JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Diane Jarvis

About

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. In my research I apply economic analysis skills to improve knowledge and inform policy, 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, multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional collaborations.

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 work reflects the complex and reciprocal nature of the people-environment relationship, including exploring benefits the natural environment (terrestrial and marine) provides to human wellbeing (ecosystem services), and the (positive and negative) impacts that human activity has on the natural environment, in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous contexts.

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) - Marine and Coastal Hub: Project 1.17 Scoping Study: Research needs for a national approach to socio-economic values of the marine environment
Evaluation of the Indigenous Protected Areas Program - The Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Program has been helping Indigenous communities voluntarily dedicate their land or sea country as IPAs since 1997. The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) are overseeing an evaluation of the IPA Program, which is being led by Ninti One and supporting by CSIRO and JCU. The evaluation will assess the extent to which program objectives and associated environmental, cultural, social and economic outcomes are being achieved. It will also guide continuous improvement in future program design. More information can be found at https://www.niaa.gov.au/indigenous-affairs/environment/indigenous-protected-areas-ipas

Completed Research Projects

Previous significant research project on which I have participated include:

Building a policy instrument impact model for the Reef (RP225) project is funded through the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by Queensland University of Technology in partnership with CSIRO, James Cook University, the University of Canberra, the University of NSW, the University of Melbourne and Natural Decisions. More information can be found at https://research.qut.edu.au/environment/wp-content/uploads/sites/341/2021/02/CE-RP225-flyer-final-v2.pdf
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/
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/
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

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)

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

Honours

Awards

2021 - Member of the CSIRO led team whose work on the Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment won the R&D Excellence Award at the Australian Water Awards
2021 - CBLG ECR Award for Research Achievements
2021 - Best Uptake of CBLG Research in Popular Press Award
2021 - CBLG Teaching & Learning Excellence Award
2021 - CBLG Excellence in Research Award for publishing in A & A* journals
2020 - College Business Law & Governance Research Recognition Awards prize winner: category 1 - quality publication
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 member of TESS: Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science https://www.jcu.edu.au/tess/people/members
2019 - Research Fellow with the Cairns Institute
2019 - Research affiliate with TropWATER https://www.tropwater.com/person/diane-jarvis/

Memberships

2022 - CBLG IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action) Committee member, and Deputy Chair
2022 - CBLG Sustainability Committee member
2019 to 2022 - CBLG Research Committee member

Other

2020 - Peer Review Assessor for Australian Research Council (ARC) - from 2020 onwards, including review of ARC Discovery and ARC Linkage project applications

Publications

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 (2022) The Australian Indigenous-led bush products sector: insights from the literature and recommendations for the future. Ambio, 51. pp. 226-240
Kubiszewski I, Mulder K, Jarvis D and Costanza R (2022) Toward better measurement of sustainable development and wellbeing: a small number of SDG indicators reliably predict life satisfaction. Sustainable Development, 30 (1). pp. 139-148
Maclean K, Woodward E, Jarvis D, Turpin G, Rowland D and Rist P (2022) Decolonising knowledge co?production: examining the role of positionality and partnerships to support Indigenous?led bush product enterprises in northern Australia. Sustainability Science, 17. pp. 333-350
Canning A, Jarvis D, Costanza R, Hasan S, Smart J, Finisdore J, Lovelock C, Greenhalgh S, Marr H, Beck M, Gillies C and Waltham N (2021) Financial incentives for large-scale wetland restoration: beyond markets to common asset trusts. One Earth, 4 (7). pp. 937-950
Costanza R, Anderson S, Sutton P, Mulder K, Mulder O, Kubiszewski I, Wang X, Liu X, Pérez-Maqueo O, Martinez M, Jarvis D and Dee G (2021) The global value of coastal wetlands for storm protection. Global Environmental Change, 70.
Eberhard R, Coggan A, Jarvis D, Hamman E, Taylor B, Baresi U, Vella K, Dean A, Deane F, Helmstedt K and Mayfield H (2021) Understanding the effectiveness of policy instruments to encourage adoption of farming practices to improve water quality for the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 172.
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.
Stoeckl N, Jarvis D, Larson S, Larson A, Grainger D and Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation (2021) Australian Indigenous insights into ecosystem services: beyond services towards connectedness – people, place and time. Ecosystem Services, 50.
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).
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).
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
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

