Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Samantha E. Andres, Jeff R. Powell, Nathan C. Emery, Paul D. Rymer, Rachael V. Gallagher
Summary: Climate change risk assessments are crucial for species conservation and management under future climates. This study illustrates how exposure to climate change and sensitivity of species based on their traits can be combined to predict climate change risk in threatened and unlisted plant species. Results show a significant decline in habitat suitability for all species at current locations under future climates, with a 32-95% reduction in suitable habitat area by 2060. Seven out of the eight species assessed ranked high for overall climate sensitivity, suggesting that listing status may not be a good indicator of climate change risk for plant species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carolyn J. Hogg, Kym Ottewell, Peter Latch, Maurizio Rossetto, James Biggs, Andrew Gilbert, Sarah Richmond, Katherine Belov
Summary: Globally, less than 3% of threatened animal species have genomic resources for conservation management. To address this, a consortium in Australia launched the Threatened Species Initiative to develop genomic data and tools for conservation practitioners. The objective is to empower conservation practitioners to access and apply genomic data to their decision-making processes through a web-based portal.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Christophe Sauser, Loic Commagnac, Cyril Eraud, Matthieu Guillemain, Sophie Morin, Thibaut Powolny, Alexandre Villers, Herve Lormee
Summary: Changes in agriculture have led to a decline in biodiversity, particularly for farmland birds like the European turtle dove. This study investigates the impact of foraging and nesting habitats on turtle dove abundance in France. The results indicate that fallow lands positively affect turtle dove abundance, whereas fodder crop area has a negative effect. Increasing hedgerows length has a positive effect on the population, while the relationship with forest edges length is bell-shaped. Targeted measures such as increasing fallow lands and hedgerows length could help stabilize or increase the turtle dove population.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jayden E. Engert, Robert L. Pressey, Vanessa M. Adams
Summary: Australia is a global leader in land clearing and biodiversity loss driven by agricultural conversion. The concentration of habitat protection in unproductive landscapes leads to unequal impacts on threatened vertebrate fauna, with productive lands receiving less protection and experiencing greater habitat loss. The study emphasizes the importance of protecting land capable of supporting productive uses to conserve the most affected threatened species.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John C. Z. Woinarski, David G. Chapple, Stephen T. Garnett, Sarah M. Legge, Mark Lintermans, Ben C. Scheele
Summary: Many Australian animal species are threatened by introduced species and problematic native species. Conservation programs have successfully reduced extinction risks for threatened mammals susceptible to introduced predators, but other threatened animal species susceptible to introduced and problematic native species have not received enough strategic assessment and conservation investment. This study identifies 122 additional threatened Australian animal taxa susceptible to introduced and problematic native species, as well as the specific threats they face. Current conservation efforts, such as the establishment of havens, provide a potential foundation for the protection of these species, although many still lack havens that exclude relevant threats.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vanessa M. Adams, Nathalie Butt, Stuart Allen, Robert L. Pressey, Jayden E. Engert, Rachael V. Gallagher
Summary: Land clearing and protected area provision have contrasting effects on species persistence. Using Australia's flora as a case study, this research examines the protection and clearing levels of plant species, assemblages, and growth forms. The study finds that protection and clearing are inversely related, with many bioregions and species at risk due to continued land clearing. The Australian protected-area network falls short in adequately protecting individual plant species and growth forms, highlighting the need for improved conservation efforts.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
H. Fraser, S. M. Legge, S. T. Garnett, H. Geyle, J. Silcock, T. Nou, T. Collingwood, K. A. Cameron, F. Fraser, A. Mulcahy, G. Walker, J. C. Z. Woinarski
Summary: Many conservation initiatives aim to reduce biodiversity decline, but specific targets are rare. The implementation of the Threatened Species Strategy in Australia in 2015 aimed to improve the population trajectory of 71 species by 2020. However, the assessment showed mixed results with some species improving and others deteriorating.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Elena Buscher, Darcy L. Mathews, Cheryl Bryce, Kathleen Bryce, Darlene Joseph, Natalie C. Ban
Summary: The research documents the Indigenous-led marine conservation planning process of the Songhees Nation to reclaim stewardship around the Tl'ches archipelago near Victoria, Canada, comparing it to systematic conservation planning approaches. Despite similarities in the initial scoping phase and focus on focal species, differences include the Songhees approach involving only one zone, excluding other stakeholders, and attempting to account for the entire socialecological system in one step.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen G. Kearney, James E. M. Watson, April E. Reside, Diana O. Fisher, Martine Maron, Tim S. Doherty, Sarah M. Legge, John C. Z. Woinarski, Stephen T. Garnett, Brendan A. Wintle, Euan G. Ritchie, Don A. Driscoll, David Lindenmayer, Vanessa M. Adams, Michelle S. Ward, Josie Carwardine
