An view over a regional Australian town with orchards beyond. Text reads, 'We are undertaking research to balance social, environmental and economic factors for sustainability in regional communities'.

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CSIRO is improving the sustainability of Australia’s regions and communities.

Housing development adjacent to agricultural production.  The growing demand for land by these two uses requires considered planning to achieve on-going sustainability in Australia.
  • A close-up of an insect wing.

    In partnership with the community and industry, we undertake world-class research into the evolution and ecology of invasive species and the molecular biology and physiology of insects.

  • Image of the globe from space showing Australia, and the sun rising over the horizon.

    The bioeconomy is an emerging term for the sustainable production and conversion of biomass for a range of food, health, fibre and industrial products and energy.

  • Indigenous women selling produce at market

    This project is investigating new enterprises and job opportunities for Indigenous communities based on natural resource management.

  • Wind erosion near West Wyalong, New South Wales.

    CSIRO develops and tests market based instruments, and identifies principles of organisation and planning for implementing and evaluating environmental policies.

  • Senior curator, Mr Tom Weir collecting water bugs.

    Mr Tom Weir is regarded as one of the country’s foremost authorities on water bugs and beetles, investigating diverse habitats in Australia to find them.

  • CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Gungahlin Homestead building, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    The Gungahlin Homestead in the Australian Capital Territory, is an historic site in the north of Canberra that now serves as head office for CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

  • Aerial view over East Lake and Lake Burley Griffin towards central Canberra

    CSIRO is working with the ACT government, SCI partners and local stakeholders on an urban renewal project at East Lake, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in the ACT. The project demonstrates innovation in sustainable urban redevelopment and embraces social, economic and environmental sustainability principles, technologies and practices. (2 pages)

  • Lockerbie Development scoping workshop in Melbourne, 2008

    The collective expertise of the Sustainable Communities Initiative will guide planning of ‘Lockerbie’, a Greenfield residential project north of Melbourne promising a quantum leap in sustainable living. (2 pages)