24 July

"The Tropical Savannas CRC is clearly the largest, and leading, body of savanna researchers in Australia and the world. The majority of leading Australian savanna researchers and research groups are connected to the CRC."

These comments were made by an international panel of experts who reviewed the progress of the Tropical Savannas CRC (TS-CRC) in Darwin in July. The panel gave the Centre top marks for its land management research across northern Australia, and said its education and communication program was a "model of best practice".

The TS-CRC, now in its fifth year of operation, has successfully developed a cohesive set of projects, said the panel, for the large mix of diverse stakeholders across Australia’s savannas. Australia’s savannas make up about one-third of the continent, span two states and one territory, and its stakeholder community includes Aboriginal and pastoral landholders, defence, tourism, mining and conservation. Meeting the needs of stakeholders to develop strategies for healthy country is therefore a challenging one.

"The panel is of the view that the Centre has done an excellent job in this regard, establishing a coherent set of research projects with a clear focus on achieving its mission, and with targets that match the needs of the quite diverse set of stakeholders," it said. "The integration across disciplines and jurisdictions is impressive."

The TS-CRC operates out of the Northern Territory University in Darwin, but has offices in Townsville (Qld) and Kunnunurra (WA). The reach of its scientific program is enormous as it brings together more than 150 researchers across the north working in a wide variety of research areas. These include vegetation health, groundwater and carbon storage, computer modelling to assess landscape change and health, and fire ecology.

The Centre’s review took place between 12–14 July at the Carlton Hotel in Darwin. The panel comprised Roy Green, ex CSIRO (Chair), Geoff Coutts, Director of the Rural Extension Centre, Gatton, University of Queensland, and Bob Scholes, Ecologist, CSIR, South Africa.

The review process is mandatory for all of Australia’s 67 cooperative research centres, and can play a significant part in weather a CRC will continue once its initial seven year-life is complete.

A copy of the fifth year review can be downloaded from the Centre's website. See details below.