"In mid-December, CSIRO's laboratory in Atherton will become home to several agencies all dedicated to caring for far north Queensland's environment," said the Officer-in-Charge of CSIRO Atherton, Dr Dan Metcalfe.

Terrain is a regional body which is a community-based not-for-profit organisation supporting natural resource management (NRM) in the Wet Tropics.

According to Terrain's Penny Scott, regional bodies, Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare groups are Queensland's primary mechanism for involving local communities in managing natural resources.

"These groups work to build regional consensus between government, industry and the community about the actions needed to secure the health of our natural environment, as well as getting out there and getting the job done" Ms Scott said.

In addition, Dr Metcalfe said, "The co-location of these agencies with CSIRO will foster collaboration and assist with the direct implementation of research findings."

While CSIRO's Atherton Lab has long provided a base for research scientists studying the complex natural relationships within tropical rainforests and landscapes, this new arrangement provides a direct link between the research findings and communities and land managers.

The organisations involved include: Terrain NRM, Cape York NRM, the Barron River Catchment Management Association (BRICMA) and Greening Australia. They will join existing tenants Conservation International who house their Asia-Pacific Field Division at the CSIRO Atherton laboratory.