Annual Report

1 Contents

About CEED 2

Director’s Report 4

2016 Highlights 6

Strategy and Future Directions 8

Our Research 9

Planning for Better Environmental Outcomes 12

Informing Policy with Science 20

Supporting Management and Practice 25

Recognition of Research Excellence 33

CEED Alumni 37

Workshops and Training 40

Stakeholder Engagement 43

Our People — Our Legacy 47

Communication and Outreach 54

Publications 58

Governance and Management 66

Our People 70

Performance Measures 76

Abbreviations 80

ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Room 532, Goddard Building 8 The University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia P (+61 7) 3365 6907 F (+61 7) 3365 1692 www.ceed.edu.au

ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 1 About CEED

About CEED

Annual environmental budgets are in the billions of dollars, but remain insufficient to fully protect the environment from adverse impacts. There is a critical need for To be the world’s leading research centre for solving research and training that enables more efficient and effective environmental decisions. OUR VISION environmental management problems and for evaluating the outcomes of environmental actions.

The Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) started in 2011 with funding from the Australian Research Council We will benefit environmental science, policy and management across Australia and around the world (ARC). The ARC Centres of Excellence OUR are world-class, internationally MISSION by solving complex problems of environmental competitive research teams who management and monitoring in a rapidly changing and investigate and find solutions to, uncertain world. challenging and important Australian and international problems. Since 2011, CEED has pushed the frontiers of environmental decision science. Our aim is to benefit environmental science, policy and management across Australia and around the world by solving complex problems How much time do you spend trying to detect difficult to find species? CEED has made of environmental management and several major contributions to the fields of detectability and optimal monitoring. monitoring in a rapidly changing and (Photo: Georgia Garrard) uncertain world. Our complement of Our researchers are global leaders The work of CEED is carried out in fundamental environmental over 170 researchers through a partnership between five science, and we put a high priority collaborate extensively collaborating organisations — The on the career development of the across node and University of Queensland (UQ), next generation of conservation disciplines. We see this The University of Melbourne (UM), researchers. Our complement of The Australian National University over 170 researchers includes Chief collaborative culture as (ANU), RMIT University (RMIT), The Investigators, Partner Investigators, the key to our success. University of Western Australia (UWA) Post-Doctoral Fellows and senior — and five partner organisations — researchers, and PhD students, the Commonwealth Scientific and who collaborate extensively across Industrial Research Organisation nodes and disciplines. We see this (CSIRO), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), collaborative culture as the key to Imperial College London (ICL), our success. Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) and the US Geological Survey (USGS). The operations of CEED are managed from the University of Queensland, in Brisbane.

2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 3 Directors’ Report

Director’s Report

Prof Hugh Possingham

When I first came back to Australia Finally, I note the increasing through the Save Our Species and started attending Ecological prevalence of social science and program, regional spatial planning as Society of Australia meetings (back in economics thinking in the work a preferred mechanism for delivering 1990) two things were clear. that CEED does. This was always win-win conservation-development our aspiration and the stories and outcomes and rigorous, transparent First, while statistical ecology in publications in this annual report and quantitative biodiversity Australia was strong, there were few attest to that increasing emphasis. offsetting. All of these research modellers and virtually no use of endeavours have been discussed in decision-science thinking in Australian As our centre matures, there are previous CEED annual reports, some conservation. Remarkably, these early some obvious trends. First, both the go back to the beginning of CEED, 90s meetings were characterised by quality and quantity of our research and now they have significantly a mistrust of models and the notion continue to grow, as can be seen from informed the policy of one of the that applied research was the work the number of publications and the most biodiverse regions in the world carried out by people not sufficiently quality of the journals in which they — trust me, I was there. talented to do pure ecological are published. Second, our global research. How things have changed. impact continues to grow — CEED This annual report is also filled with CEED is both a product and a driver of has become a mecca for applied stories about another of CEED’s In November of last year I became Kerrie, recipient of last year’s Frank that change. ecologists and we will capitalise on legacies — the talented early-career the Chief Scientist of The Nature Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the “I am struck by the this with the new Environmental researchers we have helped to Conservancy (TNC), the world’s largest Year (one of the Prime Minister’s As another historical aside, I am struck Decisions Alliance led by Eve nurture. Early-career researchers environmental non-government Prizes for Science), has hit the ground number of topics by the number of topics covered McDonald-Madden. (ECRs) are the engine room of CEED’s organisation. In making that transition running and has developed an exciting covered in this annual in this annual report that were not innovation. They are involved in the I relinquished the honour and plan to guide CEED through its final typically discussed two decades ago: It is also critical to highlight that report that were not vast majority of our research, and privilege of being CEED Director, but few years delivering outcomes and restoration, monitoring and multi- CEED’s legacy is far more than our typically discussed two they are already making their mark the opportunity to lead conservation impact at scale. I can already see disciplinarity. Restoration ecology in world class research. The impact of on the international scene. Further, science in 70 countries, working with the impact of Kerrie’s organisational decades ago: restoration, Australia, championed by our own basic research on policy is often hard while mentoring and facilitating the 4000 staff, was too good to refuse. My skill and energy and have complete monitoring and multi- Chief Investigator Richard Hobbs, has to track, especially since laws and careers of CEED ECRS has been one hope is that while working with TNC confidence in her ability to capitalise moved from strength to strength with policies implemented by government disciplinarity.” of our core functions, sometimes we I will be able to significantly increase on our success to date (ably assisted stories in this report focussing on rarely cite the evidence or influences Prof Hugh Possingham overlook the distinct needs of our the scale of CEED’s impact. by Deputy Director Professor landscape restoration planning plus that underpin their development. As mid-career researchers. While I am Michael McCarthy and CEED’s Chief the cost and feasibility of restoration. a member of the expert review panel I would like to finish this, my final never entirely sure what mid-career Investigators). New ideas already for the NSW biodiversity legislation Director’s statement in a CEED Monitoring and data collection has means (I know they are younger abound and I look forward to seeing reform, a process that has taken Annual Report, by expressing my always seemed like a slightly dull than me) I am impressed by the how CEED evolves in the years ahead. well over a year, I can attest to the gratitude to Professor Kerrie Wilson activity but CEED has added a new rapid progress of our mid-career many and varied ways in which CEED for taking over the helm of CEED. The sparkle — how much information researchers in achieving Future Prof Hugh Possingham research is influencing state and job can be time consuming and, at do we really need to make good Fellowships, being promoted to full CEED Director federal policy in Australia. The NSW times, quite challenging. environmental decisions and Professorships and having impact reforms include the fingerprints of what else could we do with those through workshop and conference CEED in at least three major ways: resources? invitations on the international stage. the prioritisation of species projects

4 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 5 2016 Highlights 80 PhD Scholars 58 Postdoctoral 96 Fellows National 2016 Highlights Presentations 159 106 Peer-Reviewed 139 Government, Journal International Industry and Publications Collaborating Community 63 Briefings Institutions International 15 Presentations 38 Training Programs International Visitors 78 National The key achievements from Collaborating CEED research are clearly Institutions 75 32 demonstrated with standard Memberships Countries Involved on National and in Collaborations performance metrics 17 International 13 as well as its extensive Boards and PhD Graduations Public Talks 55 Committees interdisciplinary connectivity Unpublished Conference through significant Presentations national and international 8 collaboration networks. 20 National Plenaries Early Career 6 Researchers Decision Point Issues 7 Honours Student Graduations

14 10 6 Chief Investigators International Masters Students 5 Plenaries 8 Masters by Research Honours Students Graduations 5 Submissions to Government on Policy-Related 7 matters Partner Investigators

6 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 7 Strategy and Future Directions

Strategy and Future Our Research Directions Our research is integrated across five key themes:

Our new Strategic Plan 2016–18 will see CEED capitalise on its success through a more targeted focus on Our Research, Our Impact, Our People, Our Network and Our Outreach for the duration of operations.

THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME The CEED Executive have defined an Introducing the New CEED Kerrie’s own research is focussed exciting agenda designed to draw on applied conservation resource on the expertise, enthusiasm and Director allocation problems, such as where guidance of the CEED Advisory Board, to invest limited resources to protect A B C D E International Scientific Advisory Panel, or restore biodiversity. Her research Environmental Optimal Socio-ecological Ecological Quantitative our extended network of Alumni and program elucidates the benefits that policy and monitoring analysis and theory and tools and collaborating organisations as well as natural ecosystems provide then management modelling for processes approaches existing staff and students. she can calculate the most effective evaluation environmental way to protect and restore these Key activities defined in the Strategic decision-making ecosystems. Around the world she is Plan include: helping governments to make smart • Development of a CEED Alumni investments in conservation. This has Network — to leverage the led to publications in journals such as E S connectivity, reputation and NC UP Nature, Science, PLOS Biology, Nature IE PO strong collegial relationships Assoc Prof Kerrie Wilson , and SC Climate Change Proceedings of ON EN RT through CEED membership H TI GA I Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson the National Academy of Sciences IT CA G N • A revised Early and Mid-Career I E G commenced in the role of Centre as well as a seminal review for the W N M Development Program — to U E M New York Academy of Sciences and a Y M N Director in November 2016 having T A ensure the employability and co-edited book published by Oxford IC demonstrated significant research M Quantitative Environmental N skill development of the next L O tools and policy and University Press. C A leadership and on the ground O approaches management generation of conservation P G conservation and decision-making Kerrie has received numerous evaluation decision scientists E E G leadership. national awards, including two M • Establishing the Environmental N Kerrie completed her PhD in Australian Research Council Research I D E Decisions Alliance — a global N Fellowships, an Australian Museum M

Conservation Biology at The University T consortium of conservation R

Eureka Prize for Outstanding Young

of Melbourne in collaboration with RESEARCH A

decision scientists Researcher in 2013, the 2014 HG O N

the UNEP World Conservation F A

• A CEED School Engagement D

Andrewartha Medal Royal Society of N THEMES Monitoring Centre in Cambridge. I Ecological Optimal

Program — designed to South Australia and the 2014 SCOPUS O

She then undertook post-doctoral Theory and monitoring P

introduce young Australians to Young Researcher Award for the Life U Processes C R research at The Ecology Centre T E A

environmental decision-making and Biological Sciences, the 2015 R before accepting the role of Director R C

E and showcase science research Women in Technology Life Sciences B U T

A

of Conservation with The Nature T I

careers Research Award and in October 2016 C L C Conservancy Australia program. Kerrie H U E • A Benchmarking & Impact returned to academia in 2008 on an the prestigious Frank Fenner Prize for Socio-ecological analysis C Exercise — to critically evaluate ARC Fellowship and has taught into Life Scientist of the Year. and modelling for CEED performance and environmental decision Conservation Biology and Climate making demonstrate the national and Change courses at UQ, and lead an S international significance and amazing team of research higher P C N E impact of CEED research LA OLLA TIO degree students. N BORA OM • A series of CEED Roadshow NI TC NG OU Events — to promote and FOR BETTER disseminate our research findings to a broad range of stakeholders

