Dr. Ana Manero and Dr. Javier Leon are researchers in geography and environmental management—and avid surfers as well. Combining sound scientific knowledge and a passion for surfing, Javier and Ana investigate the value of the Noosa area. In 2020, Noosa in south-east Queensland, Australia, was recognized as the 10th World Surfing Reserve by Save the Waves Coalition.
Dr. Ana Manero and Dr. Javier Leon are researchers in geography and environmental management—and avid surfers as well. Combining sound scientific knowledge and a passion for surfing, Javier and Ana investigate the value of the Noosa area. In 2020, Noosa in south-east Queensland, Australia, was recognized as the 10th World Surfing Reserve by Save the Waves Coalition.
Surfing generates significant economic benefits for local communities across the world, but these benefits are often poorly understood by planners and policymakers.
This research—the first of its kind in Australia over the past 10 years—shows that direct expenditure related to surfing contributes to over A$180 million (Australian Dollars) to the local economy. Other value such as increased real estate prices derived from surfing demand are likely to add to the total benefit generated by surfing, thus warranting further research.
BBC Article: The Unexpected Benefits of Surfing
Dr. Ana Manero is a post-doc research fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy, within the Australian National University. Ana’s area of research is on environmental management, with a strong focus on water governance and economics.
Dr. Javier León is a geographer with broad interests in geomorphology and geospatial analysis. He has particular interests in the study and management of coastal systems, especially in the current changing climate and sea-level rise context. He was born in Peru and currently lives and surfs around the points of Noosa in Australia.
Artwork by Nacer Ahmadi: IG @x.filezzz
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