SCIENTISTS’ DECLARATION: ACCELERATING FOREST, WOODLAND AND GRASSLAND DESTRUCTION IN AUSTRALIA

Australia’s land clearing rate is once again among the highest in the world.

Remaining forests and woodlands are critical for much of our wildlife, for the health and productivity of our lands and waters, and for the character of our nation. Beginning in the 1990s, governments gradually increased protection of these remaining forests and woodlands.

However, those laws are now being wound back.

The State of Queensland has suffered the greatest loss of forests and woodlands. But while stronger laws by the mid-2000s achieved dramatic reductions of forest and woodland loss, recent weakening of laws reversed the trend. Loss of remnant forest has more than trebled since 2009 [1]. In Victoria, home to four of Australia’s five most heavily cleared bioregions, land clearing controls were weakened in 2013, and in New South Wales, proposed biodiversity laws provide increased opportunities for habitat destruction [2].

Of the eleven world regions highlighted as global deforestation fronts, eastern Australia is the only one in a developed country [3]. This problem threatens much of Australia’s extraordinary biodiversity and, if not redressed, will blight the environmental legacy we leave future generations.

Australia’s wildlife at risk

Already, Australia’s environment has suffered substantial damage from clearing of forests, woodlands and grasslands, including serious declines in woodland birds and reptiles [4].  Vast numbers of animals are killed by forest and woodland destruction. For example, between 1998 and 2005 an estimated 100 million native birds, reptiles and mammals were killed because of destruction of their habitat in NSW [5]; in Queensland, the estimate was 100 million native animals dying each year between 1997 and 1999 [6]. As land clearing once again escalates, so too will these losses of wildlife.

The loss of habitat is among the greatest of threats to Australia’s unique threatened species, imperilling 60% of Australia’s more than 1,700 threatened species [7]. Habitat protection is essential for preventing more species from becoming threatened in the future, adding to our burgeoning threatened species lists [8]. Habitat removal eliminates the plants and animals that lived in it; increases risks to wildlife from introduced predators; impacts surface and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and fragments habitat so that individuals are unable to move through the landscape. It also reduces the ability of species to move in response to climate change [9].

The societal costs of forest and woodland destruction

Forest and woodland destruction also causes long-term costs to farmers, governments and society. Removal of native vegetation:

  • Hastens erosion and reduces fertility of Australia’s ancient and fragile soils [10]
  • Increases the risk of soils becoming saline [11]
  • Exacerbates drought [12]
  • Reduces numbers of native pollinators and many wildlife species (such as woodland birds and insectivorous bats) that control agricultural pests [13]
  • Reduces shade for livestock from heat and wind.

Continued and increasing removal of forests, woodlands and grasslands increases the cost of restoring landscapes and reduces the chance of success. For example, the Australian Government has committed to plant 20 million trees by 2020 [14]. Yet many more than 20 million trees are cleared every year in Queensland alone.

Forest and woodland destruction increases the threat to some of Australia’s most iconic environmental assets. Coral health on The Great Barrier Reef has declined precipitously from the effects of high temperatures associated with climate change, poor water quality, and the flow-on impacts it triggers (such as crown-of-thorns outbreaks) [15]. Native vegetation removal from catchments that flow into the Great Barrier Reef liberates topsoil and contaminants, reducing water quality and threatening the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef [16]. Governments have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this problem, with estimates of the full cost of restoring water quality as high as AUD$10 billion [17].

Native vegetation is a major carbon sink. Forest and woodland destruction is the fastest-growing contributor to Australia’s carbon emissions, as it transfers the carbon that was stored in the vegetation to the atmosphere. Hence, Australia’s increasing forest and woodland destruction threatens its ability to meet its commitments under four major international treaties: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the World Heritage Convention, the Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Urgently-needed solutions

  • Develop and implement a strategy to end net loss of native vegetation, and restore over-cleared landscapes
  • Recognise all biodiversity, not just threatened species, in policy and legislation for the management of native vegetation
  • Establish clear, transparent and repeatable national reporting of clearing of native vegetation
  • Use rigorous biodiversity assessment methods for assessing clearing requests, accounting for all potential impacts, including cumulative and indirect impacts
  • Identify habitats that are of high conservation value for complete protection
  • For unavoidable losses of native vegetation, require robust and transparent offsets that meet the highest standards and improve biodiversity outcomes

Thirteen years ago, scientists from across the world expressed their grave concern about ongoing high rates of land forest and woodland destruction in the Australian State of Queensland18. For a while, the warning was heeded, and the Queensland state government acted to bring land clearing to historically low levels.