8 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 9 Our Research

THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME A B C D E Socioecological analysis and Environmental policy and modelling for environmental Ecological theory and Quantitative tools and management evaluation Optimal monitoring decision-making processes approaches

Our research, led by dedicated Leader: Assoc. Prof. Salit Kark, UQ Leader: Assoc. Prof. Jonathan Leader: Assoc. Prof. Sarah Bekessy, Leader: Assoc. Prof. Peter Vesk, Leader: Dr Michael Bode, University theme leaders with teams of Theme A focuses on the needs of Rhodes, UQ RMIT University of Melbourne of Melbourne senior, mid-career and early environmental policy makers and Monitoring is crucial for providing This theme recognises that Theme D focuses on the ecology Theme E focuses on quantitative career researchers, is coordinated managers at all scales across national information to make environmental environmental management of novel ecosystems, fragmented tools and approaches that extend and integrated across these and international boundaries. We decisions. Theme B researchers is, by definition, a social and landscapes, and disturbances by from fundamental research into themes to achieve the overall study and evaluate the effectiveness work on how to monitor efficiently political process, so responses to looking at various patterns and mathematical approaches to ecological objectives of the Centre. of environmental management and effectively in order to transform environmental problems must focus, processes for determining species questions through to training on-the- actions such as establishing protected optimal monitoring into a central at least in part, on human behaviour abundance and distribution, and the ground managers to use decision- areas, habitat and ecosystem pillar of environmental decision- and social preferences. interactions between species and support tools. Key elements include: restoration on a landscape scale making and prioritisation. The the environment. Our researchers build on techniques 1. Statistical techniques such as and through protected area zoning. research undertaken by CEED focuses from a range of disciplines and The theme’s research provides a detectability modelling Our work ranges in scale from the on identifying monitoring actions and develop methods to analyse, model critical understanding for managers 2. Tools aimed at implementing global and continental to local. strategies that provide the greatest and integrate knowledge about and policymakers who are involved in policy, such as the IUCN Red List of Working across these scales, we environmental outcomes for the socioeconomic and ecological the decision-making process. Ecosystems explore the implications of policy lowest cost. processes to improve environmental and management options for Our research addresses four major 3. Methods for deciding on This theme is currently focused on the decision-making. biodiversity and other ecosystem and areas: conservation priorities, including following four exciting research areas the project prioritisation protocol environmental processes. Research Our research will encompass: 1. Population ecology, including the for monitoring: scheme, structured decision- in this area is expected to contribute 1. Integrating human responses to definition of invasive species, the 1. New technologies for enhancing making and Marxan. to the Intergovernmental Platform on climate change into conservation effects of urban development the cost effectiveness of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services planning, developing an on populations and the study of Our researchers deliver cutting edge monitoring (IPBES). integrated decision framework general patterns in population quantitative tools; they collaborate 2. Understanding the value of This theme is establishing new 2. Reconciling the triple bottom line dynamics with managers to make sure these learning about population collaborations with managers and of social equity, economic return, 2. Species traits, with community tools tackle important questions, demographics for managing policy makers in Australia and globally and environmental benefits in assembly and model validation and offer comprehensive and threatened species on topics that include: conservation decision making as foci comprehensible recommendations. 3. Developing better methods 1. Fundamental and novel policy 3. Modelling the social dimensions 3. Multi-species interactions, Researchers at CEED also use for linking indicators of change options of market based instruments for particularly in relation to invasive quantitative methods to ask broader to biodiversity responses and biodiversity conservation species and assisted colonisation questions about fundamental 2. Environmental policy prioritising investment in these management in the face of conservation dilemmas. The outputs performance indicators 4. Evaluating environmental research and its accountability. climate change of this research are not tools, they 3. Invasive species management. 4. Approaches for allocating 4. Ecosystem resilience are mathematical frameworks that monitoring investment to learn and effective ecosystem allow us to clarify the biggest strategic about ecological and social interventions. questions in conservation. For example, systems. why are there so many conservation organisations? Should we expand our protected area system, or better manage the reserves we already have?

10 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 11 Planning for Better Environmental Outcomes

Using Telemetry to Improve Turtle Planning for Better Conservation Plans Environmental Key Points ff Spatial priorities for sea turtle Outcomes conservation are sensitive to the type of information being used.

ff Setting conservation targets for migration tracks altered the CEED collaborations location of conservation priorities. between inter-disciplinary ff Telemetry data needs to be researchers, practitioners, better harnessed in conservation policy makers and end- planning. users help to deliver better conservation outcomes. Developing a conservation plan Tackling the current for a threatened migratory animal such as the loggerhead sea turtle conservation issues in this is quite a challenge. The turtles’ Developing conservation plans for a threatened migratory animal like the loggerhead sea turtle manner results in improved movements may be uncertain and presents multiple challenges. (Photo: Tessa Mazor) engagement and longer- variable, span vast distances, cross term impact. international borders and traverse The approaches involved: and intervene in those areas that land and sea habitats. The information 1. Maps of the turtle’s broad will generate the best conservation available to conservation managers to distribution outcomes. create their plans is often thin, patchy and comes from various sources. 2. Maps showing multiple-habitat The recommendations based on types used by the turtles this analysis include directing Filling in the information gaps can (feeding, nesting and inter- future telemetry studies towards be expensive, time-consuming and nesting habitats) conservation prioritisation needs, have significant consequences for a 3. Movement information based on meaning that spatially dispersed threatened species. mark–recapture studies (in which samples, rather than just large A group of CEED researchers, led turtles were caught, tagged and numbers, should be obtained. by PhD student Tessa Mazor, set later re-caught) and The next challenge lies in improving out to determine the degree to 4. Migration tracks derived from the dialogue and understanding which spatial information provides radio-tracked turtles. between the ‘telemetry camp’ and sufficient results for directing conservation planners. Recognition The analysis revealed that spatial management actions. The team of the value that telemetry data can priorities for sea turtle conservation developed and evaluated an approach provide to conservation planning are sensitive to the type of that incorporates habitat and and determining how much of that information being used. Setting movement information to advance data needs to be collected in the first conservation targets to include the conservation of migratory species, place is critical for the cost-effective migration tracks altered the location then tested it using information application of telemetry data. This of conservation priorities, meaning on loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta information needs to be relayed to that conservation plans designed caretta) in the Mediterranean. those undertaking telemetry studies, without such data would miss and collaborations need to be Four approaches, each requiring important sea turtle habitats. This established before tracking projects increasing amounts of information, work highlights the wealth and commence. were used and compared to develop value of connectivity information conservation plans for the loggerhead provided from telemetry research Reference: turtles. (satellite tracking) when planning the Mazor T, Beger M, McGowan J, Possingham conservation of migratory species. HP, Kark S (2016) The value of migration When there is only a short window information for conservation prioritization of sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Global of time to act for threatened species, Ecology and Biogeography 25(5):540–552. it is critical decision-makers invest

12 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 13 Planning for Better Environmental Outcomes

Mapping the Distribution and Protection of Connecting Pyrodiversity and Biodiversity Intertidal Habitats in Australia

Key Points Key Points ff The distribution and conservation ff The variation in fire regimes that status of intertidal habitats across will promote plant and animal Australia is poorly understood. conservation depends on the type of ecosystem. ff The first map of intertidal habitats across Australia ff Combining extensive biodiversity estimates a minimum intertidal and fire history data with a suite area of 9,856 km2. of ecological models and decisions tools will show how to achieve ff About 39% of intertidal habitats desirable levels of pyrodiversity. are protected in Australia with some primarily within marine ff These new approaches are protected areas and others within already being put to work across terrestrial protected areas. Of large parts of Victoria, such as in this, 3% of the intertidal areas Murray Sunset National Park, to fall under the jurisdiction of both ensure that fire regimes benefit Five million shorebirds rely on intertidal habitats for feeding in Australia. Several of these Large bushfires occur in the mallee shrublands and woodlands of Victoria, NSW and South marine and terrestrial protected species are considered nationally or globally threatened with extinction. (Photo: Rob Clemens) biodiversity. Australia. Policymakers need to pay more attention to the connection between fire and area designations. biodiversity conservation. (Photo: Lauren Brown) Of the 9,856 km2 of mapped habitat, both marine and terrestrial areas. Researchers at CEED have identified Intertidal habitats such as sandflats, large intertidal areas were discovered However, there is also the potential for ways that conservation managers Kelly and colleagues have identified growing use of prescribed burning, mudflats and rocky reefs, lie between along embayed coastlines and river confusion, with neither organisation and policy makers could pay more that despite the inadequacy of the and serious declines in some plant land and sea. These in-between mouths, particularly in Western sure which should take responsibility. attention to the connection between general pyrodiversity hypothesis, and animal communities. places provide a wide range of Australia, Queensland and South fire and biodiversity conservation. scientists and decision-makers can By providing the most accurate map “Now, more than ever, understanding valuable services including fisheries, Australia. It was also discovered that In particular, they are working on achieve desirable outcomes for animal of intertidal habitats to date, this of animal and plant responses to fire recreation, buffers to a rise in sea- 39% of mapped intertidal habitats improved ways for acknowledging that conservation in fire-prone ecosystems research provides the data needed should be used to determine fire level and storm protection. Mapping fell under the jurisdiction of one there are many different types of fire by recognising the importance to better align protected area management objectives and actions,” the distribution of a repeatedly protected area designation or another. and fire impact across the landscape. of context, differentiating among boundaries with intertidal habitats. In says Kelly. inundated habitat can be remarkably hypotheses, focusing on functional Interestingly, the levels of protection turn, this can improve the protection Variations in the time between fires, complex, even when using remote heterogeneity, and applying decision Several CEED researchers — Luke varied considerably among states afforded to the many amazing species their severity, size and patchiness is sensing. For example, creating a frameworks that consider uncertainty. Kelly, Kate Giljohann and Michael ranging, from 80% in Victoria to these habitats support. called ‘pyrodiversity’. map using Landsat imagery requires McCarthy — have also recently 6% in the Northern Territory. It was In a ‘Hot Topic’ article for the images (which are taken only every 16 The dependence of plants and teamed up with scientists from La surprising to discover that some Reference: Ecological Society of Australia, days) to coincide with the highest and animals on resources that vary as a Trobe University and the Department states mainly protected intertidal Dhanjal-Adams KL, JO Hanson, NJ Murray, also led by Kelly, the authors suggest lowest astronomical tides on a day result of fire leads to an argument of Environment, Land, Water and habitats as part of their marine SR Phinn, VR Wingate, K Mustin, JR Lee, JR that “natural ecosystems contain without cloud. Finding suitable images Allan, JL Oliver, CE Studds, RS Clemens, CM that pyrodiversity will produce a Planning for an exciting new research protected areas (e.g., Queensland), different species, have different fire at a national level is, therefore, Roelfsema, RA Fuller (2016) Distribution and diversity of habitats that can support project on fire and biodiversity: the and others as part of terrestrial regimes and present different fire difficult but not impossible. protection of intertidal habitats in Australia. more species. Spatial Solutions Fire Ecology Project. protected areas (e.g., Victoria). In Emu 116(2): 208–214 risks to biodiversity and people. It is for this reason that little is “Some studies demonstrate that more some cases, 3% of intertidal habitats Fire management will be more References: known about the distribution of were protected both by marine and plants and animals live in areas with effective when guided by local a high diversity of fire histories, while Kelly LT, L Brotons, MA McCarthy (in press) these habitats and how well they are terrestrial protected areas (with 10% knowledge and based on the Putting pyrodiversity to work for animal protected in reserves, below a 10 km in South Australia). others show no such relationship. demonstrated requirements of plants conservation. Conservation Biology http:// resolution. This challenges the generality of and animals, as well as the habitats onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ Given the importance of intertidal the hypothesis that ‘pyrodiversity cobi.12861/full This CEED study combined 15 years they depend on”. habitats, there is a strong need to promotes biodiversity’,” says Luke of images to produce the first map of Kelly LT, A Haslem, B Murphy (2016) understand how these designations Kelly, a CEED ecologist from The The relationship between Managing fire for plant and animal intertidal habitats for Australia at a can affect the management of University of Melbourne working pyrodiversity and biodiversity is much conservation. Ecological Society of Australia 30 m resolution. intertidal species. Intuitively, it might better understood following research www.ecolsoc.org.au/hot-topics/managing-fire- with the Forest Sciences Centre of plant-and-animal-conservation be expected that such designations Catalonia, Spain. during the past decade. However, would lead to improved collaboration fire-prone ecosystems continue between protected area managers, to experience significant changes resulting in better management of including more extreme fire weather,

