Profile

I am an environmental economist with an emerging record of research accomplishments in the study of social and economic aspects of environmental/natural resource management, focusing primarily on investigating and evaluating trade-offs and co-benefits arising from natural resource use/environmental conservation and economic development within northern Australia, involving cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary and cross institutional collaborations.

I have developed a range of economic analysis skills that can be applied to improving knowledge and informing policy regarding natural resource use within northern Australia. The majority of my research has focused on (i) the impact of the GBR and water quality in the GBR lagoon on residents of the GBR catchment and tourists visiting the region and on the impacts of economic activity in the GBR region on the GBR/water quality; (ii) the impact of economic, social and environmental factors on life satisfaction; and (iii) the contribution of social, economic and environmental factors towards the wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples, including the impacts attributable towards Indigenous land management programs.

My research interests lie in improving our understanding of the economic and social values that are derived from the environment, then using this understanding to inform policy relating to environmental conservation and natural resource management.  I seek to provide a quantitative, integrative approach to understanding the complex problems related to the development of northern Australia, identifying pathways towards the development of solutions to these problems.This involves taking an innovative and solution-focused approach to a range of issues relevant to the development of tropical landscapes in northern Australia and more broadly.  My research contributes to a number of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs: 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 & 15.

Ongoing Research Projects

I am currently working with colleagues at JCU, at CSIRO and with other external partners on research focused around environmental and natural resource economics within Northern Australia.  Current significant projects include:

• National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub: Synthesis Project: Culteral Connections.  This project investigates how to best acknowledge Indigenous cultural connections within an ecosystem services accounting framework.https://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/projects/nesp/cultural-connections/
• National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Tropical Water Quality Hub: Project  5.1 Matching the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Integrated Pest Management to the scale of the new Control Program.  More information can be found at: https://nesptropical.edu.au/index.php/round-5-projects/project-5-1/
• National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub: Project 5.3 Multiple benefits and knowledge systems of Indigenous Land Management Programs (ILMPs) - Economic perspective.  More information can be found at http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/projects/nesp/multiple-benefits-knowledge-systems-ilmps/
• CRC for Developing Northern Australia funded project: Building traditional owner led bush products enterprises within Northern Australia.  Further information can be found at the following links: https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/LWF/Areas/Pathways/Indigenous-futures/Indigenous-NRM/Indigenous-bush-products and at  http://www.crcna.com.au/research/current-projects/building-the-traditional-owner-led-bush-products-sector/

Recently Completed Projects

Previous significant research project on which I have participated include: 

• Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment - major CSIRO report for the Australian Government.  The project aims to identify the potential to increase water-related development opportunities in northern Australia.  Diane is involved in assessing potential social and economic impacts and risks of water resource and irrigation development.  More information can be found at: http://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Major-initiatives/Northern-Australia/Current-work/NAWRA
• Department of the Environment and Energy - Contract Research - Scoping of Options for the Mid-Term Review of the Reef 2050 Plan - 2017
• NERP Tropical Ecosystems Hub Project 10.2 Socio-economic system and reef resilience 2011 - 2014
• NERP Tropical Ecosystems Hub Project 12.3 Relative social and economic values of residents and tourists in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area 2011 – 2014
• NERP Northern Australia Hub Project Improving the efficiency of biodiversity investment 2011 - 2014.  More information can be found at: https://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/projects/nerp/improving-the-efficiency-of-biodiversity-investment/

Teaching

• BU1003: Principles of Economics (Level 1; CNS)
• BU1903: Principles of Economics (Level 1; CNS)
• BX3024: Economics of Social Policy (Level 3; TSV)
• EC5207: Economics of Social Policy (Level 5; TSV)
• EV2003: Introduction to Environmental Economics (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• EV5003: Environmental Economics (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
• TO5202: Economic Decision-Making in the Hospitality Industry (Level 5; CNS)

Interests

Research

• Environmental and natural resource economics, particularly with regard to valuing economic and social benefits derived from the environment, and how the use and management of natural resources can contribute to sustainable development, with a focus on Northern Australia.

Teaching

• Sharing my belief that utilising appropriate economic analysis and tools can bring economic, social and environmental benefits; sharing knowledge of which tools are appropriate in which circumstances and the risks that arise from inappropriate analysis.