The progress made then is now being undone. Forest and woodland destruction has resumed at increasingly high rates. This return of large-scale deforestation to Australia risks further irreversible environmental consequences of international significance.

Today, scientists from across the world (including those listed), in conjunction with scientific societies and the delegates of the Society for Conservation Biology (Oceania) Conference, call upon Australian governments and parliaments, especially those of Queensland and New South Wales, to take action. We call for the prevention of a return to the damaging past of high rates of woodland and forest destruction, in order to protect the unique biodiversity and marine environments of which Australia is sole custodian.

 

Signatories

Scientific Societies

 

Scientists

Name Affiliation Position
Associate Professor Martine Maron The University of Queensland, Australia ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor
Professor Christopher Dickman The University of Sydney, Australia Professor in Ecology
Professor Richard Kingsford Society for Conservation Biology (Oceania Section); Centre for Ecosystem Science, The University of New South Wales President; Director, Centre for Ecosystem Science
Professor Hugh Possingham The University of Queensland, Australia ARC Laureate Fellow; Director, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
Associate Professor James Watson Wildlife Conservation Society; The University of Queensland, Australia; Society for Conservation Biology Director, Science and Research, WCS; President, Society for Conservation Biology
Professor John Woinarski Charles Darwin University, Australia Professor
Professor Carla Catterall Griffith University, Australia Professor in Ecology, Griffith School of Environment
Professor Andrew Balmford University of Cambridge, UK Professor of Conservation Science
Professor Andrew F. Bennett La Trobe University, Australia Professor of Ecology, Department of Ecology, Environment & Evolution
Professor Barry Fox The University of New South Wales, Australia Visiting Professor
Professor Bob Pressey James Cook University, Australia Distinguished Research Professor and Program Leader, Conservation Planning
Professor Brendan Mackey Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Griffith University Director
Professor Charles J. Krebs The University of Canberra, Australia Professor of Ecology
Professor Chris Johnson University of Tasmania, Australia Professor of Wildlife Conservation, School of Biological Sciences
Professor Clive McAlpine The University of Queensland, Australia Professor, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management
Professor Corey J. A. Bradshaw The University of Adelaide, Australia Professor, School of Biological Sciences; Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change
Professor David B. Lindenmayer The Australian National University, Australia Professor of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Professor David Goldney Charles Sturt Univeristy, Australia Adjunct Professor
Professor David M. Watson Charles Sturt Univeristy, Australia Professor of Ecology
Professor Don Driscoll Deakin University, Australia Professor of Ecology, Deakin University, Australia
Professor George Wilson The Australian National University, Australia Professor
Professor Glenda Wardle The University of Sydney, Australia Professor in Ecology and Evolution, Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Professor Gordon Grigg University of Queensland, Australia Emeritus Professor of Zoology
Professor Graciela Metternicht The University of New South Wales, Australia Professor in Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Professor Hamish McCallum Griffith University, Australia Acting Dean Research Griffith Sciences
Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick The University of Tasmania, Australia Distinguished Professor in Geography and Spatial Sciences, School of Land and Food
Professor Kate Buchanan Deakin University, Australia Professor of Ecology and Animal Behaviour
Professor Libby Robin The Australian National University, Australia Environmental Historian, Fenner School of Environment and Society
Professor Marc Hockings The University of Queensland, Australia Deputy Head, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management
Professor Michael Archer AM, FAS, DistFRSN, FRZS, FACE, FWAAS The University of New South Wales, Australia Professor
Professor Michael McCarthy The University of Melbourne, Australia Professor
Professor Mike Clarke La Trobe University, Australia Professor of Zoology, School of Life Sciences
Professor Neil Burgess University of Copenhagen, Denmark Professor
Professor Peter Valentine James Cook University, Australia Adjunct Professor, College of Marine and Environmental Science
Professor Ralph Mac Nally The University of Canberra, Australia Centenary Professor of Ecology, Institute for Applied Ecology
