What do Cotton growing regions contribute to biodiversity? How can this be improved? With our partner ELA, we are synthesising spatial biodiversity data across all cotton growing landscapes of NSW and Queensland. Key data on native vegetation, rivers and wetlands, threatened species, and their place in the landscape are being used to identify important areas for ecosystem conservation and restoration. Our project client the Cotton RDC has a focal objective to increase long-term industry sustainability. The project will contribute to a Commonwealth-funded program to develop a framework to incorporate National Capital Accounting (NCA) into key primary industries, including cotton. Julian Wall is a representative on the NCA project working group led by CSIRO, and he will contribute to development of a framework for incorporating NCA in the cotton sector. This will include establishment of specific accounting rules and thresholds associated with mapped biodiversity assets across the region.