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 44+ research outputs authored by Dr Diane Jarvis from 2013 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Reef Trust Partnership

Sustainable usE And Benefits fOR marinE (SEABORNE)

Indicative Funding: $144,253 over 3 years (administered by CSIRO)
Summary: There exists a large amount of data on Great Barrier Reef use and users and the values and benefits derived. Yet despite the volume of information on current data, it tends to be dispersed and not always in the best form to inform GBRMPAs key questions around management decisions or to enable a complete understanding of progress towards Reef 2050 targets over time. Through co-design with the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the collaborative CSIRO, JCU and CQU team will: analyse the extent and quality of existing data to understand users, their uses and sustainable benefit through time; identify key gaps in data; prioritise data gaps that need addressing; and design and test a monitoring program to continue and improve the supply of critical data into the future.
Investigators: Maxine Newlands, Diane Jarvis, Victoria Graham, Anthea Coogan, Petina Pert and Jeremy De Valck (Cairns Institute, College of Business, Law & Governance, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation and Central Queensland University)
Keywords: Barrier Reef; Spatial; Benefits; Monitoring; Sustainable; Values

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - National Environmental Science Program 2 (NESP 2) - Marine and Coastal Hub (NESP MAC Hub)

Socio-economic dimensions for managing the marine estate

Indicative Funding: $6,000 over 1 year (administered by University of Tasmania)
Summary: Effective management of the marine estate requires recognition that we live in a connected human-natural system. Beyond biophysical information, effective management requires a solid understanding of policy priorities and matched social/economic information regarding (a) the social, economic and cultural 'values' of the marine estate; (b) best-practice ways of incorporating multiple values into policy and decision making; and (c) best-practices ways of implementing policy for successful environmental outcomes. This project will consider stakeholder needs; review existing datasets, publications and reports; and identify significant knowledge gaps. Outputs will include reviews &/or synthesis workshops and a prioritised set of socio-economic research needs.
Investigators: Diane Jarvis and Tracey Mahony (College of Business and Law & Governance)
Keywords: Non-market valuation; Environmental economic accounting; Impact Assessment; Behaviour change for improved environment management; Stewardship; Implementation of environmental management plans

Sunshine Coast Regional Council - Land for Wildlife South East Queensland (LFWSEQ)

Socio-Economic Dimensions of the Program for Managing the Land for Wildlife South East Queensland.

Indicative Funding: $24,900 over 1 year
Summary: Land for Wildlife is a free, voluntary nature conservation program that encourages and supports landholders to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat on their properties through cooperation and advisory services. This project will explore ecological, social and economic assets, opportunities and barriers within the program, based upon surveying the LfW membership. Priority themes include, but are not limited to, assessing program effectiveness in building conservation skills, knowledge and confidence of LfW members; contributing to member's health and wellbeing; cost effectiveness of outcomes; value for money; alongside profiling the target market to identify potential behavioural appeals to retain and increase membership base.
Investigators: Diane Jarvis and Tracey Mahony (College of Business and Law & Governance)
Keywords: Ecological, social and economic benefits; Program impact evaluation; Stewardship; Value for money; Behaviour change; Human dimensions of env Management

CSIRO - Contract Research

Roper River Water Resources Assessment (RoWRA)

Indicative Funding: $45,000 over 2 years
Summary: The Roper River Water Resource Assessment is a CSIRO led project, working with the Northern Territory government, research partners and communities, to assess the opportunities for water and agricultural development in the Roper River catchment in the Northern Territory. The assessment will provide a comprehensive and integrated evaluation of the feasibility, economic viability and sustainability of water and agricultural development in the Roper River catchment.
Investigators: Diane Jarvis (College of Business and Law & Governance)
Keywords: Water Resources; Regional economic analysis; Input-output models; Regional multipliers