Experience

• 2019 to present - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2016 to 2019 - Research Fellow, James Cook University/CSIRO (Townsville)
• 2011 to 2016 - Research Assistant, James Cook University (Cairns)

Research Disciplines

• Applied economics (3801)

Awards

• 2019 - College Business Law & Governance Research Recognition Awards prize winner: category 1 - quality publication and category 4 - research funding award
• 2018 - Winner Early Career Researcher category, 3MT competition, for presentation on economic co-benefits arising from Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8lyitKKgfE

Fellowships

• 2019 - Research Fellow with the Cairns Institute
• 2019 - Research affiliate with TropWATER https://www.tropwater.com/person/diane-jarvis/
• 2019 - Research member of TESS: Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science https://www.jcu.edu.au/tess/people/members

Other

• 2020 - Peer Review Assessor for Australian Research Council (ARC)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Jarvis D, Maclean K and Woodward E (in press) The Australian Indigenous-led bush products sector: insights from the literature and recommendations for the future. Ambio, , DOI:10.1007/s13280-021-01542-w.
• Jarvis D, Stoeckl N, Larson S, Grainger D, Addison J and Larson A (2021) The learning generated through Indigenous natural resources management programs increases quality of life for Indigenous people – improving numerous contributors to wellbeing. Ecological Economics, 180, Article: 106899, DOI:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106899.
• Kubiszewski I, Zakariyya N, Costanza R and Jarvis D (2020) Resilience of self-reported life satisfaction: a case study of who conforms to set-point theory in Australia. PLoS ONE, 15 (8), Article: e0237161, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0237161.
• Larson S, Stoeckl N, Jarvis D, Addison J, Grainger D, Watkin Lui F, Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation , Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC , Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (2020) Indigenous land and sea management programs (ILSMPs) enhance the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (1), Article: 125, DOI:10.3390/ijerph17010125.
• Pert P, Hill R, Robinson C, Jarvis D and Davies J (2020) Is investment in Indigenous land and sea management going to the right places to provide multiple co-benefits? Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 27 (3), pp. 249-274, DOI:10.1080/14486563.2020.1786861.
• Addison J, Stoeckl N, Larson S, Jarvis D, Bidan Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC , Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC , Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC , Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC , Yanunijarra Ngurrara Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Esparon M (2019) The ability of community based natural resource management to contribute to development as freedom and the role of access. World Development, 120, pp. 91-104, DOI:10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.04.004.
• Kubiszewski I, Jarvis D and Zakariyya N (2019) Spatial variations in contributors to life satisfaction: an Australian case study. Ecological Economics, 164, Article: 106345, DOI:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.05.025.
• Kubiszewski I, Zakariyya N and Jarvis D (2019) Subjective wellbeing at different spatial scales for individuals satisfied and dissatisfied with life. PeerJ, 7, Article: e6502, DOI:10.7717/peerj.6502.
• Larson S, Stoeckl N, Jarvis D, Addison J, Prior S and Esparon M (2019) Using measures of wellbeing for impact evaluation: proof of concept developed with an Indigenous community undertaking land management programs in northern Australia. Ambio, 48 (1), pp. 89-98, DOI:10.1007/s13280-018-1058-3.
• Jarvis D, Stoeckl N, Addison J, Larson S, Hill R, Pert P and Watkin Lui F (2018) Are Indigenous land and sea management programs a pathway to Indigenous economic independence? The Rangeland Journal, 40 (4), pp. 415-429, DOI:10.1071/RJ18051.
• Jarvis D, Stoeckl N, Hill R and Pert P (2018) Indigenous land and sea management programs: can they promote regional development and help "close the (income) gap"? Australian Journal of Social Issues, 53 (3), pp. 283-303, DOI:10.1002/ajs4.44.
• Jarvis D, Stoeckl N and Liu H (2017) New methods for valuing, and for identifying spatial variations, in cultural services: a case study of the Great Barrier Reef. Ecosystem Services, 24, pp. 58-67, DOI:10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.02.012.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 38+ research outputs authored by Dr Diane Jarvis from 2013 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Spatial and Longitudinal Variations in the Economic, Social and Environmental Factors of Life Satisfaction (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Generating and evaluating salinity and temperature resilient cyanobacteria for tropical outdoor cultivation in Australia (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.