Professor Richard Duncan The University of Canberra, Australia Centenary Professor of Ecology, Institute for Applied Ecology
Professor Richard G. Pearson James Cook University, Australia Emeritus Professor, College of Science and Engineering
Professor Richard J. Hobbs The University of Western Australia, Australia IAS Distinguished Fellow, School of Plant Biology
Professor Rick Shine The University of Sydney, Australia Professor of Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Professor Stephen Garnett Charles Darwin University, Australia Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods
Professor Stuart Bunn Griffith University, Australia Director, Australian Rivers Institute
Professor Stuart Phinn The University of Queensland, Australia Director, Remote Sensing Research Centre
Professor William F. Laurance James Cook University, Australia Distinguished Research Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow
Adjunct Associate Professor Ian Lunt Charles Sturt University, Australia Adjunct Associate Professor, Insitute for Land, Water and Society
Associate Professor Alan York The University of Melbourne, Australia Research Leader, Fire Ecology and Biodiversity Group; Associate Professor, School of Forest and Ecosystem Sciences
Associate Professor Brendan Wintle University of Melbourne, Australia ARC Future Fellow
Associate Professor E. Charles Morris The University of Western Sydney, Australia Associate Professor, School of Science and Health
Associate Professor Gilianne Brodie The University of the South Pacific, Fiji Associate Professor
Associate Professor Jonathan Rhodes The University of Queensland, Australia Associate Professor, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management
Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson The University of Queensland, Australia; The University of Copenhagen, Denmark ARC Future Fellow
Associate Professor Kirsten Parris The University of Melbourne, Australia Associate Professor
Associate Professor Mathew Crowther The University of Sydney, Australia Associate Professor
Associate Professor Mike Calver Environment and Conservation Cluster, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Associate Professor
Associate Professor Richard Fuller The University of Queensland, Australia ARC Future Fellow, School of Biological Sciences
Associate Professor Roberta Bencini The University of Western Australia, Australia Associate Professor, School of Animal Biology
Associate Professor Rod Fensham The University of Queensland, Australia Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Associate Professor Ross Goldingay Southern Cross University, Australia Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology, School of Environment, Science and Engineering
Associate Professor Sarah Bekessy RMIT University, Australia Associate Professor, ARC Future Fellow
Associate Professor Tina Bell The University of Sydney, Australia Associate Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Dr Pia Lentini The University of Melbourne, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Aaron Greenville The University of Sydney, Australia Research Associate, Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Adele Haythornthwaite FRZS The University of Sydney, Australia Senior Policy Officer
Dr. Adriana Corona Mothe Cumberland Ecology, Australia Ecologist and Research Assistant
Dr. Alan Stewart Consultant ecologist
Dr. Alex Kutt Bush Heritage Australia Healthy Landscapes Manager and Ecologist
Dr. Alienor Chauvenet The University of Queensland, Australia Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Angie Haslem La Trobe University, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Anna McConville Echo Ecology, Australia Ecologist; Director
Dr. Anne Kerle Kerle Environmental, Australia Consultant Ecologist
Dr. April Reside The University of Queensland, Australia Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Ascelin Gordon RMIT University, Australia Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Ascelin Gordon RMIT University, Australia Senior Research Fellow, Global, Urban and Social Studies
Dr. Ayesha Tulloch The Australian National University, Australia Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment
Dr. Barbara Stewart Landmark Ecological Services, Australia Director, Consultant Ecologist
Dr. Barry Baker The University of Tasmania, Australia Researcher, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies
Dr. Berndt J. van Rensburg The University of Queensland, Australia Lecturer, Conservation Biology
Dr. Brian English Land Owner
Dr. Bruce Thomson Redleaf Environmental Consultants, Australia Director
Dr. Carissa Klein The University of Queensland, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Carly Cook Monash University, Australia Lecturer in Ecology, School of Biological Sciences
Dr. Christopher Ives Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany Post-doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Sustainability