14 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 15 Planning for Better Environmental Outcomes

Economists Enhance Ecological Restoration

Key Points The acceptability of such a trade-off among existing programs, financing ff Economic principles, tools and is likely to vary between restoration through property taxes, developing instruments can be applied to a projects and depends on factors public-private partnerships and range of factors that affect the such as project outcomes specified through volunteerism. by regulatory or funding bodies, the success of a restoration project. The science and practice of threat status of the biodiversity asset, ecosystem restoration has for ff Addressing the following four key and the value of the biodiversity asset many years been based mostly on aspects of ecological restoration to the community. would enhance their success: ecological considerations. Only 1. assessing social/economic Even when restoration benefits recently have restoration scientists benefits, and costs have been assessed and practitioners begun to include and prioritised, without adequate economic aspects in the design 2. estimating overall costs, financial support failure is possible, of restoration projects. Failure to 3. ensuring effective prioritisation, particularly for long-term projects capture the full suite of benefits and and often lasting decades. costs involved in a restoration process comes with a risk of undervaluing 4. providing long-term financing. The Conservation Reserve Program the restoration and inviting poor in the United States, established investment decisions. So, bring an What would an economist know over 30 years ago, is an example of a Ecological restoration is complex and expensive. Economists can provide multiple insights into economist into the decision-making about ecological restoration? Well, how to make it more effective. (Photo: Greening Australia) long-running environmental program; and planning process. while he or she may not be up on however, most environmental the taxonomy or ecology of the Market-based methods are not estimate because market prices are programs have short funding time Reference: plants and animals being targeted applicable because most of the available for most of the items in frames. Finding innovative ways in a restoration effort, an economist Iftekhar MS, M Polyakov, D Ansell, F Gibson, values generated through successful these costs categories. Acquisition to secure long-term funding is G Kay (2016) How economics can further the brings considerable expertise when ecological restoration are not traded and opportunity costs are estimated considered one of the greatest success of ecological restoration. Conservation it comes to evaluating the costs of in formal markets (i.e., they have using capitalised gross revenue, or hurdles to restoration. Long-term Biology doi:10.1111/cobi.12778 a project. That expertise adds an non-market values). Non-market the gross margin of the productive funding could be implemented by important dimension to the complex values have either a use value (e.g., use of land, or using methods based working within existing funding process of ecological restoration and recreation) or a non-use value (e.g., on property or sales prices, such as arrangements, developing synergy its many ecological, technical, social, preserving a threatened species for hedonic pricing. Transaction costs can and economic challenges. future generations). be estimated by conducting surveys among the participating landholders CEED researchers at the UWA Node Revealed-preference approaches are or agencies and reviewing documents. show there are four key aspects of applied to measure use values, and restoration in which economics can stated-preference approaches are Once the costs and benefits have provide valuable assistance: applied to non-use values. A benefit- been measured, the choice among • Estimation of restoration benefits transfer method could be applied projects requires an index or metric to • Estimation of the costs of when it is too expensive to conduct help guide the decisions. A metric is restoration primary studies. a formula or a model that ‘translates’ the various parameters of a project • Selection and prioritisation of Cost information is important for such as cost, effectiveness and projects ecological restoration planning area into a single score that can be because it informs decisions on • Securing long-term financial compared with the score of other whether to conserve or to restore, resources to support restoration. projects. The use of a rigorously the choice of which projects to designed metric is even more The economic method applied for pursue, and which methods to important when combining multiple restoration benefit assessment use. The four main costs involved benefits, which can be complex and depends on the type of value likely to are acquisition, establishment, conflicting. Concessions may be be produced by the project. maintenance and transaction. required in the location, design, and It is one thing to know the cost of a Different economic tools are used restoration activity (such as direct seed complexity of restoration projects to drilling, as pictured here), but to ensure the to estimate different types of costs. achieve broader benefits. best outcomes in ecological restoration it is Establishment and maintenance crucial to incorporate the full range of social, costs are often the easiest to ecological and economic benefits into your planning. (Photo: Greening Australia)

16 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 17 Planning for Better Environmental Outcomes

‘Planning’ for Climate Change Restoration Planning for Wildlife Conservation in Farm Landscapes

Key Points Key points ff Almost 96% of studies on spatial ff Ensure that farms support a prioritisation incorporate no range of broad structural types aspect of climate change. of vegetation on a farm — remnant old growth woodland, ff Those that do recognise climate regrowth woodland and replanted change mainly forecast changing woodland. distributions of species. ff Ensure there are plantings of a ff There is a need to incorporate range of ages on a farm. extreme events and human responses to climate change into ff Adopt conservation planning conservation planning. strategies that allow for the efficient combinations of plantings Human-forced climate change affects and remnant woodland patches biodiversity in myriad ways including to maximize species richness range changes in many species, mass Climate change presents a real and present danger to natural ecosystems, yet most studies on and the persistence of species of Planting on an agricultural landscape. (Photo: Chris MacGregor) coral bleaching events, and changes in spatial conservation planning don’t even incorporate it in their analysis. Pictured here are the conservation concern. Importantly, older plantings are those This work has significant implications the timing of biological events such as impacts of the 2016 bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. (Photo: Oregon State University, where despotic hyper-aggressive for how to best conduct farm breeding or fruiting seasons. Human CC BY-SA 2.0) Billions of dollars have been spent species such as the Noisy Miner are planning to guide the integration of responses to climate change are in Australia on restoring native On Pacific islands, for example, Most actions that strengthen current least likely to occur – thereby enabling wildlife conservation with sustainable adding further threats to biodiversity vegetation on farms. Far more humans are being forced inland by conservation efforts (e.g., increasing other less aggressive native species agriculture. In addition, insights through agricultural expansion, money has been spent worldwide on rising sea levels. As humans move the size and effectiveness of (usually smaller-bodied taxa) to from the work in areas of restored construction of seawalls and changes forest and woodland restoration in they clear forest for agriculture and protected areas, reducing poaching) occupy planted areas. and remnant native vegetation in in fishing areas. The effects are agricultural areas. Restoring native housing, actions that are likely to are still likely to be prudent even if southern Australia has been used considered likely to worsen, with vegetation can be expensive and it Other, complementary research have an even-more detrimental effect climate change plays out differently to in more extended meta-analyses climate change expected to become is critical that it is done in a cost- studies, have shown how best to plan on biodiversity than the habitat lost expectations. These would constitute examining global responses patterns the main cause of extinctions during effective and ecologically effective for complementary sets of planted directly from the rise in sea levels. ‘no-regret’ responses. to restoration efforts. the coming century. So, what can Human responses to climate change way. As part of CEED research, work areas alongside patches of existing The anticipation of, and response to, conservation planners do? can also impact existing protected has been investigating how to best remnant native woodland. Plantings, Reference: future conditions is hampered by the restore temperate woodlands in regrowth woodland and patches A CEED literature review has areas as changing crop suitability and Ikin K, Tulloch, A., Gibbons, P., Ansell, D., uncertainty of climate predictions, the wheat-sheep belt of southern of remnant vegetation support examined the effects and time frames increasing food shortages compel Seddon, J., and Lindenmayer, D.B. (2016). but the effects of climate change will Australia. Specifically, the work has different assemblages of species being incorporated into the different people to exploit protected areas for Evaluating complementary networks of be of such magnitude that the only quantified how the bird species and form a portfolio of vegetation restoration plantings for landscape-scale approaches to spatial conservation food and fuel. option is to accept the uncertainty composition of restored areas assets on a farm. This work is critical occurrence of temporally dynamic species. prioritisation that embrace climate Conservation Biology, 30, 1027–1037. Overall, despite numerous mandates and continue planning regardless. changes as plantings age and how for determining how many species change. The review indicates the vast and calls for climate change to be While identifying how various species such temporal patterns are influenced can be sustained by a minimum Lindenmayer, D.B., Lane, P.W., Barton, P.S., majority (96%) of articles on spatial Crane, M., Ikin, K., Michael, D.R. and Okada, incorporated into conservation will respond to climate change is by factors like planting size and width. set of restored and remnant areas prioritisation do not incorporate any planning, the methods available for important, the more crucial challenge S. (2016). Long-term bird colonization and The research has demonstrated and which kinds of species respond turnover in restored woodlands. Biodiversity aspect of climate change. Of the conservation planners remain few, lies with developing planning methods that species richness changes little best to different combinations of and Conservation, 25, 1587–1603. papers that do incorporate climate and those that are available ignore that incorporate the full range of over time but the composition alters planted and remnant woodland change, most are about forecasting some of the most harmful aspects of climate impacts. Only by doing so will markedly, with many species dropping areas. Importantly, strategies that species distributions and aim to either climate change. biodiversity be given a good shot at out over time but are replaced by lead to the maximum number of bird protect future habitats or identify surviving rapid climate change. others, including migratory bird species being conserved also result in areas in which climate change will It is essential that future research species. This work suggests that to the conservation of many individual have the least effect. develops planning approaches Reference: that not only strengthen current maximize the value of restored areas species of conservation concern. It is a major concern that the human Jones KR, JEM Watson, HP Possingham and conservation efforts but also CJ Klein (2016) Incorporating climate change it is important to establish and then responses to climate change and anticipate the predicted future into spatial conservation prioritisation: A maintain plantings of different ages extreme events are virtually ignored, conditions and provide responses review. Biological Conservation DOI: 10.1016/j. throughout a farmscape. This includes yet are predicted to be as damaging to them. biocon.2015.12.008 plantings that are many decades old to biodiversity as the direct effects of and others only relatively recently climate change. established. An Eastern yellow robin. (Photo: Dejan Stojanovic)

18 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 19 Informing Policy with Science

Informing Policy with Science

Underpinning policy development, implementation and long-term conservation planning with scientific knowledge brings multiple benefits. CEED research often reveals the unexpected gains of a collaborative and coordinated approach.

