Annual Report 2018 | Page 7

ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 | 7 Waterways, Wetlands and Coasts OUR coastal waterways support industries such as fisheries and tourism, provide food and habitat, and help improve water quality by filtering nutrients and chemicals from runoff. This program: •  works with government, industry, community groups and land managers to protect, and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems; •  supports the community to deliver projects, learn skills, access grants, and better understand how farming practices impact wetlands; and •  monitors how land use changes affect water quality. Strategy and Partnerships COMMUNITY and industry partnerships are key to our work. This program: •  works closely with Traditional Owner groups to increase indigenous capacity and participation in natural resource management (NRM); •  develops the skills and abilities of landcare and community groups to deliver effective on-ground works; •  provides strategic direction for the region through the NRM plan; and •  delivers NQ Dry Tropics’ monitoring and evaluation, reporting and i m p ro v e m e n t ( M E R I ) , a n d communications programs.