Dr. Dan Lunney The University of Sydney, Australia Adjunct Professor
Dr. David Wong The University of Canberra, Australia Research Affiliate
Dr. Diana Fisher The University of Queensland, Australia ARC Future Fellow and Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences
Dr. Dilys Roe International Institute for Environment and Development, UK Principal Researcher and Team Leader (Biodiversity)
Dr. Dominique Pelletier IFREMER, New Caledonia Researcher
Dr. Douglas Kerlin Griffith University, Australia Post-doctoral Research
Dr. Duan Biggs The University of Queensland, Australia ARC DECRA Fellow
Dr. Duncan Sutherland Phillip Island Nature Parks, Australia Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Elena Bennett Natural Resource Science and McGill School of Environment, Canada Associate Professor
Dr. Emilie Ens Macquarie University, Australia Cross-cultural Ecologist
Dr. Emma Burns Australian National University, Australia Executive Director, LTERN
Dr. Euan G. Ritchie Deakin University, Australia Senior Lecturer, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Fritz Geiser The University of New England, Australia Professor of Zoology
Dr. Georgia Garrard RMIT University, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Graham Thompson Terrestrial Ecosystems, Australia Partner
Dr. Greg Holland La Trobe University, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Greg P. Clancy The University of New England, Australia Ecologist and Birding-Wildlife Guide
Dr. Guy Castley Griffith University, Australia Discipline Head: Ecology and Conservation, Griffith School of Environment
Dr. Heini Kujala The University of Melbourne, Australia Research Fellow, School of BioSciences
Dr. Hugh Jones The University of New South Wales, Australia Senior Scientist and Biometrician; Adjunct Lecturer, Centre for Ecosystem Science
Dr. Jamie Tedeschi The University of Western Australia, Australia and Murdoch University, Australia Research Officer, Post-doctoral
Dr. Janet Stein Australian National University, Australia Senior Manager Research, The Fenner School of Environment and Society
Dr. Jennifer Anson Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Australia Wildlife Ecologist
Dr. Jimmy Choi The University of Queensland, Australia Post-doctoral
Dr. John Martin University of New South Wales Adjunct Lecturer
Dr. Joslin Moore Monash University, Australia Lecturer
Dr. Judit Szabo Charles Darwin University, Australia Adjunct Researcher
Dr. Judy Lambert Retired (former research scientist, Ministerial adviser and independent consultant)
Dr. Judy Smith P. & J. Smith Ecological Consultants, Australia Principal
Dr. Karen Ikin The Australian National University, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Karen Sommerville The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Australia Scientific Officer, The Australian PlantBank
Dr. Kate Reardon-Smith The University of Southern Queensland, Australia Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Katherine Barry Macquarie University, Australia Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences
Dr. Kent H. Redford Archipelago Consulting, USA Principal
Dr. Kiki Dethmers Charles Darwin University, Australia Adjunct Researcher
Dr. Kylie Soanes The University of Melbourne, Australia Post-doctoral
Dr. Laura J. Sonter The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA Post-doctoral Research Associate, The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics and The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Dr. Lein Sim Consultant Ecologist
Dr. Len Martin The University of Queensland, Australia Reader in Physiology (Retired)
Dr. Leonie Seabrook The University of Queensland, Australia Research Fellow
Dr. Leonie Valentine The University of Western Australia, Australia Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Plant Biology
Dr. Luis Mata RMIT University, Australia Research Fellow, National Environment Science Programme
Dr. Marissa Parrott Zoos Victoria, Australia Reproductive Biologist
Dr. Martin Denny Ecological Consultants Association of NSW, Australia President
Dr. Martin Predavec Royal Zoological Society of NSW President; Project Officer
Dr. Megan Barnes The University of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA and The University of Queensland, Australia Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Melanie Massaro Charles Sturt University, Australia Lecturer
Dr. Michelle Bassett Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Australia Biodiversity Officer
Dr. Naomi Davis The University of Melbourne, Australia Honorary Research Fellow, School of BioSciences
Dr. Nathalie Butt The University of Queensland, Australia ARC Research Fellow
Dr. Neil Perry The University of Western Sydney, Australia Research Lecturer in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, School of Business
Dr. Neville D. Crossman CSIRO Land and Water, Australia Principal Research Scientist
