Transcending language barriers to environmental sciences. This project aims to enhance the global flow of scientific knowledge for biodiversity conservation by tackling the impediment of language barriers. The project draws from literature reviews, modelling and global surveys to shed light on details of biodiversity science published in non-English languages, and how language impedes the use of biodiversity science in decision-making. The project will produce a database and search system for no ....Transcending language barriers to environmental sciences. This project aims to enhance the global flow of scientific knowledge for biodiversity conservation by tackling the impediment of language barriers. The project draws from literature reviews, modelling and global surveys to shed light on details of biodiversity science published in non-English languages, and how language impedes the use of biodiversity science in decision-making. The project will produce a database and search system for non-English conservation studies and recognise the importance of translations to better inform policies and practices. This will benefit national and international environmental sciences and policies by increasing knowledge available for synthesis and facilitating science-led conservation.
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Geographies of co-existence in urban and rural areas. Geographies of co-existence in urban and rural areas. This project aims to develop and trial a practical resource and set of protocols for Caring for Country—Indigenous-led natural resource management (NRM) that draws on Indigenous ways of working and being with the land—in densely populated urban and rural contexts. Caring for Country approaches have enriched NRM in Australia but their implementation in heavily populated rural and urban cont ....Geographies of co-existence in urban and rural areas. Geographies of co-existence in urban and rural areas. This project aims to develop and trial a practical resource and set of protocols for Caring for Country—Indigenous-led natural resource management (NRM) that draws on Indigenous ways of working and being with the land—in densely populated urban and rural contexts. Caring for Country approaches have enriched NRM in Australia but their implementation in heavily populated rural and urban contexts has been challenging. This project is expected to support resilient communities and build options for flexible, place-based responses to environmental change in urban and rural communities.Read moreRead less
Juungambala: More-than-human agreement making with/as Gumbaynggirr Country. This project aims to develop & model Indigenous-led land practices, protocols & more-than-human agreements between Gumbaynggirr Custodians, non-Gumbaynggirr people & Country to enhance Australia’s capacity to respond to disruptive environmental change through Juungambala, setting things right. This project expects to generate new knowledge in Indigenous-led, Country-led environmental practice by working with inter-specie ....Juungambala: More-than-human agreement making with/as Gumbaynggirr Country. This project aims to develop & model Indigenous-led land practices, protocols & more-than-human agreements between Gumbaynggirr Custodians, non-Gumbaynggirr people & Country to enhance Australia’s capacity to respond to disruptive environmental change through Juungambala, setting things right. This project expects to generate new knowledge in Indigenous-led, Country-led environmental practice by working with inter-species communications (koalas, whales, plants) & innovative songline mapping. Intended outcomes include enhanced stakeholder capacities, intercultural & intergenerational learnings. Benefits include enriched relationships with Country, nurturing of songlines & biodiversity corridors, & development of environmental best practice.Read moreRead less
Caring for Cosmologies: Making Living Maps for West Miyarrka. This project aims to develop a new kind of digital mapping to document endangered forms of knowledge along a coastline under threat from climate change. The project expects to draw on unique Yolngu knowledge practices and representational systems - with traditional owners and managers guiding digital media experts, rangers and artists. Expected outcomes include: 1) expanded Indigenous research capacities and digital expertise; and, 2) ....Caring for Cosmologies: Making Living Maps for West Miyarrka. This project aims to develop a new kind of digital mapping to document endangered forms of knowledge along a coastline under threat from climate change. The project expects to draw on unique Yolngu knowledge practices and representational systems - with traditional owners and managers guiding digital media experts, rangers and artists. Expected outcomes include: 1) expanded Indigenous research capacities and digital expertise; and, 2) access to novel resources for a new generation of Indigenous leaders. Benefits include: enhanced intergenerational and intercultural knowledge transmission and negotiation; methods adaptable to other Indigenous contexts; and greater national recognition of Indigenous seeing and caring for country.Read moreRead less
The endangered swift parrot as a model for managing small migratory birds. Endangered swift parrots use variable locations while breeding in eastern Tasmania and over winter on the Australian mainland. This project aims to develop effective conservation strategies for swift parrots and other migrants using new and long term data and innovative technological solutions to tracking small birds across vast landscapes.
Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. This project aims to test genetic rescue as an efficient recovery technique for threatened plants and animals. Genetic rescue is under-utilised, even though it is overwhelmingly beneficial. This project will convert management actions on five Endangered/Critically Endangered species into rigorous experiments that measure the fitness benefits of genetic rescue, and demonstrate genome-wide consequences. Anticipated outco ....Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. This project aims to test genetic rescue as an efficient recovery technique for threatened plants and animals. Genetic rescue is under-utilised, even though it is overwhelmingly beneficial. This project will convert management actions on five Endangered/Critically Endangered species into rigorous experiments that measure the fitness benefits of genetic rescue, and demonstrate genome-wide consequences. Anticipated outcomes include innovative genetic rescue protocols, a framework for genetic rescue, and leading-edge conservation training. Expected benefits are increased persistence of species that are otherwise unresponsive to management, and a new path to saving endangered species.Read moreRead less
New models for predicting species' distributions. This project will deliver new and more robust methods for generating the information that underpins sound conservation and resource management decisions, with particular focus on new statistical techniques to predict species' distributions. Results will be relevant to a wide range of applications including management of rare and/or threatened species and ecosystems, setting realistic targets for species and ecosystem restoration, improved managem ....New models for predicting species' distributions. This project will deliver new and more robust methods for generating the information that underpins sound conservation and resource management decisions, with particular focus on new statistical techniques to predict species' distributions. Results will be relevant to a wide range of applications including management of rare and/or threatened species and ecosystems, setting realistic targets for species and ecosystem restoration, improved management of pest species, and sustainable harvesting of species. Emphasis will be placed on transfer of knowledge to users, fostering the development of new skills among Australian environmental and conservation managers, and contributing to the sustainable use of our biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Reversing the loss of Leadbeater’s Possum habitat: An integrated stand- and landscape-scale approach to accelerating habitat development. Rapid loss of habitat threatens the Leadbeater's possum with extinction before the end of this century. This project aims to develop a range of stand-scale silvicultural prescriptions to accelerate the development of the key features of Leadbeater's possum habitat: large, hollow-bearing trees and a relatively dense Acacia mid-storey. These aim to then inform l ....Reversing the loss of Leadbeater’s Possum habitat: An integrated stand- and landscape-scale approach to accelerating habitat development. Rapid loss of habitat threatens the Leadbeater's possum with extinction before the end of this century. This project aims to develop a range of stand-scale silvicultural prescriptions to accelerate the development of the key features of Leadbeater's possum habitat: large, hollow-bearing trees and a relatively dense Acacia mid-storey. These aim to then inform landscape-scale management planning scenarios developed in conjunction with the Partner Organisations, DEPI and VicForests, to identify spatially and temporally explicit strategies for modifying forest management practices in the key areas of Leadbeater's possum habitat. The outcome aims to be an empirically based landscape-scale management plan to maximise the long-term viability of Leadbeater's possum.Read moreRead less
Onsets not offsets for real biodiversity gains. This project addresses the profound challenge of reconciling development and biodiversity conservation by developing an alternative to the pervasive, yet unsuccessful, biodiversity offsetting approach. It will generate new knowledge in the areas of novel ecosystem function, land use optimisation and conservation attitudes. Key project outcomes will be a new framework for biodiversity onsetting, tested against environmental and social feasibility me ....Onsets not offsets for real biodiversity gains. This project addresses the profound challenge of reconciling development and biodiversity conservation by developing an alternative to the pervasive, yet unsuccessful, biodiversity offsetting approach. It will generate new knowledge in the areas of novel ecosystem function, land use optimisation and conservation attitudes. Key project outcomes will be a new framework for biodiversity onsetting, tested against environmental and social feasibility metrics, and new biodiversity evaluation methods for novel habitats. The project will provide environmental and economic benefits by reversing the ongoing decline in biodiversity from habitat loss and driving innovation in environmentally destructive industries that are vulnerable to climate change.Read moreRead less
Bringing back Australia's lost woodland biodiversity: towards strategic multi-species reintroductions. Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction of any continent on the planet. This has reduced biodiversity and compromised many important ecological processes. What is the best way to re-build depauperate mammal communities with multi-species reintroductions? What effects do multi-species reintroductions have on recipient ecosystems? This project aims to explore these questions by reintr ....Bringing back Australia's lost woodland biodiversity: towards strategic multi-species reintroductions. Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction of any continent on the planet. This has reduced biodiversity and compromised many important ecological processes. What is the best way to re-build depauperate mammal communities with multi-species reintroductions? What effects do multi-species reintroductions have on recipient ecosystems? This project aims to explore these questions by reintroducing three mammal species to a critically endangered temperate woodland: a carnivore (the eastern quoll), an insectivore (yellow-footed antechinus), and a herbivore (the eastern chestnut mouse). Results from this sequenced multi-species reintroduction experiment will have broad applicability to ecosystem restoration in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less