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub

Synthesis Project - Kakadu Cultural Connections

Indicative Funding: $90,000 over 2 years
Summary: The national land account project, within the Department of Environment and Energy is developing an Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (EEA) system, strongly guided by the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA). This project will explore options and make recommendations for acknowledging and possibly including Indigenous cultural connections within that ecosystem accounting framework. It may be possible to generate some monetary estimates of value, but the explorations may instead conclude that Indigenous cultural connections should be considered alongside, rather than as a subset, of other ecosystem services (much as the government compiles tourism satellite accounts that are published alongside the national accounts).
Investigators: Diane Jarvis, Natalie Stoeckl, Daniel Grainger and Michael Douglas (College of Business, Law & Governance, Academy - TES, Indigenous Education & Research Centre and The University of Western Australia)
Keywords: Indigenous cultural connections-country; system of environmental economic a/c; ecosystem services accounting; non-mnarket valuations; Cultural Ecosystem Services; indigenous cultural values

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Program (NESP) - Tropical Water Quality Hub (TWQ Hub)

Matching the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish integrated pest management to the scale of the new control program

Indicative Funding: $39,900 over 2 years (administered by CSIRO Land & Water)
Summary: Thorns Starfish Integrated Pest Management Program is designing an ecologically informed control program that integrates knowledge of the spatial and temporal dynamics of CoTS outbreaks and the operations of on-water control to provide i) the most efficient strategies for investing management effort at all scales of management; ii) an operational framework for the control program, and (iii) to identify and fill key research gaps. This project will support the expansion of the tools to match the expansion of the control program, finalise scenario testing to assess appropriate control objectives, and, assess the social benefits of the CoTS training program.
Investigators: David Westcott, Cameron Fletcher, Peter Mumby, Kay Critchell, Russ C Babcock, Scott Condie, Eva Plaganyi-Lloyd, Matthew Curnock and Diane Jarvis (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, The University of Queensland, College of Business and Law & Governance)
Keywords: Cdrown of Thorns Starfish; benefits of CoTs training program; Impact Evaluation; social return on investment; CoTS training program evaluation; reef 2050 Indigenous strategy

Queensland Department of Environment and Science - Contract Research

Landholders Driving Change

Indicative Funding: $85,000 over 1 year (administered by NQ Dry Tropics)
Summary: The objective of the Landholders Driving Change (LDC) Major Integrated Project (MIP) is to work closely with landholders in the Bowen Broken Bogie (BBB) catchments to tackle erosion and improve land management, productivity and reef water quality in the Burdekin region.
Investigators: Allan Dale, Rachel Eberhard, Anthea Coggan, Diane Jarvis, Anna Roberts, Geoff Park, Steve Skull, Romy Greiner and Jennifer McHugh in collaboration with Stuart Whitten (Cairns Institute, Eberhard Consulting, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, College of Business, Law & Governance, Natural Decisions, Alluvium Consulting and River Consulting)
Keywords: Erosion; Natural Resource Management; Burdekin Region; Land Management; Water Quality

Qld Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy - Contract Research

Stewardship Indicators to Establish a Human Dimensions Baseline for the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan

Indicative Funding: $19,120 (administered by CSIRO)
Summary: The project contributes to the Reef 2050 WQIP objectives of supporting industries and communities to build a culture of innovation and stewardship and developing a quantitative measure of a range of human dimensions related to innovation and stewardship. Desired short term outcomes include a clear and shared understanding of what the 'human dimensions' are as applied to promoting a 'culture of innovation of stewardship' and measureable indicators that inform progress towards that objective and a conceptually robust but operationally pragmatic HD Baseline is compiled that informs future design of monitoring systems and current government program delivery decision-making.
Investigators: Diane Jarvis (College of Business and Law & Governance)
Keywords: Human Dimensions Indicators; Reef 2050 Plan; Great Barrier Reef; Water Quality Improvement Plan; Building culture Innovation stewardship; Quantitative measure of human dimensions

Supervision

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

Influences on Stakeholder attitudes towards Government's Great Barrier Reef Environmental Regulations (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
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)

Collaboration

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.