Dr. Nicola Mitchell The University of Western Australia, Australia Senior Lecturer
Dr. Noel Preece James Cook University, Australia Adjunct Principal Research Fellow
Dr. Pat Hutchings Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Australia Senior Vice President
Dr. Paul G. McDonald The University of New England, Australia Senior Lecturer and Zoology Convenor
Dr. Paula Peeters Paperbark Writer, Australia Paperbark Writer
Dr. Perpetua Turner The University of Tasmania, Australia Honorary Associate
Dr. Peter Scanes New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, Australia Scientist
Dr. Peter Smith P. & J. Smith Ecological Consultants, Australia Principal
Dr. Rachael Nolan The University of Technology Sydney, Australia Post-doctoral Research Associate, Terrestrial Ecohydrology Research Group, School of Life Sciences
Dr. Richard Donaghey Griffith University, Australia Adjunct Research Fellow
Dr. Robert Davis Edith Cowan University, Australia Senior Lecturer in Vertebrate Biology, School of Science
Dr. Ronda Green Griffith University, Australia Adjunct Research Fellow, Environmental Futures Research Institute
Dr. Rosalynn Anderson-Lederer Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand Analyst
Dr. Sarah Legge The Australian National University, Australia Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment
Dr. Sigrid Heise-Pavlov The School for Field Studies, Australia Faculty/Researcher
Dr. Simon Attwood Bioversity International, Malaysia Component Leader, Ecological Intensification and Diversification
Dr. Stephen Ambrose Ambrose Ecological Services Pty Ltd, Australia Director and Principal Ecologist
Dr. Stephen Bell The University of Newcastle, Australia Conjoint Fellow, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Dr. Stephen Debus The University of New England, Australia Adjunct Lecturer, Division of Zoology
Dr. Stephen M. Turton Central Queensland University, Australia Adjunct Professor, Environmental Sciences
Dr. Steve Leonard La Trobe University, Australia Research Fellow, Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution
Dr. Stuart Butchart Birdlife International, United Kingdom Chief Scientist
Dr. Tara Martin The University of Queensland, Australia Adjunct Professor; Principal Research Scientist
Dr. Tein McDonald Ecological Society of Australia Editor, Ecological Management and Restoration
Dr. Tim Curran Lincoln University, New Zealand Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Department of Ecology
Dr. Tim Doherty Deakin University, Australia Research Fellow, Centre for Integrative Ecology
Dr. Toby Gardner Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Tom Grant The University of New South Wales, Australia Adjunct Senior Lecturer
Dr. Ursula Ellengerg La Trobe University, Australia Lecturer
Dr. Vanessa Adams The University of Queensland, Australia Post-doctoral Fellow
Benjamin Sipa Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Papua New Guinea Livelihoods and Community Development Manager
Beth Brunton The University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia PhD Candidate
Brett Parker Griffith University, Australia PhD Candidate
Catalina Amaya-Perilla Sirtrack, Australia Telemetry Specialist
Charlotte Simpson-Yang The University of New South Wales, Australia PhD Candidate
Colleen Corrigen The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
David Boseto Ecological Solutions, Solomon Islands Community Officer
David Butcher Retired
David Milledge Landmark Ecological Services, Australia Director
Eddy Cannella BIOSTAT Pty Ltd, Australia Direction and Principal Zoologist
Emeritus Professor Harry F. Recher, FRZS, AM Edith Cowan University, Australia Emeritus Professor
Eric Vanderduys CSIRO, Australia Project Officer
Guy Dutson Biodiversity Solutions, Australia Principal
Heiro Noelke Self Employed
Hernan Coceres The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Ian Cranwell Retired
Ian Temby The University of Melbourne, Australia Honorary Fellow
Janice May Wildlife Biologist
Jean Thomas Tenkile Conservation Alliance, Papua New Guinea Director
Jens Froese The University of Queensland, Australia Research Higher Degree Student
Jessica Cappadonna Queensland University of Technology, Australia PhD Candidate
Jessica Miller The University of Queensland, Australia Masters Student
Joseph Adair Adair Ecological Solutions, Australia Principal Ecologist
Kaipo Dye The University of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA PhD Candidate
Karau Kuna Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Papua New Guinea Conservation Strategies Manager
Katy Wilkins The University of New South Wales, Australia Research Assistant
Kerrie Fraser The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Lorna Hernandez The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Martine Kinloch Natural Resources Kangaroo Island, Australia Natural Resource/Conservation Manager
Michael Magrath Zoos Victoria, Australia Research Manager
Michael Smith Shoalhaven Council, Australia Threatened Species Officer
