The west Kimberley’s mighty Fitzroy River has high environmental, economic and cultural significance. Areas within the catchment are National Heritage listed for a mix of biodiversity, Indigenous, historic, geological heritage and aesthetic values. There is increasing interest in the Fitzroy’s significant land and water resources for development, and the need for environmental research to inform land use and water allocation decisions is critical. Planning to maintain these multiple values is a focus of our research in this catchment. Identifying environmental and Indigenous water needs for the Fitzroy River and supporting Traditional Owners in decision making through research are also key research priorities. We also need to better manage weeds on the riverbanks and get a better understanding of the distribution and health of bilby populations in the catchment.
Other Hub research across northern Australia is also generating information to support development decisions in the West Kimberley. Our Fitzroy-focused research projects are listed below.
You may also be interested in our projects conducting research across the entire northern Hub region.
Current project
Completed project
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Environmental water needs for the Fitzroy RiverKeywords: environmental flows, rivers & waterholes, mapping
Indigenous water needs for the Martuwarra/Fitzroy RiverKeywords: environmental flows, rivers & waterholes, Indigenous NRM focus, social and cultural values
Knowledge brokering for Indigenous land managementKeywords: rivers & waterholes, mapping, Indigenous NRM focus, social & cultural values
Managing savanna riparian zonesKeywords: Floodplains, Fire, weeds & ferals, crocodiles
Monitoring, mapping and safeguarding Kimberley bilbiesKeywords: Threatened species, Monitoring, mapping, weeds & ferals
Multi-objective planning in northern AustraliaKeywords: mapping, social & cultural values, scenarios, socio-economics
Multiple benefits of Indigenous land and sea management programsKeywords: Indigenous NRM focus, social & cultural values, socio-economics
Transdisciplinary research for water managementKeywords: Water planning, research users, Fitzroy River
Indigenous values and river flows
fitzroy-river
Nov 24, 2021Final Northern Hub eNews
Final Northern Australia update – November 2021. Welcome to the last e-newsletter from the Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub. The […]
Nov 10, 2021Environmental water needs for the Fitzroy River
Part of the West Kimberley National Heritage Place, the mighty Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) in Western Australia sustains rich biodiversity, ecosystems and human cultures. This […]
Aug 26, 2021NESP Northern Hub wrap-up
The Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub addressed key research questions to come up with practical, on-ground solutions to some of […]
Jul 26, 2021Northern Hub wrap-up resources
The NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub has had impact across four broad themes: The importance of rivers and their […]
Jun 22, 2021Northern Hub news (June 2021)
Northern Australia June 2021 update. We’re in the final months of the NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub and we […]
Jun 04, 2021Veins of the Country
In the face of growing interest in the waters of the Warlibiddi and Martuwarra (Margaret and Fitzroy Rivers) […]
May 27, 2021Research data & tools handover to Fitzroy Traditional Owners
Delegates from the Bunuba, Gooniyandi, Walalakoo and Yanunijarra Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and staff from the Kimberley Land Council enjoyed […]
May 12, 2021When and where are catfish fat fish?
When and where are catfish fat fish? A fat catfish is valuable for many reasons. In tropical northern Australia, fat […]
Dec 17, 2020New national hub to tackle top environmental challenges
The University of Western Australia (UWA) will host a new Australian research hub to provide national leadership in threatened species […]
Dec 17, 2020Northern Hub news (December 2020)
Northern Australia December 2020 update. We are delighted to share the news that the user-driven approach to research that has […]
Dec 11, 2020$149 million commitment to environmental science
The Morrison Government is backing a new era of environmental science, announcing the universities and research centres that will host […]
Nov 08, 2020NAIDOC Week 2020
For NAIDOC Week 2020, we highlighted some of our important collaborative research with Indigenous people across northern Australia. You can […]
Oct 14, 2020Symbols for science engagement
We are delighted to let you know that we’ve publicly released our free collection of 100+ northern Australia symbols for […]
Oct 09, 2020Learning from Nyikina ecology and ethics
A river’s health relies on its relationships with people and other life. The findings of collaborative research between Nyikina […]
Sep 17, 2020Fitzroy River groundwater is fundamental to aquatic food webs
