Cape York Water Partnership (CYWP) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to monitoring and protecting the aquatic ecosystems of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.  Our members, including Cape York Traditional Owners, landholders, local scientists and conservation groups, and local government organisations, share resources and knowledge to raise awareness and improve management of Cape York's wetlands, rivers and marine ecosystems. 

What We Do

• Monitoring: We conduct monitoring of water quality, wetland health, seagrass meadows and other aquatic ecosystems to assess baseline condition, identify threats and impacts to aquatic ecosystems, and monitor changes over time in a region with a historic lack of monitoring data or understanding of land use impacts.  A key focus is monitoring sediment loads discharged from eastern Cape York rivers to the Great Barrier Reef.

• Track Erosion Control, Mapping and Monitoring: Our on-ground efforts focus on reducing sediment run-off to the Great Barrier Reef from unformed roads, including dirt tracks, fencelines, and firebreaks. 

• Training: empowering local communities & including Indigenous ranger groups by providing training and support in monitoring aquatic habitats, identifying threats and implementing land management practices for improved water quality.

• Community Engagement: CYWP staff have extensive experience leading community consultation and planning projects. Most recently, CYWP led the community engagement and environmental impact assessment after Cyclone Jasper, and are  currently leading consultations and development for the Eastern Cape York Water Quality Strategy.

Our Objectives

• Protection of Cape York Aquatic Ecosystems: Our primary goal is to improve management and protection of Cape York's natural environment, with a focus on its unique river, wetland, and marine ecosystems.

• Increase Knowledge & Awareness: We strive to foster a network of skilled and well-resourced local rangers, land managers, and landowners capable of implementing effective "river to reef" monitoring and land management programs.

• Empower Local Communities: Through education, employment, and training, we build the capacity of Cape York people and communities to participate in natural resource management activities and influence high-level decision-making.

Cape York Water Partnership brings together diverse stakeholders to execute on-ground projects and conduct essential research that can improve management of the unique and globally significant waterways of the Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef.  

Acknowledgement

Cape York Water Partnership values the cultural connections and knowledge of Traditional Owners of the land and waters where we live and work. We acknowledge that water is an inseparable part of ‘Country’, for which the First Nations people of Cape York have traditional ownership rights and custodial duties.