Miss Christina Zdenek The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Miss Clare Lawrence Charles Sturt University, Australia PhD Candidate
Miss Emma Gray Queensland University of Technology, Australia PhD Candidate
Miss Hannah Wauchope The University of Queensland, Australia Research Assistant
Miss Jessica Stubbs The University of Western Australia, Australia PhD Candidate
Miss Laura McCallion Griffith University, Australia Environmental Advisor
Miss Micha Jackson The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Miss Michelle Mogilski Queensland University of Technology, Australia Honours Student
Mr Alex Kusmanoff RMIT University, Australia PhD candidate
Mr Andy Baker Southern Cross University, Australia Senior Vegetation Ecologist
Mr Ben Hope Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Australia Scientific Member
Mr Blair Bentley The University of Western Australia, Australia PhD Candidate
Mr Diego Correa The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Mr James Allan The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Mr Jeremy Ringma The University of Queensland, Australia Research Fellow
Mr Jon Brodie James Cook University, Australia Chief Research Scientist
Mr Justin McLann The University of New South Wales, Australia PhD Candidate
Mr Kevin Taylor Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Australia Hotspots Ecologist
Mr Luke McPhan The University of New South Wales, Australia PhD Candidate
Mr Mat Hardy RMIT University, Australia PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group
Mr Mathew Bell Mid-Coast Council, Australia Senior Ecologist
Mr Matt Rees Queensland University of Technology, Australia Honours Student
Mr Shawn Capararo Ecological Consultants Association of NSW, Australia Independent Ecological Consultant
Mr Stephen Kearney The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Mr. Dylan Jones The University of Queensland, Australia Masters Student
Mr. Edmond Sacre James Cook University, Australia PhD Candidate
Mrs Rachel England Australian National University, Australia Higher Degree Research Student
Mrs Stephanie K. Courtney Jones The University of Wollongong, Australia PhD Candidate, Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions
Mrs Wendy Stuart-Smith The University of Sydney, Australia Lecturer
Ms Kerry-Jayne Wilson Lincoln University, New Zealand Senior Lecturer (Retired)
Ms Margaret Hawkins Taronga Conservation Society Australia Behavioural Biologist Emeritus
Ms. Caroline Cordonis The University of Wollongong, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Chantelle Derez The University of Queensland, Australia Masters Student
Ms. Charlotte Mills The University of New South Wales, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Claire Sives The University of New South Wales, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Elira Reynolds The University of Wollongong, Australia Honours Student
Ms. Florence Damiens RMIT University, Australia PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group
Ms. Jennifer McGowan The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Laura Mumaw RMIT University, Australia PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group, Centre for Urban Research
Ms. Liz Gould Healthy Waterways and Catchments, Australia Science and Innovation Coordinator
Ms. Megan Evans The University of Queensland, Australia Research Fellow
Ms. Melissa Walsh Marine Conservation Finance Consulting, Australia Director
Ms. Nicole Shumway The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Nyree Fea Victoria University, New Zealand PhD Candidate
Ms. Rebecca Groenewegen The University of Melbourne, Australia Masters Graduate/Tutor
Ms. Stephanie Pulsford Australian National University, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Tanya Pritchard Queensland Trust For Nature, Australia Conservation Manager
Ms. Victoria Hemming The University of Melbourne, Australia PhD Candidate
Ms. Viviana Gonzalez The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Rachael Collett The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Rick Webster Ecosurveys Pty Ltd, Australia Director
Samantha Reynolds The University of Queensland, Australia Honours Student
Stephanie Avery-Gomm The University of Queensland, Australia PhD Candidate
Stephanie Borrelle Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand PhD Candidate
Steven McLeod Orange Agricultural Institute, Australia Senior Research Scientist, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries
Thomas Mutton Queensland University of Technology, Australia PhD Candidate
Veira Pulekera Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership/ZRMA/NRMAN, Solomon Islands Community Officer
Angela Recalde Curtin University, Australia PhD Candidate
Annett Finger Victoria University, Australia PhD Candidate
Dr Jennifer Taylor Australian Catholic University Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science

