THE Tropical Savannas CRC has been renewed for another seven years,
with a new CRC beginning in mid-2001. On January 18, Minister for
Science Senator Nick Minchin announced funding of $18.2 million for
the new Tropical Savannas Management CRC (TS–CRC) as part of
the annual application round for new CRCs.
The new CRC, as its title suggests, has a greater focus on
management and will use the tools and science developed during the
seven-year life of the original CRC.
“In the first round of the CRC we developed some scientific
understanding and platforms of technology that we could use for
monitoring and modelling the landscape,” said director John
Childs. “What we want to do now is apply that knowledge and
tools in a range of areas, including properties, Aboriginal-owned
land and across regions. Our focus is shifting to an application of
the science and technology in how we interact with the landscapes
that we use.”
New partners in the TS–CRC include the Alliance of Aboriginal
Land Councils across northern Australia and the pastoral industry
through the North Australia Beef Research Council and Meat and
Livestock Australia. The University of Queensland is another new
partner.
“We’re fortunate to have funding for a seven-year
period, said John. “When addressing issues of sustainability,
you have to look at it for a fairly long period of time, and seven
years of funding makes a tremendous difference to strategic
planning for the future.”
The TS–CRC will also use the theme structure developed in the
first CRC to integrate its research. The themes however, have
changed to reflect the new direction in applying research.
Theme 1: Landscape Ecology and Health aims to understand the
ecological principles behind landscape health and the processes
which maintain it and where necessary restore it.
Theme 2: Industry and Community Natural Resource Management aims to
develop, with industry and communities, policy and management
principles and practices for natural resource management,
environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
Theme 3: Regional Planning and Management aims to develop, apply
and test regionally focused planning, administration and management
models that identify a ‘triple bottom line’ for
communities: ecological sustainability, economic viability and
social desirability.
Theme 4: Human Capability Development aims to understand specific
education requirements and learning processes relevant to people
living in remote and isolated parts of northern Australia and to
provide them with the necessary information and learning materials
so they can increase their skills and knowledge in environmentally
responsible management.
