Australian nursery and garden businesses make up a multi-billion dollar industry that plays a vital part in the human (community and personal), environmental and economic well being of Australia. It is a truly Australian industry, transcending all state borders and spreading across urban, rural and coastal environments.

After having prepared the Nursery & Garden Industry Strategic Plan for 2010-2014, Kiri-ganai Research has been asked by Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) to prepare a Strategic Investment Plan which will guide the investment of over $20 million in industry levies and government funds over 2011-2014.

The Strategic Investment Planning process will involve industry consultation, a workshop and analysis of the benefits of past activities and the potentential benefits to be realised from future investments. The Plan will be completed by February 2012.

Website: www.ngia.com.au

This project has been developed as a component of the Australia–China Environment and Development Partnership (ACEDP). The Activity Design Document for this project was initially developed in early 2008 by a joint Chinese-Australian design team. As part of the design process the team noted that China is party to a large number of international Agreements, including the Ramsar Convention, that are relevant to the wetland conservation and biological diversity. It found that although the Chinese Government has taken efforts to protect wetlands, issues still remain and need to be addressed to achieve effective wetland management. The project has three objectives: 1. To develop guidelines for management planning and monitoring of Internationally Important Wetlands, the construction and assessment of National Wetland Parks, and wetland restoration; 2. To develop related national policy, including national standards/forestry standards; and 3. To improve the institutional coordination mechanism for wetland management through capacity building via training activities and international inputs. The project will be conducted over March 2010 to February 2012. The Kiri-ganai Research team includes wetland specialists from Australia, China and Malaysia, and is undertaken in partnership with Wetlands International Oceania and Wetlands International China.

Website: www.acedp-partnership.org/en/default.aspx

Kiri-ganai Research provides secretariat services to Dr Don Blackmore, Chairman of the eWater Cooperative Research Centre.

eWater is a collaborative research venture comprising 31 industry, government and university partners across eastern Australia that aims to produce practical products bringing to bear the economic, commercial and environmental benefits from the smart management of water.

Website: www.ewatercrc.com.au/

Kiri-ganai Research provides secretariat services to Dr Don Blackmore, Chairman of CSIRO's Water for a Healthy Country flagship initiative.

Water for a Healthy Country is a national research program focusing on water, its uses and values. Its scientists are developing the technologies and information needed to protect Australia's rural and urban landscapes and ecosystems, provide safe and clean drinking water, manage our rivers, wetlands and estuaries, and ensure the sustainable use of our water resources.

Website: www.cmis.csiro.au/healthycountry/