Summary: Earth's extinction crisis is worsening and threat classification schemes are crucial for assessing the drivers and threats causing species declines. However, there is a lack of a complementary framework for evaluating the conservation responses needed to reduce these threats. In this study, an expert-driven threat-abatement framework was developed and applied to 1532 threatened species in Australia, highlighting the importance of retaining and restoring habitat, controlling invasive species and diseases, and improving fire management for species recovery. Integrated management responses are necessary for the survival and recovery of most species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle Ward, Ayesha Tulloch, Romola Stewart, Hugh P. Possingham, Sarah Legge, Rachael Gallagher, Erin M. Graham, Darren Southwell, David Keith, Kingsley Dixon, Chuanji Yong, Josie Carwardine, Tim Cronin, April E. Reside, James E. M. Watson
Summary: In the summer of 2019-2020, southern Australia experienced the largest fires on record, damaging the habitat of native species. A large-scale restoration effort is needed to improve degraded species habitat and provide fire-affected species with the opportunity to recover. Decision-makers require information on priority species needs, potential restoration interventions, and priority locations for these interventions. The study shows that restoring a significant portion of the study region would account for a large percentage of current and future habitat for priority species, but would come at a high cost.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chia-Nan Lin, Bor-Wen Tsai
Summary: The research aims to identify critical factors contributing to the stability and sustainability of local spatial management by studying indigenous knowledge of the Yami people on Orchid Island. The study found that cultural-specific spatial regulations maintained by the Yami indigenous institution were more adaptive and resilient compared to official institutions controlled by the state. Recommending to integrate indigenous knowledge into official spatial management institutions to enhance resilience.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ayesha I. T. Tulloch, Micha V. V. Jackson, Elisa Bayraktarov, Alexander R. R. Carey, Diego F. F. Correa-Gomez, Michael Driessen, Ian C. C. Gynther, Mel Hardie, Katherine Moseby, Liana Joseph, Harriet Preece, Andres Felipe Suarez-Castro, Stephanie Stuart, John C. Z. Woinarski, Hugh P. P. Possingham
Summary: Monitoring is crucial for assessing management effectiveness, but there is a lack of comprehensive assessments of monitoring to evaluate and improve recovery efforts. In this study, time series data from 71 threatened and near-threatened mammal species in Australia were analyzed to compare population trends under different management strategies. The results showed that unmanaged populations declined significantly, while populations in havens and those undergoing predator baiting exhibited positive trends. However, there is a need for more comprehensive and improved monitoring to understand the effectiveness of management actions and recover Australia's threatened mammal species.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Houlang Duan, Xiubo Yu
Summary: This study evaluated the historical changes in habitat quality and connectivity for migratory shorebirds in the Yellow River Delta using various analyses. The results showed a significant decrease in habitat connectivity due to land reclamation, with high-quality areas being converted to industrial and mariculture sites. Additionally, important habitat patches were converted to non-habitat or low-importance habitat patches. The study recommends expanding the boundaries of the national nature reserve to protect these unprotected areas.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oscar Morton, Brett R. Scheffers, Torbjorn Haugaasen, David P. Edwards
Summary: We assessed the trade volumes of threatened and non-threatened species regulated by CITES and found that non-threatened species dominate the trade. We also discovered a disconnect between trade volumes and changing extinction risk, highlighting potential drawbacks in the current regulation of species trade.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Anna Normyle, Bruce Doran, Michael Vardon, Dean Mathews, Julie Melbourne, Glenn Althor
Summary: The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) is widely promoted in environmental and economic policy and management. However, it lacks considerations for Indigenous peoples. Through collaborative workshops with the Nyamba Buru Yawuru, we found that while SEEA-EA is a valuable tool for empowering Indigenous people and supporting the management of their lands and seas, it needs to be expanded to better reflect cultural values and the services provided by Indigenous peoples to ecosystems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen G. Kearney, James E. M. Watson, April E. Reside, Diana O. Fisher, Martine Maron, Tim S. Doherty, Sarah M. Legge, John C. Z. Woinarski, Stephen T. Garnett, Brendan A. Wintle, Euan G. Ritchie, Don A. Driscoll, David Lindenmayer, Vanessa M. Adams, Michelle S. Ward, Josie Carwardine
