Understanding the ‘impact’ of the Ningaloo Research Program

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On Friday 4 August Dr Chris Cvitanovic, an Interdisciplinary Research Fellow in the Centre for Marine Socio-ecology at The University of Tasmania, presented his research evaluating the impact of the Ningaloo Research Program, an extensive program of marine research conducted through the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) and the CSIRO Wealth From Oceans program between 2006 and 2011.  

The Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef, extending across 300 kilometres of coastline between Exmouth and Carnarvon in Western Australia. This area is a global biodiversity hotspot and in 2011 was inscribed on the World Heritage List in recognition of the ‘outstanding universal value of the area’. It is also a premier tourist destination, a key service point for oil and gas development and exploration, and supports two permanent communities in Exmouth and Coral Bay.

Given the multiple and competing uses of the region, in 2004 the Western Australian Government allocated $5 million for research to support the management of the Ningaloo Marine Park. This program was then incorporated into the broader WAMSI research program in 2006 and grew in value to $36 million of research funding over ten years.  
In this talk, Dr Cvitanovic will present two of the key impacts that have resulted from the Ningaloo Research Program.  

Dr Cvitanovic’s presentation provides an overview of the new scientific knowledge that has emerged from the program that can support the ongoing management of the region. He also presented the results of his current research that explores how the Ningaloo Research Program has enhanced trust between the local Ningaloo communities and WA Parks and Wildlife service, and how this can be leveraged to further engage local communities in the management of the region.   

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Link to presentation:

Cvitanovic C, Understanding the ‘impact’ of the Ningaloo Research Program WAMSI Presentation at Parks and Wildlife, Kensington (4 August 2017) (Presentation Audio) (Presentation Slides)

Biography   

Dr Chris Cvitanovic is an Interdisciplinary Research Fellow in the Centre for Marine Socio-ecology at The University of Tasmania.  His research is focused on maximising the real world impacts of scientific research by enhancing knowledge exchange among scientists and decision-makers and improving public engagement in science.  In doing so Chris draws on almost ten years of experience working at the interface of science and policy for the Australian Government Department of Environment, and then as a Knowledge Broker in CSIROs Climate Adaptation Flagship.

Kimberley Marine Research Program Lunch and Learn sessions scheduled for 2017

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Kelly Waples, Science Coordinator, Kimberley Marine Research Program

Kelly.waples@dbca.wa.gov.au