Balancing Development of Northern Australian Savannas

Key Points ff Strategically considering potential biodiversity outputs when planning for agricultural development leads to zoning options that would have a significantly lower impact on biodiversity values and carbon The northern savanna in its natural condition. (Photo: James Fitzsimons) farming. Using this information, five could lose more than 50% of their The research also has application ff If agricultural development alternative scenarios were explored current distributions. beyond northern Australia. The to examine different approaches to analysis provides a template for proceeded without consideration However, agricultural development development and how each could policymakers and planners to identify for biodiversity, suitable habitat need not have such a dramatically impact the unique biodiversity values areas of conflict between competing for three species would disappear, negative impact. Analysis showed of the region. land uses, places to protect in and 40 species and vegetation that it is possible to zone the region advance of impacts, and planning communities could lose more than One scenario evaluated what so that agricultural development options that balance the needs of 50% of their current distributions. might happen if only agriculture could still occur on over 56,000 km2 agriculture and conservation. was considered in the planning for with a significantly lower impact The northern Australian savannas agricultural expansion (agriculture- on biodiversity values and carbon Reference: occupy a vast area, approximately Irrigated agriculture in the Ord River Development. Developing the north will involve trade-offs only); another evaluated what farming. By expanding the protected with biodiversity. (Photo: Garry Cook) Morán-Ordóñez A, AL Whitehead, GW the size of France and Germany happened if biodiversity conservation area network to capture an additional Luck, GD Cook, R Maggini, JA Fitzsimons, BA combined. The region possesses Based on soil properties, a fifth of this The trade-offs between biodiversity, was the only consideration 5% of northern Australia, the Wintle (2016) Analysis of Trade-Offs Between a relatively intact cover of native region is also deemed highly suitable carbon storage, and agricultural (biodiversity-only); the third looked representation of the biodiversity Biodiversity, Carbon Farming and Agricultural vegetation largely consisting of open for agricultural intensification. intensification were analysed in at carbon-farming as the only features could be effectively doubled Development in Northern Australia Reveals the Conservation northern Australia. Benefits of Strategic Planning. eucalypt woodlands with a grass What are the consequences of consideration (carbon-only); the from 29% to 57% (i.e., nearly doubling Letters 10(1):94–104 understorey, providing a home for enabling intensive agriculture in these Maps of agricultural intensification fourth gave equal weighting to the average proportion of currently a broad suite of native animals and places? Is it possible to develop the potential were compared with the farming, biodiversity and carbon, suitable areas for species that could plants, many of which are endemic. north and still retain these other geographic distributions of 611 seeking to balance the three goals (all- be protected). equal); and the final scenario looked The savannas support low-intensity values? native species and 43 vegetation The development of extensive areas at saving as much biodiversity as rangeland grazing. In recent years, it communities to compare the extent of irrigated agriculture might also Spatial analysis undertaken by CEED possible while still allowing for carbon has been recognised that savanna has of the overlap. The distributions of cause potentially negative impacts on researchers revealed that the impact farming and significant agricultural considerable potential to contribute to areas with larger carbon storage other industries, such as tourism. of agricultural development in development (biodiversity-weighted). climate change mitigation through the potential that are suitable for carbon northern Australia depends on how Our trade-off analysis could include storage of carbon, depending on the farming were also compared. The agriculture-only scenario revealed and where it is done. It could have a other cultural, historical, social and manner in which fires are managed. that if all suitable soils were converted profound impact on biodiversity or a economic considerations to identify There is also a focus on developing to agriculture, the suitable habitat of relatively light impact. Given this, if development footprints that have the Australia’s north, of doubling the three species would disappear, and 40 managers and decision-makers want lowest possible impact on biodiversity agricultural output of this region and species and vegetation communities the sweeping northern savannas while still providing strong economic pouring billions of dollars into new to serve multiple purposes, then opportunity. infrastructure such as irrigation. strategic planning is essential.

20 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 21 Informing Policy with Science

Conservation Covenants: People are Willing to Pay for Worth the Paper They’re Written On? Carbon Farming

Key Points Key Points The model results demonstrate that ff Conservation covenants are ff Adopting carbon farming practices people cared about costs, emission an important and enduring often leads to a loss in profit for reduction, and protecting native mechanism for conserving farmers. vegetation, and that individual What is ‘Carbon biodiversity on private land. preferences varied significantly ff The public’s ‘willingness-to-pay’ across the population. For example, Farming’? ff Multi-party covenants offer for the co-benefits of carbon people who believe that climate greater permanence than single- farming was estimated. change is happening and is at least A set of activities that party agreements. partly caused by humans, preferred increases carbon storage ff Respondents were willing to pay the more-positive options for the or avoids greenhouse-gas ff Ongoing monitoring and reporting $19.20 per year for every extra benefits of carbon farming than other emissions. Storage activities is needed to assess the true hectare of native vegetation, and respondents. can include: contribution and value of these $1.13 per year for every metric Using the econometric model, agreements. tonne of CO2-e reduced. • Re-introducing woody people’s individual willingness- vegetation into landscapes Conservation covenants are legally There has been a lot of scientific to-pay to receive carbon-farming • Protecting native forests benefits was estimated. On average, binding agreements that place and political focus on reducing • New farm-forestry plantations Conservation covenants are usually legally binding agreements that place restrictions on what respondents were willing to pay ‘permanent’ restrictions on activities activities can take place on land in order to protect its natural values. (Photo: James Fitzsimons) greenhouse-gas emissions from • Increasing soil carbon by landholders can undertake on their agricultural production. The research $19.20 per year for every extra hectare of native vegetation, and reducing soil disturbance (e.g., land; for example, they often prevent They are designed to last forever. are as committed to the terms of the team looked at general community $1.13 per year for every metric through no-till farming or the clearing of native vegetation. However, landholders can change covenant as the original owners. preferences for the potential benefits tonne of CO -e reduced. These increased stubble retention) These agreements are registered on frequently with potentially negative of carbon farming (see the box ‘What 2 The study showed that the willingness-to-pay estimates varied for • Practices that can avoid the title of the property, obligating consequences for the protected land. is Carbon Farming’). the current and future owners to agreements are, on the whole, respondents with different opinions greenhouse-gas emissions can Previous research by the team has look after their property’s ecological This study led by Matthew Hardy, an relatively secure and enduring, but on climate change. include early savanna burning, ECR at RMIT University, examined the ongoing monitoring and reporting to shown that financial incentives changing manure handling values. The results of this research have permanence and security of covenants assess the true contribution of the offered by the government involving practices, or changing livestock important implications for carbon- Landowners voluntarily enter into in Australia by asking the 13 major agreements is needed. carbon-farming practices often lead feed. farming policies. these agreements because it helps covenanting organisations to report to a loss in profit for farmers. This Knowing that the majority of existing Two Australian policy programs, them preserve the natural values on the status of the covenants they study investigated other ways to Given that the Australian community covenants were created in the the Carbon Farming Initiative of the land they love. Governments oversaw and whether the obligations increase funds for farmers to adopt derives a positive value from past 25 years, further increases in (2011–14) and the Emissions like these agreements because they they prescribed had been observed. carbon farming. For example, some carbon-farming benefits (e.g., transfers to new owners is to be Reduction Fund (2014 onwards), help meet the obligation to conserve carbon farming practices can deliver carbon mitigation and biodiversity Of the 6,818 multi-party covenants expected. Given this, coupled with a have aimed to reduce carbon biodiversity. co-benefits, such as biodiversity or protection), there is a strong case created across Australia, only eight growing enthusiasm by governments emissions by rural landholders. landscape aesthetics, in addition to to broaden policies to include co- Since the first conservation covenant had been released (0.12%). Of the to encourage new conservation Both programs provide(d) climate-change mitigation. benefits in the value calculations, in Australia — a New South Wales 673 single-party (NSW Wildlife covenants, the need for ongoing and financial rewards to farmers who rather than considering greenhouse- wildlife refuge established back in Refuge) covenants formed, 130 had effective monitoring has never been The CEED research team from UWA adopted practices to reduce gas reductions alone. To increase the 1951 — the number of covenants been released. greater. and UQ set out to estimate the greenhouse-gas emissions or has grown to around 7,500 across public’s ‘willingness-to-pay’ for the co- social welfare from carbon-farming increase carbon storage in soils Australia. The majority of the Detailed breach data was hard to Reference: benefits of carbon farming. A choice- policies, higher incentive payments or vegetation. obtain, making it difficult to accurately should be offered to encourage agreements were established in the Hardy MJ, JA Fitzsimons, SA Bekessy, A experiment survey of Australian past 25 years. determine the number and types of Gordon (2016) Exploring the permanence of residents in New South Wales (NSW), changes in agricultural practices that breaches. It was also difficult to assess conservation covenants. Conservation Letters Queensland, Victoria and Western generate environmental co-benefits. From a conservation policy DOI:10.1111/conl.12243 the impact the breaches were having Australia asked respondents to perspective, the permanence and Reference: on the natural values the covenants choose their preferred alternative security of these agreements with had been established to protect. from three carbon-farming options. Kragt ME, FL Gibson, F Maseyk, KA Wilson private landholders are central (2016) Public willingness to pay for carbon Some organisations suggested An econometric analysis of the issues. In theory, most conservation farming and its co-benefits. Ecological that the turnover of conservation respondents’ choices revealed the Economics 126:125–131 covenants in Australia are permanent covenants to ‘successor landholders’ relative weight that people put on the in that the conditions they impose are may be developing into a policy issue, various impacts presented. passed on to the new owners when requiring agencies to engage with the land is sold. the new landholders and ensure they

22 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 23 Informing Policy with Science

Engaging Landholders in Biodiverse Carbon Plantings

Key Points ff A Bayesian Belief Network can predict landholder participation rates for any type of carbon- farming scheme. ff Program characteristics are more influential at driving participation than financial incentives. ff Biodiversity co-benefits of carbon planting is another important factor.