Summary: Earth's extinction crisis is worsening and threat classification schemes are crucial for assessing the drivers and threats causing species declines. However, there is a lack of a complementary framework for evaluating the conservation responses needed to reduce these threats. In this study, an expert-driven threat-abatement framework was developed and applied to 1532 threatened species in Australia, highlighting the importance of retaining and restoring habitat, controlling invasive species and diseases, and improving fire management for species recovery. Integrated management responses are necessary for the survival and recovery of most species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin S. Halpern, Carl Boettiger, Michael C. Dietze, Jessica A. Gephart, Patrick Gonzalez, Nancy B. Grimm, Peter M. Groffman, Jessica Gurevitch, Sarah E. Hobbie, Kimberly J. Komatsu, Kristy J. Kroeker, Heather J. Lahr, David M. Lodge, Christopher J. Lortie, Julie S. S. Lowndes, Fiorenza Micheli, Hugh P. Possingham, Mary H. Ruckelshaus, Courtney Scarborough, Chelsea L. Wood, Grace C. Wu, Lina Aoyama, Eva E. Arroyo, Christie A. Bahlai, Erin E. Beller, Rachael E. Blake, Karrigan S. Bork, Trevor A. Branch, Norah E. M. Brown, Julien Brun, Emilio M. Bruna, Lauren B. Buckley, Jessica L. Burnett, Max C. N. Castorani, Samantha H. Cheng, Sarah C. Cohen, Jessica L. Couture, Larry B. Crowder, Laura E. Dee, Arildo S. Dias, Ignacio J. Diaz-Maroto, Martha R. Downs, Joan C. Dudney, Erle C. Ellis, Kyle A. Emery, Jacob G. Eurich, Bridget E. Ferriss, Alexa Fredston, Hikaru Furukawa, Sara A. Gagne, Sarah R. Garlick, Colin J. Garroway, Kaitlyn M. Gaynor, Angelica L. Gonzalez, Eliza M. Grames, Tamar Guy-Haim, Ed Hackett, Lauren M. Hallett, Tamara K. Harms, Danielle E. Haulsee, Kyle J. Haynes, Elliott L. Hazen, Rebecca M. Jarvis, Kristal Jones, Gaurav S. Kandlikar, Dustin W. Kincaid, Matthew L. Knope, Anil Koirala, Jurek Kolasa, John S. Kominoski, Julia Koricheva, Lesley T. Lancaster, Jake A. Lawlor, Heili E. Lowman, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Kari E. A. Norman, Nan Nourn, Casey C. O'Hara, Suzanne X. Ou, Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamino, Paula Pappalardo, Ryan A. Peek, Dominique Pelletier, Stephen Plont, Lauren C. Ponisio, Cristina Portales-Reyes, Diogo B. Provete, Eric J. Raes, Carlos Ramirez-Reyes, Irene Ramos, Sydne Record, Anthony J. Richardson, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Erin Satterthwaite, Chloe Schmidt, Aaron J. Schwartz, Craig R. See, Brendan D. Shea, Rachel S. Smith, Eric R. Sokol, Christopher T. Solomon, Trisha Spanbauer, Paris Stefanoudis, Beckett W. Sterner, Vitor Sudbrack, Jonathan D. Tonkin, Ashley R. Townes, Mireia Valle, Jonathan A. Walter, Kathryn Wheeler, William R. Wieder, David R. Williams, Marten Winter, Barbora Winterova, Lucy C. Woodall, Adam S. Wymore, Casey Youngflesh
Summary: Synthesis research in ecology and environmental science is important for improving understanding, advancing theory, identifying research priorities, and supporting management strategies. A virtual workshop with participants from different countries and disciplines was held to discuss how synthesis can address key questions and themes in the field in the next decade. Seven priority research topics and two issues regarding synthesis practices were identified, providing a strategic vision for future synthesis in ecology and environmental science.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robyn James, Jonathan R. B. Fisher, Chelsea Carlos-Grotjahn, Marissa S. Boylan, Baigalmaa Dembereldash, Meaza Z. Demissie, Crystal Diaz De Villegas, Bridget Gibbs, Ruth Konia, Kristen Lyons, Hugh Possingham, Cathy J. Robinson, Tiantian Tang, Nathalie Butt
Summary: Globally, women are underrepresented in addressing the climate and biodiversity loss crises. A survey among conservation and science staff at The Nature Conservancy revealed that men have more influence in conservation and science decision making, women face gender bias and multiple barriers in their conservation careers, and experience harassment and discrimination. Men perceive the sector as more equitable for women than women themselves. Gender equality does not eliminate systemic inequity, which can be exacerbated by intersectional issues. Recommendations include workplace and cultural change, recruitment improvements, pay transparency, and career development policies.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John C. Z. Woinarski, Stephen T. Garnett, Sarah M. Legge, Graeme Gillespie, Mark Lintermans, Libby Rumpff
Summary: From 2000 to 2022, 29 taxa representing 6.5% of the threatened Australian species have recovered due to sustained management actions. Most of the recovered species are mammals whose previous decline was due to introduced predators. However, invertebrates, which have received little conservation investment, have limited recovery.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kerstin K. Zander, Hunter S. Baggen, Stephen T. Garnett
Summary: This article presents a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2001 and 2021 on the relationship between human mobility and drought or heat. The study identifies a total of 387 relevant articles, which were analyzed descriptively and using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. The findings reveal that most articles focus on droughts, particularly in African and Southern Asian countries, while heat-related research is predominantly conducted in developed countries. Various research gaps are identified, including migration in urban droughts and the compound effects of drought and heat.