 

[1] SLATS 2015; https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/mapping/slats-reports/

[2] Draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2016 & Draft Local Land Services Amendment Bill 2016 https://www.landmanagement.nsw.gov.au/; Chee, 2013

3 WWF 2015

4 Brown et al. 2008; Garnett et al. 2011; State of the Environment Committee 2011 Chapter 8 Biodiversity; Bradshaw 2012; Ritchie et al. 2013

[5] Johnson et al. 2007

[6] Cogger et al. 2003

[7] Radford et al. 2005; Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2009; Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council 2010; State of the Environment Committee 2011 Chapter 8 Biodiversity; http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspeciessolrsearch.pl

[8] Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2009; Doherty et al. 2015; Niebuhr et al. 2015; Woinarski et al. 2015; https://www.environment.gov.au/topics/threatened-species-ecological-communities

[9] Travis et al. 2013; Reside et al. 2012

[10] Ludwig and Tongway 2002; State of the Environment Committee 2011, Chapter 3 Land

[11] Walker et al. 1993; Lambers 2003; Nulsen 2012

[12] McAlpine et al. 2009; Martin and Watson, 2016

[13] Whelan et al. 2008; Isaacs et al. 2009; Kunz et al. 2011

[14] http://www.nrm.gov.au/national/20-million-trees

[15] Fabricius et al. 2014; Ainsworth et al. 2016

[16] Commonwealth of Australia 2015; Waters et al. 2014; Fabricius et al. 2016; Department of Science Information Technology Innovation and the Arts 2015

[17] Brodie and Pearson 2016

18  http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s997028.htm

 

Full References

Ainsworth, T.D., Heron, S.F., Ortiz, J.C., Mumby, P.J., Grech, A., Ogawa, D., Eakin, C.M. and Leggat, W. 2016 Climate change disables coral bleaching protection on the Great Barrier Reef. Science 352: 338-342 DOI: 10.1126/science.aac7125

Bradshaw, C. J. 2012. Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization. Journal of Plant Ecology 5, 109-120.

Brodie, J. and Pearson, R.G. 2016 Ecosystem health of the Great Barrier Reef: Time for effective management action based on evidence. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2016.05.008

Brooker, L., Brooker, M., and Cale, P. 1999 Animal dispersal in fragmented habitat: measuring habitat connectivity, corridor use, and dispersal mortality. Conservation Ecology [online] 3(1): 4. Available from the Internet. URL: http://www.consecol.org/vol3/iss1/art4/.

Chee, Y. (2013). ‘Hidden flaws in Victoria’s new native vegetation clearing rules’. The Conversation, 3 Oct 2013. Available at: http://theconversation.com/hidden-flaws-in-victorias-new-native-vegetation-clearing-rules-18516

Cogger, H, Ford, H., Johnson, C., Holman, J. and Butler, D. 2003 Impacts of Land Clearing on Australian Wildlife in Queensland, WWF-Australia report, WWF-Australia, Sydney

Commonwealth of Australia (2015) Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/gbr/publications/reef-2050-long-term-sustainability-plan

Department of Science Information Technology Innovation and the Arts. 2015 Land Cover Change in Queensland 2012-13 and 2013-14. Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) Report. Department of Science Information Technology Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane, Australia.

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2009, Chapter 5 Threats to Australia’s biodiversity in Assessment of Australia’s Terrestrial Biodiversity 2008, Report prepared by the Biodiversity Assessment Working Group of the National Land and Water Resources Audit for the Australian Government, Canberra pp 149-212.

Doherty, T. S., Davis, R., van Etten, E., Algar, D., Collier, N., Dickman, C., Edwards, G., Masters, P., Palmer, R., and Robinson, S., 2015. A continental-scale analysis of feral cat diet in Australia. Journal of Biogeography, 42: 964-975

Fabricius, K.E., Logan, M., Weeks, S., and Brodie, J. 2014 The effects of river run-off on water clarity across the central Great Barrier Reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin 84: 191-200

Fabricius, K.E., Logan, M., Weeks, S.J., Lewis, S.E., and Brodie, J. 2016 Changes in water clarity in response to river discharges on the Great Barrier Reef continental shelf: 2002–2013. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2016.03.001.

Fahrig, L. 2001 Relative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on population extinction. Journal of Wildlife Management 61: 603–610.

Garnett, S., Szabo, J. & Dutson, G. 2011. The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing.

