Strategically searching for invasive pests presents a formidable challenge. Limited funding means choosing between cursorily surveying many sites, or focussing intensively on fewer sites. Existing knowledge may help to target more likely sites, but this knowledge is not flawless and improving it also requires investment. This study examines how to best combine search coverage and […]
There are growing calls that ecosystem services and biodiversity are integrated into the design of conservation interventions. This study sought to investigate the synergies and trade-offs in safeguarding ecosystem services and biodiversity in the Little Karoo region, a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. It used data on three ecosystem services—carbon storage, water recharge, and […]
This study conducted a country-wide evaluation of terrestrial-based conservation programs in Samoa. The benefit of evaluating multiple projects at the same time is that it highlights factors that are persistent and influential across the entire conservation sector. It found mixed success in achieving goals among conservation programs; yet this result is surrounded by uncertainty because […]
UQld, August 2011 In recent decades significant advances have been made in systematic approaches for deciding how to allocate scarce conservation resources, but these approaches generally assume that there is only a single decision maker present. In the real world, however, it is almost never the case that conservation decisions are made and implemented by […]
UMelb, Nov/Dec 2011 After almost a year of planning, meeting and reflecting, CEED was officially kicked off with an Inaugural Conference at the University of Melbourne. And what a grand and intense affair it turned out to be involving over 100 scientists, 65 talks, two training workshops and much free flowing conversation over two days. […]
UWA, October 2011 Resilience is recognized as a complex concept, with many different usages and interpretations. Its current usage in policy and management documents is often vague and does not relate clearly to measurable outcomes. There is considerable research activity around various aspects of resilience, particularly from groups such as the Resilience Alliance. Nevertheless, there […]
Short-term fire fighting vs long-term preventative conservation It seems self-evident that we should try to save highly endangered species. Preserving the greatest number of species on the planet is surely part of the raison d’etre for conservationists. When these endangered species are also iconic or charismatic then governments and NGOs are often willing to allocate relatively large amounts of money […]
Sea level rise and other threats for mangroves and their creatures Sea level rise is nothing new. At one point in time it was possible to walk from Queensland to the Papuan highlands. Climate change isn’t new either; it’s the pace of change that’s different. It’s also a different landscape over which species and ecosystems need to move in […]
Evidence vs opinion: What really protects houses from wildfires? January saw the publication of a fiery piece of research in PLoS ONE on factors correlating with house loss during the Black Saturday fires in 2009. It was led by EDG researcher Phil Gibbons and was sparked by his interest in the claim and counter claim that followed the catastrophe. […]
What makes a good index? Indices are everywhere. For example, the UV index identifies times of day with dangerously high UV levels, and correlates with the amount of damaging incident UV radiation. The consumer price index indicates the average price increase of Australian retail goods and services. These and other indices have important roles in […]