Article
Ecology
Sarah Fischer, Andrew C. Edwards, Stephen T. Garnett, Timothy G. Whiteside, Patrice Weber
Summary: This study explores the use of moving sound recorders to replicate line-transect surveys and compares the results with traditional point-count surveys in avian communities. The findings suggest that sound recordings are more accurate in identifying bird species compared to observer data. Furthermore, the integration of bioacoustic and drone technologies with traditional avian surveying techniques enhances the identification of species in an area.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kerstin K. Zander, Michael Burton, Ram Pandit, Stephen T. Garnett
Summary: Public support is crucial for government conservation measures, but little is known about the criteria the public thinks government should consider when making conservation investment decisions. A study on the Australian public found that the risk of extinction, effectiveness of interventions, and potential harm to other species were the most important factors, while costs and societal acceptance were less significant.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Madeline Beattie, Julia E. Fa, Ian Leiper, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Kerstin K. Zander, Stephen T. Garnett
Summary: Indigenous Peoples' lands, which make up a significant portion of biodiversity hotspots, are more likely to experience armed conflict. However, these lands also suffer less environmental damage and human impacts, likely due to Indigenous Peoples' strong connection to and defense of their territories.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jocelyne S. Sze, Dylan Z. Childs, L. Roman Carrasco, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Stephen T. Garnett, David P. Edwards
Summary: Indigenous Peoples have long been custodians of their lands and play a crucial role in tropical forest conservation. Research shows that Indigenous Peoples' Lands overlap with the distribution ranges of tropical forest-dependent vertebrates, affecting species richness, extinction vulnerability, and range-size rarity.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ana Buchadas, Martin Jung, Mercedes Bustamante, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Stephen T. T. Garnett, Ana Sofia Nanni, Natasha Ribeiro, Patrick Meyfroidt, Tobias Kuemmerle
Summary: Tropical and subtropical dry woodlands are facing high deforestation pressure despite their rich biodiversity and carbon storage. This study explores the relationship between deforestation dynamics, woodland protection, and conservation priorities in these regions. The findings reveal that global conservation priorities are overrepresented in tropical dry woodlands compared to other areas, and deforestation frontiers disproportionately impact areas with important regional conservation assets. Understanding how deforestation frontiers coincide with different types of woodland protection can inform targeted conservation policies and interventions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Kirsten Maclean, Don L. Hankins, Amy C. Christianson, Imma Oliveras, Bibiana A. Bilbao, Oliver Costello, E. R. Langer, Cathy J. Robinson
Summary: This passage discusses the importance of Indigenous cultural fire practices and suggests that governments, researchers, and natural resource managers should take measures to support Indigenous leadership and remove barriers to cultural fire practices.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
John C. Z. Woinarski, Phillipa C. C. McCormack, Jan McDonald, Sarah Legge, Stephen T. T. Garnett, Brendan Wintle, Libby Rumpff
Summary: Biodiversity is declining and extreme events like wildfires worsen the losses. Decision-makers need to prioritize what to protect, traditionally prioritizing human life, infrastructure, and then biodiversity. Based on the 2019-20 Australian wildfires, a series of steps are proposed to identify and prioritize biodiversity assets, enhance their protection through planning and practice, and strengthen legislation to safeguard them.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hubert Cheung, Yutong Phoenix Feng, Amy Hinsley, Tien Ming Lee, Hugh P. Possingham, Stephen N. Smith, Laura Thomas-Walters, Yifu Wang, Duan Biggs
Summary: Political will is crucial for the success of environmental policies, and aligning environmental solutions with the core interests of policymakers makes them more politically feasible. Understanding decision-makers' political agendas helps identify areas where political will already exists, enabling environmental objectives to be achieved.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Natalya M. Maitz, Martin F. J. Taylor, Michelle S. Ward, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: Australia's national environmental legislation, the EPBC Act, is criticized for its failure to mitigate the national extinction crisis, as it does not adequately protect threatened species and habitats.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
