May 2007)

Northern Australia Irrigation Futures

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:53:14 +0000

This project will deliver a framework for use by policy makers, regulators, managers, and investors to ensure irrigation is developed in a sustainable manner across northern Australia. Stage I of the project will involve development of the full project team, key client/stakeholder/collaborative network, and detailed work plan and budget. Stage II will involve carrying out the work plan agreed to in Stage I.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CDS23

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land and water

Researchers:

Dr Keith Bristow

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Landscapes

Native Vegetation

Soils

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Policy

Tropical

Decision Support Systems

Ecological Management

Project Information

Outcomes:

A more informed and knowledgeable community and irrigation industry able to capture advantage of key biophysical and socio-economic features when designing and implementing irrigation developments in northern Australia
Whole of system irrigation management practices that meet catchment goals thereby safeguarding the health and services of surface and groundwater systems, wetlands, estuaries and marine environments
Regional adoption of new State policies that support development and management of sustainable irrigation schemes and practices
A sustainable irrigation industry in northern tropical Australia that delivers a wide range of economic and social benefits whilst minimising environmental impacts

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Irrigation is fundamental to the Australian economy and the reality is that further irrigation developments will occur in northern (tropical) Australia. An opportunity exists to address new developments in a proactive way by designing irrigation systems to fit specifically within the northern Australian environment, thereby minimising the risk of mistakes and problems experienced by irrigation schemes in other parts of the country.

Aims:

To delineate key landscape attributes (including soil & water resources, climate, vegetation, rivers, near shore marine environments, & where appropriate links to people, industries, markets) relevant to ecologically sustainable irrigation across northern Australia.
To use key landscape attributes to develop sustainability indicators and associated management criteria covering a range of scales (field, farm, district, irrigation scheme, catchment) for northern Australia.
To develop an overall framework that, through their involvement, is embraced by policy makers, regulators, investors and managers, to help ensure any irrigation is managed in a consistent, ecologically sustainable manner in northern Australia.
To use a number of linked case studies and stakeholder input to support and inform development and testing of the framework.
Through provision of a robust framework, contribute tools and knowledge to support considered debate, decision making and long term strategic planning for northern Australia & Australia as a whole.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Queensland

Northern Territory

Locations:

Daly River

Ord River

Burdekin River

Northern Australia