Reef and Rainforest Research Centre

Reef and Rainforest Research Centre The Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC) is a Queensland-based organisation working across Northern Australia, the Torres Strait & Papua New Guinea.

We’re beyond proud to share a significant and well-earned milestone for our Managing Director and Company Secretary, Dr ...
31/03/2026

We’re beyond proud to share a significant and well-earned milestone for our Managing Director and Company Secretary, Dr Sheriden Morris, Adjunct Professor (JCU), who has been conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the James Cook University College of Science and Engineering. Sheriden also delivered the occasional address at the ceremony.

In conferring the award, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Professor Mitch Parsell, recognised Dr Morris’ exceptional and sustained contribution to Northern Australia:

“Professor Morris has made an exceptional and sustained contribution to Northern Australia through leadership in environmental science, regional development, Indigenous engagement, and international aid. Her career spans agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and environmental management, including senior roles with CSIRO and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

For more than two decades, she has been the driving force behind the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. Since 2006, the Centre has delivered more than $350 million in applied research and development programs across Northern Australia, enabling large-scale, multidisciplinary collaboration on complex challenges.

Her leadership has been instrumental in transforming crown-of-thorns starfish control on the Great Barrier Reef, demonstrating that targeted intervention can protect coral at scale. She has also led ranger programs across the Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea, ensuring environmental management is culturally appropriate and locally empowered.

Professor Morris has made an outstanding contribution to policy, governance and international development, and has been a steadfast supporter of research at James Cook University for more than 30 years. Her impact across northern Australia has been profound and enduring.”

Congratulations Dr Morris. We acknowledge her outstanding contribution and leadership.

You can watch the ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/live/0kQ2c5-ulQk

04/12/2025

Our Reef Coastal Restoration Project focusing on working together with the Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation in delivering nature positive outcomes.

The integration of Traditional Owner and scientific knowledge is key, in addressing invasive species, erosion and water quality to improve the health of coastal habitats and native biodiversity outcomes.

Through dedicated Reef Trust Trust funding and cross-cultural collaboration, our project fosters long-term stewardship and restoration of ecosystems, ensuring both ecological integrity and lasting benefits for Madjandji country, native species and reef water quality.

Our fifth projects focused on improving local biodiversity and reef water quality through the removal of weeds and diversify farm economy through carbon farming activities on unproductive and marginal land. Reducing costs of managing weeds while restoring ecosystems, improving reef water quality and creating local jobs.

12/11/2025

Our Reef Coastal Restoration Project focusing on working together with the Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation in delivering nature positive outcomes.

The integration of Traditional Owner and scientific knowledge is key, in addressing invasive species, erosion and water quality to improve the health of coastal habitats and native biodiversity outcomes.

Through dedicated Reef Trust funding and cross-cultural collaboration, our project fosters long-term stewardship and restoration of ecosystems, ensuring both ecological integrity and lasting benefits for Madjandji country, native species and reef water quality.

Our fourth project focused on restoring the culturally significant Nirringa creek and wetland lagoon system by reducing invasive weeds and planting native species from the community nursery. Vegetation growth creates habitat corridors, supports biodiversity, and improves reef water quality through sediment retention and nutrient uptake for long-term benefits.

05/11/2025

Our Reef Coastal Restoration Project is focusing on working together with the Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) to deliver nature positive outcomes.

The integration of Traditional Owner and scientific knowledge is key, in addressing invasive species, erosion and water quality to improve the health of coastal habitats and native biodiversity outcomes.

Through dedicated Reef Trust Trust funding and cross-cultural collaboration, our project fosters long-term stewardship and restoration of ecosystems, ensuring both ecological integrity and lasting benefits for Madjandji country, native species and reef water quality.

In our third project we showcase the establishment of the Madjandji and RRRC community nursery propagating important native species to support diverse plantings of species local to our area, improving waterways, bank stabilisation, creating habitat corridors, supporting wet tropics biodiversity and Madjandji culture.

29/10/2025

Our Reef Coastal Restoration Project is working with the Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation to deliver nature positive outcomes.

The integration of Traditional Owner and scientific knowledge is key, in addressing invasive species, erosion and water quality to improve the health of coastal habitats and native biodiversity outcomes.

Through dedicated Reef Trust funding and cross-cultural collaboration, our project fosters long-term stewardship and restoration of ecosystems, ensuring both ecological integrity and lasting benefits for Madjandji country, native species and reef water quality.

Installing sediment traps in sugarcane drains is a cost-effective method to reduce sediments and nutrients, enhancing reef water quality. When combined with riparian buffers, wetlands, and controlled grazing, these measures maximise pollutant removal through a treatment train approach for sustainable catchment management.

22/10/2025

Our Reef Coastal Restoration Project focusing on working together with the Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation in delivering nature positive outcomes.

The integration of Traditional Owner and scientific knowledge is key, in addressing invasive species, erosion and water quality to improve the health of coastal habitats and native biodiversity outcomes.

Through dedicated Reef Trust funding and cross-cultural collaboration, our project fosters long-term stewardship and restoration of ecosystems, ensuring both ecological integrity and lasting benefits for Madjandji country, native species and reef water quality.

Over the coming weeks we are pleased to show the progress of our projects, starting with a project aimed at reducing invasive spotted tilapia numbers in sugarcane drains.

🐟 Spotted tilapia cause drain erosion and poor water quality by excavating drain walls and building large nests, which leads to increased sediment load in drains and displacement of native fish species.

🪸 Our project aims to restore these drains into habitats, improving reef water quality, supporting native fish populations and promoting ecosystem health for positive long-term environmental outcomes.

Address

Suite F4, Level 1, The Conservatory Building, 9 Abbott Street
Cairns, QLD
4870

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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