Biodiverse carbon plantings are considered by many to hold the key to sustainable land management. In Biodiverse carbon plantings in an agricultural landscape in Victoria. (Photo: Nooshin Torabi) addition to storing carbon, planting trees has the potential to preserve The study also interviewed 14 Program design was identified to be vital ecological processes and provide science and policy stakeholders from the most important factor, followed by habitat for wildlife. universities, CSIRO, government the value of co-benefits, with financial Like any private-land conservation organisations and NGOs working in incentives being the least important scheme, the number of landholders the field of carbon and biodiversity factor. The participation rate under participating in carbon and conservation in Australia. scenarios with different combinations biodiversity related programs directly Interviewees were asked about of incentives (bundling, stacking or influences the amount of carbon challenges and opportunities in carbon-only payments) and program stored and biodiversity protected. bundling and stacking carbon, and permanence (100 years, 25 years and Supporting Management The rate of landholder participation biodiversity ecosystem services. on-contract agreements) was tested. Results revealed that ‘on-contract depends on many social and Bundling refers to paying a premium agreement’ and stacking/bundling environmental drivers. price for the biodiversity co-benefits carbon and biodiversity credits could and Practice of carbon plantings and stacking A team led by CEED ECR Nooshin increase the landholder participation relates to selling carbon and Torabi of RMIT University has rate more than any other scenario. focused on identifying these drivers. biodiversity credits separately in their The literature reviewed the factors related markets. These findings could help policymakers to design programs Providing support, advice and improved on-ground decision making capabilities to influencing landholder participation Bundling and stacking could offer that are more flexible and appealing conservation practitioners, managers and policy makers is a key directive for CEED in agri-environment schemes, landholders more incentives for their to a broader range of landholders. voluntary carbon plantings and participation in biodiverse carbon researchers. This connectivity also provides excellence research and training opportunities Such programs need to ensure that private land conservation. Then plantings. for early career researchers and practitioners alike. researchers surveyed and interviewed the landscape-specific co-benefits 17 Victorian landholders, including A Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) was of participation are effectively commercial farmers, semi-commercial developed from the literature review, communicated to landholders. This farmers, hobby farmers and lifestyle survey and interview results. The is because both conservation and landholders, who had participated in a BBN is a probabilistic graphical model productivity related co-benefits voluntary biodiverse carbon-planting that predicts landholder participation matter to landholders. program. Landholders’ drivers and rate for any type of carbon-farming motivation for participation in the scheme. The effects of three main Reference: program was investigated in each step factors on the participation rate: Torabi N, L Mata, A Gordon, G Garrard, W Wescott, P Dettmann, S Bekessy (2016) The of adoption. program design, landholders’ values for co-benefits and financial money or the trees: What drives landholders’ participation in biodiverse carbon plantings? incentives, were examined. Global Ecology and Conservation 7: 1–11.

24 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 25 Supporting Management and Practice

What’s the Cost and Feasibility of a Cane Toad Barrier?

Key Points The idea behind a waterless barrier is Or did they just misunderstand its provide refuges for toads, such The results of the analysis suggest ff There is great value in ecological that cane toads need access to water limitations and capabilities? as dwellings, homesteads and that the toad invasion front could every 3–4 days. Because of their roadhouses, as well as regions of be contained by excluding toads modellers getting input from To find out, CEED researchers decided inability to retain water, the toads irrigation and cropping. This fieldwork from fewer than 100 waterbodies, conservation practitioners. to ask them. To do that, a workshop simply can’t survive without it. So, in enabled the production of the at the cost of approximately $4.5 was run in Broome with local ff A refined model has produced a very dry regions, their spread may be most up-to-date map of permanent million over 50 years (that’s less than practitioners and experts in cane feasible and cost-effective solution able to be halted by excluding them water and land use on pastoral land $100,000 a year). This is considerably toad biology. of a waterless barrier to stop the from permanent water sources. between Broome and Port Hedland. less than the amount spent on cane toad invasion in Western Attendees revealed that they were other invasive species management In arid areas of Australia, artificial With these updated maps, the Australia. most concerned about the accuracy of programs in Australia. For example, water points, such as pastoral dams researchers then investigated the input data going into the model, such the Federal Government recently and tanks, are the only permanent most-cost effective location for a as rainfall variability, the locations spent $19 million on feral camels in When building models of ecological water sources at which toads can waterless barrier in the corridor. The cane toad can’t retain water. of dams, and other land uses in the central Australia over four years, and Consequently, its remorseless spread systems, there are many reasons to rehydrate and breed. If cane toads This involved simulating the spread corridor that might support toad $35 million on the fox eradication might be stopped if a waterless barrier engage with practitioners who often could be denied access, by replacing of toads through the region in the populations. program in Tasmania over eight years. was built. (Photo: Reid Tingley) have access to the most relevant data dams with leak-proof tanks, then their absence of management and then and a better understanding of the invasion could be halted. In response to these concerns, the testing barriers placed at 17 potential Just as importantly in terms of the Structured system being modelled. researchers updated the previous locations. An economic model environmental decision science, While a number of NGOs and local spread model to incorporate this estimating the upfront installation our research demonstrates Such information can improve the management groups have expressed Decision-making information. They also drove the and ongoing maintenance costs of the importance of practitioner realism and accuracy of model interest in a waterless barrier entire length of the corridor, verifying a barrier was developed to find the engagement during model predictions. Practitioners can approach to halting the spread of the locations of artificial and natural most-cost effective barrier location. development. While there are various ways also benefit from engagement cane toads, some practitioners had waterbodies on every property The updated model was run with to engage practitioners, through increased understanding reservations. Why the doubt? Were Local knowledge overlooked in the between Broome and Port Hedland. and without local knowledge of to date there is little and awareness of a model and its they concerned with the data and original incarnation of the model the landscape, to determine if this understanding of which capabilities. This two-way dialogue assumptions underpinning the model? In addition, a variety of other points — specifically knowledge about information affected the best approaches achieve and can improve trust in a model and were mapped that could potentially irrigation and dwellings — influenced barrier location. maintain collaboration. increase the chance it will be adopted the best place for a barrier. Our to support decision-making. new research suggests that the idea For our waterless barrier- Despite these advantages, the of a waterless barrier to halt the workshop, CEED researchers engagement between modellers spread of cane toads is both feasible adopted a structured decision- and practitioners is often limited. and cost-effective, and promises making approach, which is Researchers from CEED have big conservation outcomes. This being increasingly advocated attempted to bridge this gap between proposal is also a win–win situation in the conservation literature theory and practice for one of the for pastoralists and conservationists, for explicitly acknowledging worst invasive species in Australia — because installing leak-proof tanks uncertainty, facilitating the cane toad. improves farm productivity, while relationship building and simultaneously mitigating a key revealing hidden agendas. There The researchers updated an existing threatening process for biodiversity. is no doubt that in this case, the theoretical model predicting cane engagement process, facilitated toad spread through arid regions of Reference: by structured decision-making, Australia with local knowledge of Southwell D, R Tingley, Ml Bode, E Nicholson, helped all parties agree on the weather and land use, to find the BL Phillips (2016) Cost and feasibility of a problem and the objective while most cost-effective location for a barrier to halt the spread of invasive cane improving the practitioners’ ‘waterless barrier’ to contain the toads in arid Australia: incorporating expert knowledge into model-based decision-making. understanding of the model’s spread of toads. Journal of Applied Ecology 54:216–224 capabilities and limitations, as well as the modellers’ understanding of the landscape. An example of a leaky trough system on a property between Broome and Port Hedland. Developing a waterless barrier would involve replacing this water point with a leak-proof tank so that toads cannot access the surface water in the dry season. (Photo: Darren Southwell)

26 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 27 Supporting Management and Practice

What do Dairy Farmers Think about Planting Riparian Margins?

Key Points Following European settlement in Two groups of farmers participated The farmers observed that not only ff CEED researchers surveyed the mid-1800s, the once-forested in the meetings; Group A (17 farmers) did fences prevent their livestock Taranaki dairy farmers on their plains around Mt Taranaki (one of who have or are implementing riparian from falling into, or getting stuck in, perceptions of the value of New Zealand’s most iconic volcanoes) planting and Group B (five farmers) the waterways, but they also saved riparian plantings. were rapidly converted into a pastoral who have fenced, but not planted them money (by avoiding livestock landscape dominated by exotic their riparian margins (Figure 1). injury or loss, labour time to retrieve ff The farmers reported many pasture species. animals, and damage to farm Not surprisingly, the two groups different values with the equipment used in retrieval), and This transformation made Taranaki a of farmers had quite different plantings; some positive, some increased the safety of farm staff who nationally important dairy region. In perspectives, with Group A perceiving negative. were no longer retrieving animals the process, native vegetation was 21 positive aspects and 11 negative from waterways. ff Farmers who carried out riparian reduced to less than 10% of its former aspects associated with riparian plantings reported improvement cover. The benefit of food production margin plantings, and Group B Critically, Group B identified that to both farm performance and the had come at a considerable cost to perceiving only 15 aspects, all of neither grass strip nor planted multi- environment. native biodiversity and the provision which were negative. These pros tier riparian margins could address of a range of other ecosystem and cons fell across production, sub-surface nutrient flows. services. environmental, and social values Over two stormy days in 2015, a Consequently, this group of farmers (Figure 2), and showed that the group of dairy farmers working on the In 1993 the Taranaki Regional felt the objective of the planting participant farmers were thinking Taranaki ring plain in New Zealand left Council initiated a voluntary planting program — to protect water quality about additional ecosystem services their flooding paddocks to gather at program to restore vegetation to — was misguided, and this view and benefits beyond water quality, as the Stratford Multisports Centre. They riparian margins with the aim of obscured the recognition of all well as trade-offs. had been invited to participate in an maintaining water quality. Twenty other potential values and benefits interactive CEED meeting to describe years on, CEED researchers were of planting riparian margins and their experiences and views on the interested in finding out how farmers prevented them from implementing costs and benefits of planting riparian perceived the costs and benefits of planting on their farms. However, the margins on their farms. undertaking riparian planting. CEED researchers found that farmers who had planted and fenced riparian margins, experienced increased benefits for both farm performance Figure 2 The pros and cons of fenced-only grass strip riparian margins (Panel A) and and environmental enhancement. fenced and riparian margins (Panel B) as identified by Taranaki ring plain dairy farmers. Individual attributes of riparian margins can contribute values across the board; for Reference: example, a well-managed farm attracts better staff which is shown here as a social Maseyk FJF, EJ Dominati, T White, AD Mackay value, but also ultimately contributes to the productivity of the farm and “more milk in (2017) Farmer perspectives of the on-farm the vat”. and off-farm pros and cons of planted multifunctional riparian margins. Land Use From these structured discussions, In contrast to Group A, Group B Policy 61: 160–170 Group A identified many benefits from farmers were disinclined to plant their This study was a collaboration between CEED, planting riparian margins; they also riparian margins as they did not think AgResearch New Zealand, and Taranaki shared some common ground with there were any additional benefits to Regional Council. Group B in recognising associated be gained that could not be achieved costs and liabilities, such as the loss by fenced-only (grass strip) margins. of production land, and increased Indeed, both groups observed that weeds and pests. However, Group A fencing excluded livestock from suggested that many of these issues waterways, and allowed for greater could be balanced by positive aspects Figure 1 Group A farmers opted for planted margins (image on the left shows multi-tier planted margins) whereas Group B farmers used precision mapping of the farm, fenced grass strip margins (as pictured on the right). (Image on the left by Fleur Maseyk; image on the right Taranaki Regional Council.) of riparian margin plantings. For improved rotational grazing, and example, they observed that cows better allocation of feed. would graze longer in the shade provided by the riparian plantings (which meant more milk) and this could be enough to make up for the loss of production land.

