Research Grant
[Cite as http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nesp/naer/5.1]Researchers Ro Hill; Melissa George; Natalie Stoekl
Brief description
Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) constitute greater than 36 percent of Australia’s National Reserve System and play a key role in protecting biodiversity, ecosystem services, cultural and community values. Since being established in 1998, there are now 60 IPAs across 48 million hectares nationally. IPAs comprise both land and sea country and receive high levels of support from the Australian Government.
In collaboration with IPA managers, government, non-government and research stakeholders across the north of Australia, this project will undertake literature reviews, interviews and engage in workshops to assess research priorities for northern Australia’s IPAs
The project will identify core environmental, social, economic, and cultural benefits associated with IPA’s. It will identify ways in which IPA managers, government and non-government stakeholders could use this information in decision making contexts, such as policy development and land and sea management.
Priorities will be identified using a collaborative and systematic process, designed to build confidence of both IPA managers and potential government, private and not-for-profit research investors. Attention will be particularly focused on research needs that support Indigenous peoples’ goals for managing their land and sea country, and sustain their participation in environmental management.
Research outputs:
• A report on research priorities for IPAs across northern Australia will be delivered to the Australian Government.
• A separate report will also be prepared to deliver a better understanding of:
- the multiple benefits of IPAs;
- appropriate methods for assessing those benefits;
- and stakeholder needs for information about the economic ‘value’ of those benefits
Notes In addition to the NESP funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.
