Our Work | Jaragun Ecoservices

Our work

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

ECOSYSTEMS

Preserving function and value

We perform system repair to protect or improve the ecosystem services we depend on to maintain our social, cultural and economic well-being.

Our approach is to work with catchment processes by maintaining and improving an ecosystem's structural components and managing current and emerging threats to their functioning.

Our activities involve a high level of integration with other initiatives to improve overall outcomes for the environment, which are enhanced through revegetation with native plant species, control of pest species and planning for climate change.

Biodiversity

FLORA AND FAUNA

We preserve the high value biodiversity of the Russell River Catchment by restoring degraded ecosystems, providing additional habitat for native species and supporting the maintenance of keystone species that are critical to retaining the structural integrity of our many unique ecosystem types. We maintain species and genetic diversity through our native nursery that includes local seed collection, identification, propagation and record-keeping and provenance.

PEST PLANTS AND ANIMALS

Our pest control is directed at biosecurity risks that impact the catchment's economic and environmental security. We work with State and local authorities on biosecurity priorities, farmers on agricultural priorities and the community on environmental priorities.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Our work assists native species to adapt to climate change. We build resilience by creating corridors that facilitate migration between the mountains and the Great Barrier Reef, establishing new populations of threatened species and supporting keystone species that are critical to maintenance of the catchment's many unique ecosystems. A future focus is a climate change adaptation strategy to prioritise conservation of Regional Ecosystems and species.

WATER QUALITY

Flowing to the Great Barrier Reef

Our solutions are based on whole-of-catchment planning to design treatment systems that target the highest sources of pollutants.

We work with the community to identify opportunities across the landscape, farmers and landholders to implement and trial site-specific on-ground interventions, and scientists to test new technologies and monitor progress.

Our activities include restoration of natural filtration systems, rehabilitation of waterways and construction of water treatment technologies.

Hydrology

MANAGEMENT

A lot of our work is focused on streambank stabilisation to restore waterways. We plant water edge, bank and floodplain species to reproduce natural riparian rainforest of the coastal lowlands.We work with experts for advice to understand future trajectory where erosion hotspots and high rate of channel migration need engineered solutions.

TECHNOLOGY

We design and construct treatment systems to intercept pollutants contained in agricultural runoff before they enter receiving waterways. We specialise in technologies without intruding on farm operations. We sequence technologies like wetlands, denitrification bioreactors and sediment traps that progressively improve water quality to maximise the impact of individual technologies.

RESEARCH

We combine local observation and practical know-how with leading science to inform planning, strategies and priorities and to ensure appropriate technologies that are suited to Wet Tropics conditions. We partner with academia on science projects to fill knowledge gaps in baseline information and data on catchment systems, design and effectiveness of technologies, and monitoring and reporting programs.

News

Qld Government visits Reef Assist project sites