28 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 29 Supporting Management and Practice

Restoring Marine Coastal Ecosystems: Counting the Costs and Assessing the Feasibility

Key Points There is one important catch — for Information on the ‘feasibility’ of a ff CEED researchers examined the restoration to achieve a particular restoration project succeeding (i.e., cost and feasibility of restoration goal, it must anticipate how likely the the likelihood of a project meeting in marine coastal ecosystems. project is to succeed, and how much objectives) was largely unavailable. it will cost. Failed projects are often not reported. ff The median price was around Instead, for project feasibility, success This study examined the cost and US$80,000 per hectare, the was only documented in terms of the feasibility of restoration in marine average price was up at percentage of restored organisms that coastal ecosystems, including US$1,600,000 per hectare. survived over the reporting period. seagrass, corals, mangroves, Project duration was typically one saltmarsh, and oyster reefs. ff Feasibility ranged from 38% for year or less. Only in a few instances Researchers from CEED accomplished seagrass, to 65% for coral reefs were restoration projects monitored this by reviewing the peer-reviewed and saltmarshes. for more than a decade. Feasibility literature and reports on this topic, ranged from 38% for seagrass to 65% and by filling in data gaps by talking Coasts are popular areas for tourism, for coral reefs and saltmarshes. recreation, transportation, and to people who undertake restoration. development. Unfortunately, our This was important for oyster reefs, Researchers at CEED were surprised love affair with coastal regions has for which data was largely absent to find that project success was resulted in significant damage to large from the published literature. unrelated to the amount of money spent. areas of natural habitat. The result The literature review quickly has been extensive and rapid rates established there is a huge range of And restoration cost-per-unit effort of decline in a range of important costs for different types of marine did not decrease with increasing ecosystems including seagrass, coral coastal restoration. The least- project areas (so there were no reefs, mangroves, saltmarsh, and expensive projects, conducted by economies of scale). This suggests oysters. And this decline is being volunteers in ‘inexpensive’ developing that marine restoration techniques witnessed worldwide. Along with the countries, could be accomplished still need work. Further studies will be loss of habitat comes a decline of for less than $2,000 per hectare (all required to achieve a transition from the services they provide (ecosystem dollar values are in US dollars). But small-scale to a large-scale restoration services). These include the provision these were more the exception than of marine coastal ecosystems. of habitat for threatened, iconic, or the rule. fished species; shoreline protection Restoration may be a critical tool from waves and storm surges; water The median (middle) price for coastal used to secure a sustainable future in filtration; and carbon storage to help restoration was typically around marine coastal ecosystems. If that’s mitigate climate change. $80,000 per hectare. The average the case, a lot more effort needs to go price, however, was up at $1,600,000 into understanding how this can be There is now considerable interest per hectare. The big difference achieved more effectively. in reversing trends in the decline between the median and average cost of coastal ecosystems. This means is due to some marine restoration Reference: restoration — the process of projects being incredibly expensive, Bayraktarov E, M Saunders, S Abdullah, M removing the factors that cause costing many millions of dollars per Mills, J Beher, HP Possingham, PJ Mumby, ecosystems to disappear, and/or CE Lovelock (2016) The cost and feasibility hectare. Examples would include of marine coastal restoration. Ecological establishing replacement plants the use of artificial structures to Applications 26: 1055–1074 or animals. Restoration is also an rebuild the ecosystems in ‘expensive’ important element of biodiversity- countries like the USA and Australia. offsetting projects — where losses of biodiversity from development As an aside, it was also observed that investment in restoration could be at one site are ‘offset’ (replaced) by A coral nursery in the Florida Keys. restoration at another (degraded) site. up to 30 times more cost-effective in developing countries than in Restoration efforts can get incredibly expensive and even then they can be quite developed countries. Many projects in risky. (Photo: XL Catlin Seaview Survey) developing nations go undocumented due to a lower-incentive to publish and report on restoration outcomes.

30 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 31 Supporting Management and Practice

Promoting Social Benefits Improves Landholder Engagement Recognition of Research Excellence Key Points ff To increase engagement the social and personal benefits of conservation need to be In 2016 CEED researchers were finalists in, and the recipients of, some of the highest awards, articulated. prizes and professional association memberships on the national and international stage. ff Focusing on environmentally- framed benefits misses engaging with community-minded landholders.

A CEED 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 Emphasising the multiple benefits of land conservation to land holders, especially the social landholders and the wider social and personal benefits, increases the possibilities to reach more people. (Photo: Geoff Park). benefits. “Yet, we found a predominance of Reference: Prof Hugh Possingham Assoc Prof Kerrie Wilson “The success of these conservation environmentally-framed benefits. The Kusmanoff AM, MJ Hardy, F Fidler, G Maffey, C efforts is tied to the engagement lack of emphasis on social benefits, Raymond, MS Reed, JA Fitzsimons, SA Bekessy (2016) Framing the private land conservation CEED Director Joins National Academy of Sciences New CEED Director Receives Fenner Prize for Life of landholders, however, only a in particular, is a missed opportunity small proportion of landholders conversation: Strategic framing of the benefits CEED Director Hugh Possingham received formal Scientist of the Year 2016 to engage community-minded of conservation participation could increase participate in conservation,” says recognition for his contribution to original research, CEED’s Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson has been landholders who don’t necessarily landholder engagement. Environmental Science elected as a foreign associate of the National Academy RMIT’s Alex Kusmanoff, the lead identify with the conservation & Policy 61:124–128 awarded one of Australia’s most prestigious science of Sciences alongside a small cohort of distinguished author on the study. movement. By appealing to those awards — the Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year researchers. (as part of the this year’s Prime Minister’s Prizes for This study analysed the websites of people who are already receptive to Science). The award is open to all disciplines in the life 20 most notable Australian private conservation messages, we are only The National Academy of Sciences, a not-for-profit sciences, from biomedical research through to ecology. land conservation schemes and ever going to recruit from the same institution established under President Lincoln in 1863, categorised how the benefits of potential pool of landholders. But that recognises outstanding achievements in science by University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter participation were framed; whether pool can be increased beyond the electing researchers to membership (US citizens) or Høj said Dr Wilson’s research built connections between framed as benefits to landholders, to conservation-minded, by emphasising foreign associate status (if a non-citizen). The Academy ecosystems, governments and people. “Kerrie is one of society or the environment. both the social and personal benefits was established to provide science policy advice to the UQ’s rising stars, and her work epitomises our focus at UQ of conservation. American Federal Government. — to create change in the world,” says Professor Høj. “To be as relevant and engaging to as broad a range of landholders as “We must think strategically about Professor Possingham was one of 21 scientists to be Kerrie and her team have generated an impressive series possible, all three kinds of benefits who we are trying to reach, what accepted as a foreign associate in the latest intake, of more than 120 papers with about 7,000 citations. should be well represented,” says motivates them, and how to frame and is the first Queensland-based academic to receive Her work with CEED is also connecting global leaders in Kusmanoff. our messages to better engage them.” the honour. environmental decision science. “I am humbled to be recognised by such an illustrious “The award not only recognises CEED’s significant institution. I would like to thank everyone I have worked contribution to Australia’s goals by demonstrating with, and I hope I can use the election to further the scientific excellence but also our contribution to cause of environmental science globally,” Professor delivering innovative solutions to addressing the loss of Possingham said. biodiversity,” says Associate Professor Wilson. Hugh is one of only 20 Australian scientists who are members of the Academy as a foreign associate.

32 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 33 Recognition of Research Excellence

Assoc Prof Jane Elith Dr Elizabeth Law Ms Marie Dade Ms Rebecca Runting

Associate Professor Jane Elith Receives Two German Honour for Dr Elizabeth Law Marie Dade, CEED PhD Scholarship Holder Rebecca Runting Receives 2016 Society of Prestigious Awards Dr Elizabeth Law, a CEED associate researcher who Receives Outstanding Outreach Award Conservation Biology Oceania Best Student Paper is pioneering new methods to evaluate trade-offs Award 2016 Australian Academy of Science Fenner Medal The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the in environmental policies, has been selected into Ecological Society of Australia have joined forces to award & Australian Ecology Research Award (AERA) Rebecca’s research extended traditional conservation the German Government’s Green Talents program. six early career researchers doing an exceptional job of planning approaches to meet multiple competing public Associate Professor Jane Elith specialises in developing Researchers selected for the program will visit Siemens communicating ecological research to the public, and policy targets and achieve sustainable development and evaluating species distribution models, statistical AG, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, inspiring other ecologists to get involved in outreach. The across the three national jurisdictions on Borneo. This models that describe relationships between the the Max-Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, TU Hamburg, prizes were awarded at the 2016 Ecological Society of was the first time the value of cross-border collaboration occurrence and abundance of species and the SASSCAL, and the Alfred Wegener Institute. Australia Annual Conference in Fremantle, WA. for integrated land-use planning was assessed anywhere environment. These models are used to predict where Dr Law received travel and living costs for a two-week UQ based PhD student, Marie will establish a partnership in the world. The work revealed the potential of species occur in the landscape, or where they might collaborative, integrated planning to deliver large gains in occur in the future. tour of German research institutes in October 2016 and with a school class to gather and analyse data as part of will also be sponsored for a three-month research stay at a year-long research project, with the aim of producing both economic and environmental efficiency relative to Associate Professor Jane Elith has rapidly become one one German research institute in 2017. a publishable paper with the students. Marie is also the current land use plan and other proposed options. of the world’s most influential researchers in applied Dr Law, who has been a conservation biology researcher developing a schools outreach program for CEED in The project involved wide-spread collaboration with ecology. In addition to her major academic impacts, collaboration with others, which will be launched external agencies including the Borneo Futures Project her guides and novel tools for modelling species and at UQ since 2011, was awarded her PhD in 2015 for a study on land management strategies to enhance during 2017. [E. Meijaard, funded by ARCUS (an NGO)], the Center ecological communities have been used by government for International Forestry Research (D. Gaveau), HUTAN and environmental management agencies in Australia biodiversity and ecosystem services in production Marie’s PhD project questions how ecosystem services landscapes. She currently coordinates research across supply changes under different urban landscape (a local NGO, M. Ancrenaz), Pelangi Indonesia (a local and internationally. The interface between environmental NGO, F. Ardiansyah), the Wildlife Conservation Society management and science makes extensive use of her several teams associated with ARC Discovery and scenarios. In 2015, she was named Young Student Woodspring Trust grants. Ambassador with the Wonder of Science program, to (M. Gumal), the Sabah Wildlife Department (L. Ambu), research to plan management of invasive species, and multiple universities (the University of Kent, Liverpool improve conservation of biodiversity, and contribute Her current research focuses on the complexities of promote science education within regional Queensland schools. Marie has also worked with the School of John Moores University, and The Australian National to strategic land-use planning. In this way, Associate sustainably managing agricultural production landscapes University). Professor Elith has substantially influenced academic to both capitalise on and enhance their multifunctional Distance Education, visiting remotely-based students on research and also impacted environmental management capacity and to provide outcomes that are effective, the Cape York Peninsula to talk about science careers and nationally and internationally. efficient and equitable for all stakeholders. Dr Law tackles ecology research. The Fenner Medal recognises outstanding contributions this problem from a collaborative, interdisciplinary “I am passionate about developing ecology-related to science by the late Professor FJ Fenner, AC, CMG, MBE, approach, using case studies across Australia, Asia and projects for school students and love being involved in MD, FAA, FRS. Its purpose is to recognise distinguished Canada. scientific outreach. It’s a great way to communicate new research in biology (excluding the biomedical sciences) ideas and discoveries to a wider audience, and encourage by researchers up to 10 years post-PhD. scientific thinking in students,” Marie says. The AERA is conferred by the Ecological Society of Australia and recognises excellence in research in Australia ecology for a specific body of work by a mid- career researcher.

