Population viability analysis (PVA) is used to quantify the risks faced by species under alternative management regimes. Bayesian PVAs allow uncertainty in the parameters of the underlying population model to be incorporated into the predictions. Geoff Heard and colleagues have developed a Bayesian stochastic patch occupancy model (SPOM) and used this model to assess the […]
There’s a new kid in town – it’s the carbon payment mechanism termed REDD+, and it’s operating at a scale that could fundamentally change conservation in the tropics. REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (plus the conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks). Early commitments to the scheme total […]
Luke Shoo and colleagues provide a decision framework for the full complement of actions aimed at conserving species under climate change. These actions range from ongoing conservation in existing refugia through to things we can do outside of the natural environment. The researchers recognize that the allocation of resources is not just about the perceived […]
A new text on novel ecosystems Land conversion, climate change and species invasions are contributing to the widespread emergence of novel ecosystems. Dealing with them demands a shift in how we think about traditional approaches to conservation, restoration and environmental management. These systems are novel because they exist without historical precedents and are self-sustaining. Traditional […]
Thanks to the CEED Early Career Researcher Travel scheme, I spent April and May visiting a bunch of research centres in the UK and the Netherlands. It was wonderful to experience how people work at other universities, and to establish links with several interesting colleagues. My research is based around two main themes: agri-environmental management […]
CEED and its many international linkages The problem of conserving biodiversity with inadequate resources is a problem everywhere. It’s not restricted to Australia. While the operations of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) are largely based in Australia, both our science network and the impacts of our research are truly international. Our […]
Measuring levels of biological invasion It is all very well having an academic definition of novel ecosystems, but how do we identify them in practice? In reality, ecosystems and communities are always in a state of flux – they are never stable – so there will be constant, continuous changes in species assemblages. Species will […]
Setting environmental objectives in novel ecosystems In a rapidly changing world full of strange new assemblages of species, the goal posts for conservation aren’t as clear as they once were. What is it we’re trying to conserve, and against what threat? And where do we look for guidance on how to do it when the […]
Using biodiversity offsets to capture moving conservation targets How do we conserve something when it won’t stand still? It’s a question we are only just beginning to grapple with in conservation science. Fixed protected areas are an example of a classic conservation tool, but traditional interventions like these can be ineffective for ‘moving targets’: for […]
Finding a middle ground in a hot debate There has been a lot of debate recently in the field of invasion biology, often quite polarized, surrounding the focus on non-native species in conservation and management. To an outsider, and this would include most of the general public, the heat in this debate might come as […]