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The critical role that Indigenous people play in natural resource management is globally recognized, with such endeavors frequently supported by Government and non-government funded programs. We explore the perceived impact of the knowledge-exchange opportunities arising from these programs, using data from a survey of Indigenous people from northern Australian communities involved in Indigenous land and sea management programs (ILSMPs). We find that ILSMPs are perceived as opportunities for exchange of both western and Indigenous-generated knowledge, with more people reporting opportunities to learn and share traditional rather than western generated knowledge. Aspects of life perceived as improved by learning and sharing were in relation to self, to others (community and family) and the Indigenous culture overall. Learning is having a positive impact on wellbeing; sharing is predominantly positive, but survey responses also reveal some negatives: mostly related to examples of sharing undertaken in culturally inappropriate exchanges, which not only impacts wellbeing, but also erodes the quality of the information exchanged. Reducing the negative sentiments related to sharing will not only improve the wellbeing of Indigenous people, but will also improve the quality of knowledge exchanged with consequent positive outcomes for the environment and society as a whole. ; Diane Jarvis, Natalie Stoeckl, Silva Larson, Daniel Grainger, Jane Addison, Anna Larson

This report provides an overview and synthesis of the key findings of research conducted under the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program (NERP) Tropical Ecosystems (TE) Hub relevant to tropical rainforests including the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area and Cape York. The NERP rainforest research theme comprised ten projects undertaken by researchers from James Cook University, Griffith University, the University of Queensland and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in collaboration with partner agencies. The intent of the NERP funded rainforest research was to improve our understanding of the impacts of future climate change and extreme events on plant and animal biodiversity; gain new insights for beneficial indigenous co-management of protected areas; identify the importance of tourism and community values; determine the status of threatened key indicator species; examine options regarding natural resource management (NRM) governance under greenhouse gas abatement measures; determine the role of fire in the management of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 listed ecosystems and species; and invasive species management. The research aimed to inform and facilitate management action and remediation to reduce, restore and increase resilience of the Wet Tropics ecosystems. The research findings are also applicable elsewhere, particularly in tropical ecosystems more broadly, but many outcomes can be translated for general application in terrestrial ecosystem management. The report provides an introduction to the Wet Tropics region, a synthesis of key ecological and socio-economic project highlights for the region (including status and trends), future pressures and threats, how research has informed policy and management, and future research priorities. ; Associated Grant:the Australian Government's Department of Environment

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Ecosystem services (the benefits to humans from ecosystems) are estimated globally at $125 trillion/year [1, 2]. Similar assessments at national and regional scales show how these services support our lives [3]. All valuations recognize the role of biodiversity, which continues to decrease around the world in maintaining these services [4, 5]. The giant panda epitomizes the flagship species [6]. Its unrivalled public appeal translates into support for conservation funding and policy, including a tax on foreign visitors to support its conservation [7]. The Chinese government has established a panda reserve system, which today numbers 67 reserves [8, 9]. The biodiversity of these reserves is among the highest in the temperate world [10], covering many of China's endemic species [11]. The panda is thus also an umbrella species [12]—protecting panda habitat also protects other species. Despite the benefits derived from pandas, some journalists have suggested that it would be best to let the panda go extinct. With the recent downlisting of the panda from Endangered to Vulnerable, it is clear that society's investment has started to pay off in terms of panda population recovery [13, 14]. Here, we estimate the value of ecosystem services of the panda and its reserves at between US$2.6 and US$6.9 billion/year in 2010. Protecting the panda as an umbrella species and the habitat that supports it yields roughly 10–27 times the cost of maintaining the current reserves, potentially further motivating expansion of the reserves and other investments in natural capital in China. Wei et al. estimate that the value of ecosystem services of the giant panda and its nature reserves was US$2.6–US$6.9 billion/year in 2010. Protecting the panda and its habitat yields roughly 10–27 times the cost of maintaining the current reserves, potentially motivating expansion of the reserves and other investments in natural capital in China.