34 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 35 Recognition of Research Excellence

CEED Alumni

CEED Researchers Named as Finalists Where Are They Now?

ff2016 Eureka Prize Finalists Dr Graeme Doole Graeme Doole was a Senior Researcher and CEED member from its inception Dr Eve McDonald-Madden in 2011. Graeme was employed at UWA full-time after completion of his PhD in Finalist for Outstanding Early Career Researcher 2006 with distinction; first as a teaching-and-research academic, and then in a Dr Eve McDonald-Madden applies quantitative methods, from fields such research-only position. His research interests are in environmental economics, as economics and artificial intelligence; to solving complex conservation including farm management economics, fisheries economics, and natural problems. Her research is frequently published in leading interdisciplinary resource management (NRM) economics. journals and has influenced the way major conservation organisations make decisions. Presented annually by the Australian Museum, the Australian Supported by CEED funding, he focused on economic analysis to inform Museum Eureka Prizes reward excellence in research and innovation, decision-making regarding complex natural systems. This work involved farm, leadership, science communication and school science. catchment, regional, and national studies. He worked concurrently at UWA and Dr Eve McDonald-Madden Prof Graeme Doole the University of Waikato, until mid-2015 when he was offered the position of Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Waikato (New Zealand). Graeme remains a highly valued adjunct in the School of Agricultural Dr Luke Kelly and Resource Economics at UWA. To get to a full professor position in less than Member of Mallee Fire and Biodiversity Team (La Trobe University) 10 years from his PhD is a testament to the remarkable quality and quantity of Together with government agencies, private landowners and conservation his work. organisations, the Mallee Fire and Biodiversity Team collected one of He won a substantial number of awards for his research excellence, including the world’s largest datasets on fire. Their research has transformed the UWA’s Excellence Award for highest quantity and quality of peer-reviewed understanding of how fire affects biota, produced innovative new tools and publications by an early career researcher (2010), Young Agronomist of the Year significantly contributed to change in fire policy. (2010), and acknowledgement for the Best Article in a range of journals. Graeme has a rare and extremely valuable ability to convey his research to managers, policymakers and the broader community. Dr Luke Kelly He was already having a major influence on policy related to water pollution in NZ during his time as a CEED member, and this continues to grow in his new position. His economic advice has been extensively used by the New Zealand Government in the development and implementation of policies for water pollution. In fact 75% of the funding for his current position as professor at the University of Waikato is provided by the Ministry for the Environment in New ff2016 Banksia Sustainable Cities Award Finalists Zealand, reflecting the high value that they see in his advice. Dr Georgia Garrard and Associate Professor Sarah Bekessy Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group Dr Georgia Garrard The Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design protocol developed by Dr Georgia Garrard and Associate Professor Sarah Bekessy of the Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group from RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research earned a nomination as a finalist for the 2016 Banksia Sustainable Cities Award. The research presents a re-visioning of the Fishermans Bend urban renewal area as a model for sustainable mid-rise development across Melbourne. The project aims to bridge the disconnect between the built and natural environments by linking urban design to measurable outcomes for native species and ecosystems.

Assoc Prof Sarah Bekessy

36 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 37 CEED Alumni

Where Are They Now? ffFour CEED ECRs Spread Their Wings ... UK Bound Maria Beger, a marine ecologist, All four researchers have strong knowledge created through CEED is Dr Jane Catford Jane Catford, an invasion biologist, international research reputations, being shared around the planet. Morena Mills, a social scientist and and have played important roles at Jane started a lectureship in Community Ecology at the University of Their engagement in CEED has made Roberto Salguero-Gomez, a plant CEED. Southampton (in the Centre for Biological Sciences). a real contribution to conservation demographer, are all passionate about The demand for our quantitatively- science and practice. Having “Working at CEED was been a great experience,” says Jane. their science improving biodiversity trained early career researchers is networks such as CEED around will “It allowed me to work alongside some of the world’s top environmental conservation and have all accepted strong evidence that CEED’s people be important to attracting overseas researchers and thinkers. And, because of CEED’s strong international excellent roles in the United Kingdom — and their experience, skills and talent and growing the network of connections, I look forward to sustaining those relationships in my new position in 2016. knowledge — are internationally environmental decision scientists. at the University of Southampton.” sought after. It is also an indicator that Dr Jane Catford

Dr Morena Mills Morena commenced a lectureship at Imperial College London on Conservation Science. “CEED was an incredible place to work,” she says. “It exposes you to a great array of scientists with different backgrounds, all Dr Maria Beger focused on how to best improve environmental decisions. Maria, after four years at CEED, commenced a five year Research Fellowship at the Additionally, we were encouraged to work in collaboration with governments and University of Leeds. NGOs around the world and help them tackle the most pressing conservation “To me, CEED is exceptional because it combines Australia’s top conservation issues. I can’t imagine a better place to work as a Post-Doctoral Researcher.” Dr Morena Mills scientists and ecologists in a very open and transparent collaboration, with everyone committed to making a difference in conservation on the ground,” says Maria. Dr Roberto Salguero-Gomez “CEED has not only given me an exceptional quantitative tool kit in conservation science but I have also been spoilt with an extremely open research environment, Robert joined the University of Sheffield as a Natural Environmental Research and I learned about the importance of interdisciplinary work. I was given incredible Council Independent Research Fellow. freedom to pursue my interests and passions in marine conservation during my “Despite the geographic distance between Australia and most other countries, Dr Maria Beger time at CEED, and this allowed me to build networks that have enabled me to make CEED has successfully created a brand of quality research which, in my opinion, is an important contribution towards the conservation of coral reefs and related internationally recognised,” says Roberto. ecosystems.” “My three years at CEED have made me aware of the value of social sciences, economics, mathematical modelling and even my own specialty (of population ecology) in decision-making. I feel that the skills that I have acquired during my time at CEED, including leadership skills, have put me in a position where I Dr Roberto Salguero-Gomez now feel fully capable of running my own lab, interacting with researchers from various groups and disciplines to tackle complex, timely questions.”

38 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 39 Workshops and Training

Workshops and Training Social Networks in NRM

Soapbox Science ECRs Attend the ICN Workshop at Oxford Brisbane

In June CEED ECRs Angela Guerrero CEED researchers were Gonzalez and Nicole Shumway among 12 women who shared were very fortunate to be hosted their passion for science by the Interdisciplinary Centre for at Australia’s first Soapbox Conservation Science at the University Science event on Saturday, 20 August. of Oxford (led by E.J. Milner-Gulland, Jointly organised by researchers positioned within the network, can one of CEED’s international PIs). from UWA and UQ, this workshop influence performance. Further, a The fun and interactive event While there, they helped organise explored the theory, methodology and single type of network is unlikely to be with audience participation and participate in a workshop of strengths and weaknesses associated effective in all situations. For instance, was the first Soapbox Science the Interdisciplinary Conservation with the application of social an analysis in Stockholm found that a event to be held in the southern Network (ICN). network analysis in natural resource network with a core group of heavily hemisphere. management (NRM). connected members surrounded by a periphery of sparsely connected Soapbox Science was founded The workshop gave early-career Participants from the University of members facilitated collective action in the UK in 2011 by female researchers the opportunity to Queensland, University of Melbourne, on a local level while simultaneously academics from the Zoological interact with other conservation James Cook University, University of preventing collaborative management Society of London and the scientists and to learn key Western Australia, RMIT University, CEED ECRs attend an ICN meeting in Oxford. at a regional level. University of Bristol. career skills. University of Tasmania, CSIRO and the Stockholm Resilience Centre came “Our discussions revealed the Three research themes were Given the lack of data in the marine The mitigation hierarchy requires that Dr Alienor Chauvenet, co- together in Brisbane. importance in considering the value run over the two-day event: the environment, avoidance will be a key all reasonable measures have been organiser of the event and CEED of information obtained from social- application of predictive approaches component of successful NNL. The taken first to avoid and minimise the Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Social networks consist of network analysis relative to the to conservation; the integration NNL research theme was developed impact of a development project and says the aim was to promote the people — such as land holders, costs associated with data collection of inter-disciplinary approaches to and organised by herself, Will Arlidge then to restore biodiversity on-site amazing work of these women; managers, government officials and the risks associated with poor help manage ‘wicked’ conservation (an Oxford PhD student) and Prue before moving to ‘offsets’. Overall, to challenge gender stereotypes, and organisations — and the response rates,” says UQ’s Courtney conflicts; and the future for no-net- Addison (an Oxford Postdoc and the ICN workshop was an important implicit bias and perceptions of relationships and exchanges that Morgans, one of the workshop loss of biodiversity in the marine previous CEED ECR). chance to get other perspectives what a scientist does and looks on CEED research and a wonderful tie these ‘actors’ together. conveners and CEED PhD student. like; to bring science to the environment. For the weeks leading up to the opportunity to network with fellow “Reasonable justification also needs people direct from the experts; Nicole’s PhD research focuses on the workshop, they had many discussions How the network is organised and students and researchers working in to be given to how the network of and to inspire new generations of improved implementation of no-net- about the increasing use of functions has been identified as a biodiversity conservation from a range interest will be bound. For example, scientists. The event showcased loss (NNL) policies aimed at protecting biodiversity offsetting and the need key determinant of participation of interdisciplinary fields. is it more appropriate to bind the all career stages, from PhD marine biodiversity, and so this theme to refocus the conversation on the and performance in environmental network at an institutional level or a students to lecturers and through was particularly relevant to her achievement of NNL by using the programs. Social networks can geographic region? Will it be feasible to professors. research program. entire mitigation hierarchy, rather be used in multiple ways, from than focusing primarily on offsetting. simply describing a system and to obtain a comprehensive dataset at Soapbox Science Brisbane understanding the processes that this level?” 2016 was supported by the The workshop brought together drive the formation of a system Queensland Government’s people from varied backgrounds to In addition to these practical through to informing analysis for Advance Queensland initiative, discuss the application of NNL in other considerations, the workshop improved decision-making. the ARC Centre of Excellence for industries and the factors that could explored theoretical assumptions Environmental Decisions, and be hindering a broader application of Membership in both formal and relating to the position of the social UQ’s Global Change Institute. the mitigation hierarchy. informal networks has the potential network on the causal pathway: to deliver positive outcomes for does the social network shape individuals and groups. However, not management effectiveness or is it all networks are equally effective. that social processes shape the social Several network characteristics, such network? How social network analysis as the number of social ties, the can be best used to inform practical density of the network, the presence recommendations for NRM will form of leaders and how individuals are the focus of several upcoming papers.