Isaacs, R., Tuell, J., Fiedler, A., Gardiner, M. and Landis, D. 2009, Maximizing arthropod-mediated ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes: the role of native plants. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 7: 196–203. doi:10.1890/080035

Johnson, C., Cogger, H., Dickman, C., and Ford, H. 2007 Impacts of land clearing: The impacts of approved clearing of native vegetation on Australian wildlife in New South Wales. WWF-Australia report, WWF-Australia, Sydney (http://www.wwf.org.au/news_resources/resource_library/?1482/Impacts-of-landclearing)

Kunz, T.H., Braun de Torrez, E., Bauer, D., Lobova, T. and Fleming, T. H. 2011 Ecosystem services provided by bats. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1223: 1–38. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06004.x

Lambers, H. 2003 Introduction, Dryland Salinity: A Key Environmental Issue in Southern Australia. Plant and Soil 257:5-7

Ludwig, J. and Tongway, D. 2002 Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. The Rangeland Journal 24: 83-95

Martin, T.G. and. Watson, J.E.M. 2016 Intact ecosystems provide best defence against climate change. Nature Climate Change 6: 122–124 doi:10.1038/nclimate2918

McAlpine, C.A., Syktus, J, Ryan, J.G., Deo, R.C., McKeon, G.M., McGowan, H.A. and Phinn, S.R. 2009 A continent under stress: interactions, feedbacks and risks associated with impact of modified land cover on Australia’s climate Global Change Biology 15: 2206-2223

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council 2010, Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030, Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra.

Niebuhr, B.B.S., Wosniack, M.E., Santos, M.C., Raposo, E.P., Viswanathan, G.M., da Luz, M.G.E. and Pie, M.R. 2015 Survival in patchy landscapes: the interplay between dispersal, habitat loss and fragmentation. Scientific Reports 5 Article number: 11898 doi:10.1038/srep11898

Nulsen, R.A. 2012 Changes in soil properties. In R.J. Hobbs and D.A. Saunders (eds) Reintegrating fragmented landscapes: towards sustainable production and nature conservation. Springer-Verlag, New York pp 107-145

Penrod, K., C. Cabañero, P. Beier, C. Luke, W. Spencer, and E. Rubin (2006) South Coast Missing Linkages Project: A Linkage Design for the Peninsular-Borrego Connection. Produced by South Coast Wildlands, Idyllwild, CA. www.scwildlands.org, in cooperation with California State Parks.

Pimm, S.L. and Raven, P. 2000 Biodiversity: extinction by numbers. Nature 304: 843-843

Radford, J.Q., Bennett, A.F., and Cheers, G.J. 2005 Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds. Biological Conservation 124: 317-337.

Reside, A.E., VanDerWal, J., and Kutt, A.S. (2012) Projected changes in distributions of Australian tropical savanna birds under climate change using three dispersal scenarios. Ecology and Evolution 2:705-718

Ritchie, E.G., Bradshaw, C.J.A., Dickman, C.R., Hobbs, R., Johnson, C.N., Johnston, E.L., Laurance, W.F., Lindenmayer, D., McCarthy, M.A., Nimmo, D.G., Possingham, H.H., Pressey, R.L., Watson, D.M., Woinarski, J., 2013. Continental-Scale Governance and the Hastening of Loss of Australia’s Biodiversity. Conservation Biology 27, 1133-1135.

State of the Environment Committee. 2011 Australia state of the environment 2011. Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Canberra: DSEWPaC, 2011, Chapter 3 Land; Chapter 8 Biodiversity

The Brigalow Declaration, led by Prof. H. P. Possingham. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s997028.htm

Travis, J.M.J., Delgado, M., Bocedi, G., Baguette, M., Bartoń, K., Bonte, D., Boulangeat, I., Hodgson, J.A., Kubisch, A., Penteriani, V., Saastamoinen, M., Stevens, V.M. and Bullock, J.M. (2013) Dispersal and species’ responses to climate change. Oikos 122: 1532-1540

Walker, J., Bullen, F., and Williams, B. G. 1993 Ecohydrological Changes in the Murray-Darling Basin .1. The Number of Trees Cleared over 2 Centuries. Journal of Applied Ecology 30: 265-273.

Waters, D.K., Carroll, C., Ellis, R., Hateley, L., McCloskey, J., Packett, R., Dougall, C., Fentie, B. 2014 Modelling reductions of pollutant loads due to improved management practices in the Great Barrier Reef catchments – Whole of GBR, Technical Report, Volume 1, Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Toowoomba, QLD

Whelan, C.J., Wenny, D.G. and Marquis, R.J. 2008, Ecosystem Services Provided by Birds. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1134: 25–60. doi: 10.1196/annals.1439.003

Woinarski, J.C.Z., Burbidge, A.A. and Harrison, P.L. 2015. Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112: 4531-4540 doi:10.1073/pnas.1417301112

WWF, 2015. WWF Living Forests Report. World Wide Fund for Nature, Gland, Switzerland.