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. 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.

Research Interests

• Environmental, economic and social contributors to wellbeing
• Environmental economic accounting
• Improving understanding of complex nature-human systems within northern Australia, 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:

• Blue Carbon Conservation, Restoration and Accounting Program is funded by DCCEEW to test and demonstrate methods for accounting for the social, cultural, economic, and ecological (incl biodiversity) benefits arising from wetland restoration projects.  JCU are partnering with Greening Australia, funded by DCCEEW, to restore the wetlands at Mungalla Stations (see https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/projects/working-on-country-at-mungalla-station/) and I am leading the team (separately funded by DCCEEW) to develop and implement methods for accounting for the cultural benefits arising to the Nywaigi Traditional Owners of the land as a result of this restoration.
• Project SEABORNE (Sustainable usE And Benefits fOR marinE) funded by Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Reef Trust Partnership.  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 regarding the use, users and benefits of the Reef and identify key gaps in data, and contribute towards the supply of critical data for the sustainable use of the Reef into the future.
• National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Marine and Coastal Hub: Project 2.5 Evaluation of recreational fishing behaviour, use, values and motivations that relate to compliance.  For more information see https://www.nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/project-2-5/
• Water Security for Northern Australia - Gilbert Catchment Project 1.4 - funded by CRC for Developing Northern Australia. This project focuses on the currently unutilsed water allocation for Indigenous use, and adress two critical needs: to map out Indigenous cultural areas in the entire catchment; and to develop a plan of enterprise development opportunities for water use that is prosperous for groups in the region.  For more information see CRCNA Water Security for Northern Australia
• Regional Ecosystems Accounting Pilot: Research on First Nations perspectives on ecosystem accounting in the `Ecosystem Accounting Pilots for Agricultural and Mixed-Use Landscapes project, partnering with CSIRO and funded by DCCEEW
• National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Marine and Coastal Hub: Project 2.5: Evaluation of recreational fishing behaviour, use, values and motivations that relate to compliance.
• 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

Recently completed significant research project on which I have participated include: 

• 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 https://www.nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/project-1-17-2/
• 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/
• 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/

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)
• EV5003: Environmental Economics (Level 5; CNS)
• LB5411: Resilience and Sustainable Development (Level 5; 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

• Applied economics (3801)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• economic framework (1599)
• Environmental policy, legislation and standards (1902)

Awards

• 2022 - Prize winner for completing the highest number of fixes of all JCU participants in the Blackboard Ally ‘Fix Your Content Day’ challenge, contributing to JCU's overall placing of 2nd in the Asia-Pacific Region.
• 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 - Best Uptake of CBLG Research in Popular Press Award
• 2021 - CBLG ECR Award for Research Achievements
• 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 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
• 2019 - Research Fellow with the Cairns Institute

Memberships

• 2022 - Member of the Environmental-Economic Accounting Technical Community of Practice, jointly organised by DCCEEW (Federal Government) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics
• 2022 - JCU Representative and Northern Node Leader on the Research Executive Committee for the National Environmental Science Program Resilient Landscapes Hub https://nesplandscapes.edu.au/about/people/diane-jarvis/
• 2022 to 2023 - CBLG Sustainability Committee member
• 2022 to 2023 - CBLG IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action) Committee member, and Deputy Chair
• 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
• 2022 - Successfully completed Introduction to Environmental Accounting, a Professional Short Course provided jointly by ANU and ABS

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

• Coggan A, Hay R, Jarvis D, Eberhard R and Colls B (in press) Increasing uptake of improved land management practice to benefit environment and landholders: insights through a transaction cost lens. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management,
• De Valck J, Jarvis D, Coggan A, Schirru E, Pert P, Graham V and Newlands M (2023) Valuing ecosystem services in complex coastal settings: An extended ecosystem accounting framework for improved decision-making. Marine Policy, 155.
• Dean A, Eberhard R, Baresi U, Coggan A, Deane F, Hamman E, Helmstedt K, Loechel B, Jarvis D, Mayfield H, Stevens L, Taylor B and Vella K (in press) Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models. Conservation Letters,
• Finau G, Jarvis D, Stoeckl N, Larson S, Grainger D, Douglas M, Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation , Barrowei R, Coleman B, Groves D, Hunter J, Lee M and Markham M (2023) Accounting for Indigenous cultural connections to land: insights from two Indigenous groups of Australia. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 36 (9). pp. 370-389
• Larson S, Jarvis D, Stoeckl N, Barrowei R, Coleman B, Groves D, Hunter J, Lee M, Markham M, Larson A, Finau G and Douglas M (2023) Piecemeal stewardship activities miss numerous social and environmental benefits associated with culturally appropriate ways of caring for country. Journal of Environmental Management, 326 (Part B).
• Lignier P, Jarvis D, Grainger D and Chaiechi T (2023) Does the Climate Impact Satisfaction with Life? An Australian Spatial Study. Weather Climate and Society, 15 (1). pp. 159-175
• Mayfield H, Eberhard R, Baker C, Baresi U, Bode M, Coggan A, Dean A, Deane F, Hamman E, Jarvis D, Loechel B, Taylor B, Stevens L, Vella K and Helmstedt K (2023) Designing an expert-led Bayesian network to understand interactions between policy instruments for adoption of eco-friendly farming practices. Environmental Science & Policy, 141. pp. 11-22
• Fassina C, Jarvis D, Tavares S and Coggan A (2022) Valuation of ecosystem services through offsets: Why are coastal ecosystems more valuable in Australia than in Brazil? Ecosystem Services, 56.
• Hernandez-Blanco M, Costanza R, Chen H, deGroot D, Jarvis D, Kubiszewski I, Montoya J, Sangha K, Stoeckl N, Turner K and van't Hoff V (2022) Ecosystem health, ecosystem services, and the well-being of humans and the rest of nature. Global Change Biology, 28 (17). pp. 5027-5040
• 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

Book Chapters

• Jarvis D, Lignier P, Kubiszewski I and Costanza R (2023) Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services, and Subjective Wellbeing. In: Toward an Integrated Science of Wellbeing. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA, pp. 401-435

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 64+ 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

• Influences on attitudes of sugarcane farmers toward the adoption of best management practice for improved environmental outcomes (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)

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.