INFFER: a practical decision tool for environmental managers and policy makers
- Aug 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 26
What is INFFER?
The Investment Framework for Environmental Resources, or INFFER, is a practical decision-support tool designed to help governments and environmental managers invest in projects that are most likely to deliver meaningful environmental outcomes.
The framework outlines a structured process for identifying important environmental assets, screening potential projects, developing projects in greater detail and testing the logic behind proposed investments.
By bringing together environmental, economic, social, technical and policy information, it supports more transparent, effective and evidence-based decisions.
Developed by a national research team including CEEP's founding Director, Professor David Pannell, INFFER considers not only the importance of an environmental asset, but also the threats it faces, the actions proposed, the likelihood of success, project costs and the benefits expected from investment.
From salinity to a broader environmental investment framework
INFFER grew from earlier research into improving public investment in natural resource management, particularly dryland salinity. Previous work on the Salinity Investment Framework helped establish important foundations, including an asset-based approach and a focus on understanding the balance between public and private benefits. Building on this work, INFFER was developed in 2008 as a broader framework that could be applied across a wide range of environmental challenges. The research team worked closely with environmental managers and government agencies to develop an approach that combined rigorous economics with practical usability.
At the time, there was growing recognition that environmental projects were not always being systematically compared according to their likely benefits, costs and feasibility. INFFER was designed to address this gap, helping users move beyond good intentions and assess whether a proposed project was actually likely to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Its development was recognised in 2009 when the team received the Australian Research Council Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research by an Interdisciplinary Team.
A framework designed for real-world decisions
One of INFFER's strengths is that it does not assume decision makers have perfect information. Environmental management often involves uncertainty, competing objectives and limited data. Rather than requiring unrealistic levels of precision, the framework is designed to make systematic use of the best available information and expert judgement.
It asks practical questions such as:
What environmental asset are we trying to protect or improve?
How significant is that asset?
What are the key threats?
What actions are needed to address them?
How likely are those actions to succeed?
What will they cost?
Are the expected benefits sufficient to justify the investment?
Working through these questions helps organisations compare alternatives and identify weaknesses in proposed projects before significant resources are committed.
A growing impact
Since its development, INFFER has been applied and trialled by more than 20 environmental management bodies in Australia, including regional natural resource management organisations, government departments, consultants and non-government organisations. Its application has also extended internationally, including to environmental decision-making in Canada, New Zealand and Italy.
The framework has continued to evolve through research, training and practical application. It has been used across issues including water quality, biodiversity, land degradation and environmental pests, and has also generated interest as an approach for prioritising investments beyond traditional environmental management.
Who should be using INFFER?
INFFER is particularly valuable for organisations deciding how to allocate limited resources across competing environmental priorities. This includes government agencies, local and regional environmental managers, catchment groups, water utilities, consultants and non-government organisations.
If your organisation needs to decide which projects to fund, how to improve a proposed project, or whether an investment is likely to deliver sufficient environmental benefit for its cost, INFFER provides a transparent and structured way to work through those decisions.
Interested in applying INFFER?
Natural Decisions Pty Ltd applied INFFER for more than a decade before closing in 2026. CEEP continues to provide expertise in the framework and can work with governments, environmental managers and other organisations to apply it to specific challenges. We can help design and assess projects, compare investment options and prioritise resources to maximise environmental benefits from available funding.
To learn more about INFFER and how it can be applied, we recommend the following two papers:
1. Pannell, D.J., Roberts, A.M., Park, G., Alexander, J., Curatolo, A. and Marsh, S. (2012). Integrated assessment of public investment in land-use change to protect environmental assets in Australia, Land Use Policy 29(2), 377-387. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.08.002.
2. Pannell, D.J., Roberts, A.M., Park, G. and Alexander, J. (2013). Designing a practical and rigorous framework for comprehensive evaluation and prioritisation of environmental projects, Wildlife Research 40(2), 126-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR12072
Here is an example application: INFFER analysis – Koala Conservation Final Report
For more information
David Pannell: david.pannell@uwa.edu.au
Abbie Rogers: abbie.rogers@uwa.edu.au
Tammie Harold: tamara.harold@uwa.edu.au
