Sustainable Tropics

• More information and related issues
• Publications and resources

Over 40% of Australia’s landmass is situated in the tropics. Tropical Australia has a unique climate, hydrology, biology and geomorphology which sets it apart from the rest of Australia. Although the term ‘tropical’ brings to mind images of lush vegetation and plenty of water, the climate and seasons of Australia’s north are very variable, affecting soil and water processes and making the tropics extremely vulnerable to land and water degradation.

Keeping the tropics healthy presents a challenge that affects the whole of Australia. This region generates a large proportion of Australia’s export earnings, and supports important mining, tourism, agriculture and forestry industries.  Indigenous communities and the military depend on the availability of a healthy tropical environment.  65% of Australia’s total runoff is generated in the tropical north.

To meet the challenge of keeping the tropics healthy, CSIRO Land and Water scientists, largely based at the Davies Laboratory in Townsville, are working along with partners and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive scientific basis to guide sustainable land use in the tropical north.

Collaborating extensively with the sugar, cattle and forest industries, government agencies at all levels, three Cooperative Research Centres, other research agencies and the community, CSIRO Land and Water has both the multi-disciplinary teams and the strategic alliances needed to address the challenging issues of sustainable land-use in the tropics.

More information and related issues

• Tropics FAQ

• Northern Australia Irrigation Futures project
• Media release: Report warns of acid threat
• Media release: Silicon 'implant' to bolster sugar industry
• Media release: CSIRO backs the tropical north
• Land and Water Link no. 7 (October 2000) Burdekin Groundwater Sustainability Initiative (PDF file, 436kB)