Each year, monsoonal rains reconnect the channels, wetlands, floodplains and estuaries of the Fitzroy River in the west Kimberley, reinvigorating […]
Aug 25, 2020Research for impact videos
Our Hub research is user-driven. We want our research to be useful and delivered to decision-makers and land managers, so […]
Aug 14, 2020Northern Hub news (August 2020)
Northern Australia August 2020 update. Strengthening and appropriate sharing of knowledge has been an underpinning principle of all the NESP […]
May 27, 2020WA’s Fitzroy depends on groundwater and dry-season flows
Algal biofilms – submerged, nutrient-dense mats of single-celled algae – form the basis of many aquatic food webs. New Hub […]
Apr 01, 2020Northern Hub news (March 2020)
Northern Australia March 2020 update. Read about the Hub’s coronavirus pandemic response in our latest eNews, as well as our […]
Oct 23, 2019Considering complex interactions key to freshie conservation
Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) are the largest freshwater predators on the continent. They are widespread across the northern tropics […]
Sep 02, 2019Northern Hub news (August 2019)
Northern Australia August 2019 update. As the wet season draws nearer, this eNews updates you on the progress of our […]
May 23, 2019WA’s Fitzroy River through art and film
“We’re all part of that river, we drink one water from the one main rainfall. Everybody.” These are the closing […]
May 21, 2019Finding out about fish in the Fitzroy
Going fishing always comes with its share of stories, and it’s no different when the fishing is for research! The […]
May 01, 2019Sharing knowledge from our Canberra Research Forum
5200 kilometres is a long way to go to share NESP Northern Hub research, but it was worth the distance…! […]
Mar 11, 2019Adding value to research in WA’s Fitzroy river catchment
A new Hub project is adding value to and enhancing four existing Hub projects in the Fitzroy catchment through transdisciplinary […]
Feb 26, 2019Follow up resources from Canberra Research Forum
Follow-up resources from the Hub’s Canberra Research Forum 18- 21 Feb. Thank you to all involved! A highlight video can […]
Jan 29, 2019Welcome 2019!
2019 Northern Australia Research With several projects wrapping up and new research getting underway, 2019 will be a busy year […]
Oct 25, 2018West Kimberley knowledge-sharing roadshow
A 3D map of WA’s Fitzroy River catchment has been travelling through the Kimberley, inspiring conversations around the river’s future […]
Sep 28, 2018Applying knowledge of river flow–ecology links
River flows in northern Australia support healthy ecosystems that provide a wealth of economic, social and cultural goods and services […]
Sep 06, 2018What might the future of the Fitzroy look like?
There are many and various development plans for WA’s Fitzroy River catchment, including expansion of irrigation agriculture. Informed decision-making requires […]
Jul 10, 2018Showing and sharing Indigenous and scientific knowledge
A 3D model of WA’s Fitzroy River catchment is supporting knowledge sharing and decision-making about country by Traditional Owners. Construction […]
Jun 27, 2018New Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council
WA’s Fitzroy River catchment is recognised for its outstanding natural and cultural heritage, but perhaps less so for its significant […]
Jun 21, 2018Tools for two-way decisions
The National Native Title Conference was held in Broome on Yawuru lands from 5-7 June. The conference brought together native […]
Jun 14, 2018From little things, big things grow
Hub researchers from James Cook University and Traditional Owners from north Queensland and the Kimberley visited Canberra during Reconciliation Week […]
May 31, 2018Making a Fitzroy River catchment model
The Knowledge brokering for Indigenous land management project held a very successful workshop from 5-7 December 2017 in Fitzroy Crossing, […]
Apr 11, 2018Regional economic impact of ILSMPs
Investments in Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs (ILSMPs) are growing, both in Australia and internationally. While these programs aim […]
Mar 13, 2018Hub research highlighted at Fulbright Gala event
Fulbright Scholar Rachel Buissereth recently participated in the 2018 Fulbright Gala Dinner at Parliament House, presenting a poster summarising her […]
Mar 07, 2018Connecting research in WA’s Fitzroy catchment
There is significant interest in expanding economic development in the Kimberley’s Fitzroy River catchment, and a suite of Hub research […]
Nov 29, 2017Knowledge brokering at the Kimberley Ranger Forum
The 2017 Kimberley Ranger Forum, held by the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and […]
Nov 28, 2017Fitzroy River fieldwork underway
Researchers from two Northern Hub projects joined Nyikina Mangala Traditional Owners, Yimardoo Warra Rangers and staff from the WA Department […]
Nov 28, 2017ILSMPs provide many benefits
Researchers investigating the many benefits that Indigenous people gain from Indigenous Land Management Programs (ILMPs) have been visiting and talking […]
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