Abstract:

Throughout the world, there is growing recognition of the important role Indigenous people play in natural resource management and conservation. In addition to generating environmental benefits, Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs (ILSMPs) (which provide funds to Indigenous people to support Indigenous land management activities), also generate social and economic benefits (co-benefits) that support Indigenous aspirations and help deliver multiple government objectives. However, relative few of these co-benefits have been quantified.

Using Northern Australia as a case-study we analysed data on ILSMP expenditure within three regional input-output tables, learning more about the size and distribution of their associated regional economic benefits. We found ILSMPs make a significant contribution to regional economies – with multipliers commonly exceeding that of other key regional industries such as agriculture and mining. We also found ILSMP expenditures make a larger contribution to Indigenous household incomes, than they do to non-Indigenous incomes – thus helping to close the (income) gap. They will continue to do so, provided the proportion of ILSMP money spent on Indigenous

Biography:

Dr Jarvis is an environmental economist with 6 years of experience developing economic analysis skills that can be applied to improving knowledge and informing policy regarding the socio-economic benefits derived from natural resource management and environmental conservation within northern Australia.

A common theme across her work has been a focus on how the changing condition of the environment and the use of natural resources contributes to the social and economic development of the region. This work has included topics as diverse as estimating the value of the socio-economic benefits derived from the Great Barrier Reef, and improving understanding of the socio-economic benefits from Indigenous land management programs which form the basis of today’s presentation.

Her work seeks to improve understanding of complex interrelated systems, including trade-offs and co-benefits. This can assist with identifying pathways towards the development of solutions, informing policy development that can contribute to sustainable development; that is enhancing the social and economic development of tropical societies, and enhancing the wellbeing of individuals within those societies, whilst also contributing to environmental conservation and improved natural resource management.

Dr Jarvis, originally from the UK, now lives in Cairns. She completed her PhD with James Cook University in 2016, and following this commenced employment in a joint position with JCU and CSIRO.

Media:

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