An international study published in Nature Communications involving CEED researchers from the University of Queensland has found that protected areas (PAs) have been largely successful at safeguarding wildlife within their boundaries, particularly in wealthier, more developed countries. Lead author Megan Barnes said the socio-economic conditions of the country in which a park was located was […]
A study of how private-land conservation organisations frame the benefits of participation has found a bias for emphasising the environmental benefits, while under-emphasising the benefits to landholders and the wider social benefits. “The success of these conservation efforts is tied to the engagement of landholders, however only a small proportion of landholders participate in conservation” […]
Australians could see suitable environments for the country’s iconic eucalypt trees in decline within a generation, according to new international research involving a CEED Researcher Nathalie Butt. The findings, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, paint a stark picture with the habitat of more than 90% of eucalypt species set to decline, with 16 […]
CEED’s Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson has been awarded one of Australia’s most prestigious science awards – the Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year (as part of the this year’s Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science). University of Queensland’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj said Dr Wilson’s research built connections between ecosystems, governments and people. “Kerrie […]
ECRs attend the ICN workshop In June I was very fortunate to be hosted by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS) at the University of Oxford (led by EJ Milner-Gulland, one of CEED’s international PIs). While there I helped organise and participate in a workshop of the Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN). The workshop gave […]
Following a recent international coral science conference, CEED researcher Jennifer McGowan led a short correspondence to Nature asking to researchers and managers not to lose sight of where they can make the most difference. “The message of the correspondence aims to unite the coral reef science and management communities after the International Coral Reef Symposium […]
Behavioural economics melds ideas from psychology and economics to ask how our cognitive biases and limitations change our behaviour from that of so-called rational economic actors.
Migration is physically demanding, and migratory species are highly reliant on places to stop, rest and feed along the way. Unfortunately, human activities are making it riskier for animals to travel, while also reducing the number of places they can travel to.
Southeast Queensland’s waterways provide over $10 billion annually in economic benefits through drinking water supply, fishing, tourism, and recreation. But these goods and services are under threat from intensive agricultural, urban development and climate change.
Climate change is expected to become the main cause of species extinction over the coming century. So, what can conservation planners do?
Microbats provide us with a range of vital services including pollination and pest control. Despite their ubiquity, variety and value, microbats remain poorly understood.
How economics can enhance the success of ecological restoration Key messages: Economic principles, tools and instruments can be applied to a range of factors that affect the success of a restoration project Addressing four key aspects of ecological restoration would enhance their success: (1) assessing social/economic benefits, (2) estimating overall costs, (3) effective prioritisation, and […]
And can it guide conservation decisions? Key messages: Evolutionary processes will be critical to biodiversity conservation in a time of global environmental change New advances in molecular biology make it faster and cheaper to do genetic analysis Environmental decision making needs to better integrate with evolutionary biology to create enduring solutions Ongoing evolution will be critical for the […]
We recently attempted to bridge the gap between theory and practice for one of the worst invasive species in Australia: the cane toad.
It’s widely acknowledged that a ‘dose of nature’ is good for us but how much is enough to generate positive outcomes? We recently analysed people’s health outcomes resulting from an exposure to green spaces and nature and found it didn’t take much to create enduring benefits.
Conservation research is not being done in the countries where it is most needed, and this will likely undermine efforts to preserve global biodiversity. If that sounds like a harsh judgement, consider the facts.
What’s missing when it comes to securing the future of the planet’s threatened species and ecosystems? In this issue of Decision Point we present a range of CEED-related stories that answers this very question.