Ecosystems-based enterprise opportunities for Indigenous people in northern Australian savannas: Occasional paper series 2015/03

We provide an economic perspective of the role of Indigenous communities in managing savanna natural resources i.e. their duty of care for country, their use and value of these resources and related capabilities. This study addresses the main ecological, economic and social issues, and the related challenges, associated with current development proposals for Australia’s northern savannas. To connect these issues, we propose a savanna ecosystem services (ES)-economy framework based upon people’s connections with their
country, and apply Sen’s capability approach to understand the importance of such connections for indigenous wellbeing. Currently the role of many, especially intangible ES, for indigenous wellbeing is greatly underestimated and misunderstood. We outline payments for ES (PES) opportunities that will enhance livelihoods of rural indigenous communities while providing them with culturally appropriate employment. We evaluate current Government-funded environmental programs that mostly address ecosystem management, in comparison to PES programs. Our framework emphasizes the importance
of regional PES programs for developing long-term sustainable economies that provide culturally appropriate benefits for local communities, as well as for the wider Australian public.