Scoping market-based opportunities for Indigenous provision of water quality services and associated conservation governance in the Northern Great Barrier Reef: interim report

[Extract] NESP TWQ Hub Project 2.3.3 focuses on scoping water-related ecosystem services (ES) market opportunities and products that are culturally, environmentally, economically, and politically suited to CYP catchments flowing into the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These kinds of ES are often known internationally by terms such as 'nutrient offsets' and 'watershed ES', and the particular focus here is on potential water quality ES (WQES). The project also considers the importance of developing water-oriented services and products that might deliver a range of additional ecosystem services (e.g. biodiversity), cultural and socio-economic benefits. Multiple-benefit products and services have the value of being both more attractive in building Indigenous livelihoods, but also potentially deliver higher market value. The project is a collaboration between researchers at CSIRO and JCU, and staff at local (Kalan Enterprises) and regional Cape York Partnership (CYPS) Indigenous development agencies in CYP. It has been designed to underpin ES-based livelihood opportunities and the realisation of social co-benefits from Indigenous Cultural Resource and Natural Resource Management (ICNRM). This report is effectively a working paper that outlines key developments in the project thus far, and outlines next steps for the second year of the project.