40 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 41 Workshops and Training

The 2016 Theo Murphy High Flyer Think Tank Stakeholder Engagement

A critical aspect of environmental decision-making involves dealing CEED and CSIRO Join Forces with ScenNet with risk and uncertainty, and much of CEED’s research revolves around incorporating these elements into In February 2016, CEED joined decision frameworks. Given this, it is forces with CSIRO and the Belmont not surprising that CEED researchers Forum project ‘ScenNet’ to explore played a leading role in the 2016 Theo ways in which scenarios and models Murphy High Flyer Think Tank. could be better used in setting and implementing conservation policy at Each year, the Australian Academy of national and global scales. Science hosts the Theo Murphy High Flyer Think Tank. It brings together ScenNet is a global collaboration of a varied group of early- and mid- researchers working on scenarios career researchers from a wide range and models to support conservation of disciplines — rising high flyers in assessment and decisions. their respective disciplines — to focus Convened by Brendan Wintle (UM) on an emerging area of challenge and Simon Ferrier (CSIRO), the and get them to solve a series of week-long workshop focused on related problems. The 2016 event Jonathan Rhodes (bottom right), a CEED CI and UQ Node Leader, was one of CEED’s high flyers how to increase the use and utility of asked think tankers to formulate an at the think tank. biodiversity and ecosystem-service interdisciplinary approach to ‘living in The CEED participants contributed scenarios and models in decision- Karel Mokany and Simon Ferrier (CSIRO) discuss the finer points of scenarios and models with a risky world’. primarily to the problem of risk making and agenda-setting at geo- ScenNet members Paul Leadley, Rob Alkemade, and Cornelia Krug. (Photo: Natasha Cadenhead) Director of CEED Hugh Possingham and resource allocation for the political scales. convened the event while CEED environment. This group was A key premise of the workshop was A second key topic was an members Gwen Iacona, Alienor composed of experts in environmental The Lorne Workshop brought that most decisions that impact on examination of the way scenarios Chauvenet, Jonathan Rhodes and sciences, social sciences, economics, together 23 researchers and biodiversity and ecosystem services and models can be used to set more Lucy Bland took part as think tankers, law, and history. Such a diversity policymakers working in a variety are not ostensibly ‘environmental meaningful international conservation joining around 60 other participants of disciplines created a rich, if of areas. decisions’, and often do not involve targets, including the next round sometimes challenging, discussion. environmental professionals. A key of CBD targets (the targets that will coming from a range of disciplines There were conservation biologists, Invited experts and members of the outcome of the workshop was to follow on from the Aichi Targets). (from physicists to social scientists). economists, social scientists, human Academy were also available for develop a classification of the types The assembled thinkers were set four geographers, policy scientists and guidance and discussion (including of decisions made at the international challenges to explore: mathematicians from both Australia CEED’s Mark Burgman). level that have the most impact on 1. risk in international security; and overseas, with expertise in biodiversity and the global institutions marine and terrestrial environments. 2. risk and resource allocation for Each group came up with two that mediate many of those decisions. CEED Director Hugh Possingham holds up a The meeting included representatives the environment; to three recommendations finished report from the 2016 Theo Murphy Participants also developed case from International Union for associated with their topic, High Flyer Think Tank on living in a risky world. studies on how some of those big 3. antimicrobial resistance in a Conservation of Nature (IUCN), focusing on what major risks and decisions could be better supported connected world, and Convention on Biological Diversity uncertainties we should be aware by scenarios and models. 4. uncertainty, ignorance and (CBD), International Platform on of and their potential solutions. partial knowledge. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services “The format challenged us to work (IPBES) and the Wildlife Conservation as a group and quickly and clearly Society (WCS), providing a strong identify and articulate the most global policy perspective. important points for policymakers,” says CEED’s Gwen Iacona. “There was deep discussion, many interesting chats and a lot of hard work, but at the end of the workshop I think it’s fair to say we also had a lot of fun.”

42 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 43 Stakeholder Engagement

CEED Plays a Leading Role in Science-Policy Platform

Many efforts are being made around the world to arrest and reverse the unfolding crisis of biodiversity decline. Front and centre in recent years has been the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an independent, Bishan Park, a great example of innovative urban planning in Singapore. (Photo: National Parks Board, Singapore) intergovernmental body designed to synthesise and analyse biodiversity information for decision-making. CEED Builds Bridges to Singapore As its name suggests, IPBES makes science and policy its central focus. Australia is making important Singapore is an important regional of disciplines. Researchers from and structured decision-making at contributions to IPBES via CEED — centre for biodiversity and CEED are working with NUS on the NUS Biology Colloquium and one of the world’s leading institutions conservation sciences. In recent multiple projects relating to urban at the Centre for Urban Greenery working in this space. years there have been growing links and park biodiversity. Chong Kwek and Ecology’s (CUGE) Professional In February 2016 IPBES staged its between CEED and the National Yan has been visiting CEED’s UQ Speakers Series in September 2016. Fourth Plenary Session in Malaysia University of Singapore (NUS), node from October 2015 to 2017. The CUGE is part of the National at which it launched its first two collaborations that are proving He received the NUS Overseas Parks Board, the agency that handles The eastern curlew is one of many species of migratory shorebird that are at risk of being lost. products: a thematic assessment mutually beneficial. Here are Post-Doctoral Fellowship and is matters relating to biodiversity and The work of institutions such as IPBES will prove critical to arrest declines in biodiversity. on pollinators, pollination, and food (Photo: Dean Ingwersen) some examples: working on the optimal planning of greenery in Singapore. production; and the methodological urban greenspaces with CEED Chief Located one degree north of the Nao Takashina also spent some time assessment of scenarios and models “This IPBES assessment found to properly engage in real-world Investigators Kerrie Wilson, Jonathan Equator, Singapore seeks to become with Ryan Chisholm’s lab in NUS, of biodiversity and ecosystem that while scenarios and models decision-making and undertake Rhodes and Hugh Possingham. a ‘City in a Garden’. More than 50 from September to November 2016. services. Associate Professor Brendan are commonly used to inform and relevant analyses. years of greening has given rise to In May 2016, Roman Carrasco from Nao is a Post-Doctoral Fellow visiting Wintle, from CEED, was one of the support decisions at local scales, they While CEED has played a pivotal role a cityscape incorporating a network NUS visited with his two graduate CEED from the University of the coordinating lead authors on the are almost never used in any kind in this landmark report, the Centre of nature reserves and nature parks students, William Symes and Zhang Ryukyus (Japan). scenarios and modelling assessment, of structured way in big decisions has also contributed to many other nestled within a matrix of verdant Yuchen. Roman is collaborating having joint responsibility for at national scales and above,” says Yong Ding Li, a PhD student with aspects of IPBES including providing streetscapes, urban parks and on a new project with CEED on putting together chapter two: ‘Using Associate Professor Wintle. David Lindenmayer at CEED’s valuable input into its assessment park connectors. The challenge of expanding conservation objectives to scenarios and models to inform ANU node, coordinated the Arctic processes. Several of our researchers developing and sustaining such an incorporate development objectives. decision-making in policy design “There is a lot of scientific Migratory Birds Initiative-East Asian- have also been authors on IPBES ecosystem in a land-scarce city- and implementation’, one of the literature on using modelling Kerrie Wilson also delivered talks on Australasian Flyway Workshop in reports and two of our early career state is enormous and requires overarching chapters in the report. and scenarios in decision-making systematic conservation planning Singapore in January 2017. researchers were selected as IPBES scientific inputs from a wide range The chapter provides an overview of processes, but this work does Young Fellows. The event was attended by a policy and decision-making contexts not seem to have made its way contingent of three graduate in which modelling and scenarios into real world applications at students from CEED: Stephanie can be used. It sets the scene for national to global scales.” Avery-Gomm, Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao subsequent chapters to identify the and Micha Jackson. scenarios and models needed in these The assessment identified barriers to different contexts. the use of decision support tools in NUS is ranked consistently among environmental policy agenda setting, the top universities in the world. design and implementation. These Its interactions with CEED will help range from a lack of appreciation deepen its research capacity and among decision-makers about the impact, as well as develop enduring potential benefits of using models collaborations with Australia. It’s and scenarios, to a lack of willingness a relationship benefitting both on the part of some modellers countries, which can only grow in the years ahead. CEED Director Kerrie Wilson sharing on conservation decision-making in social-ecological systems at NUS’ Biology Colloquium. (Photo: Chong Kwek Yan)

44 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 45 Stakeholder Engagement

Marxan helps Brazil plan deep-sea protected areas around oil fields Our People — Our Legacy

Since its inception, CEED has played a strong supporting role in developing, The Centre supports 58 Post-Doctoral Researchers, 80 PhD scholars, 10 Masters and promoting and extending the impact 8 Honours students working on a diverse range of projects. of the Marxan, the world’s most widely used conservation-planning software. In 2016, Marxan once again Women in Science Leadership Expedition to Antarctica demonstrated its power and widespread utility by assisting in the design of a network of deep-sea Two scientists from CEED have taken marine reserves in the Campos Basin, part in the inaugural program of an important area for oil fields off the Homeward Bound, a pioneering Brazilian coastline. leadership, strategy and science initiative for women, set against the Gustavo Almada from Brazil’s Ministry backdrop of Antarctica. Homeward of Environment was tasked with Bound acknowledges the effects designing the network of deep-sea climate change and anthropogenic reserves. At the end of 2015 he alterations have on the Earth. The participated in a Marxan training initiative aims to heighten the course at Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul influence and impact of women with a Federal University being conducted science background in directing policy by CEED’s Morena Mills and Jennifer and decision-making as it shapes our McGowan. planet’s future. Launching in 2016, “The Campos Basin lies offshore of The Campos Basin off the Brazilian coastline showing the location of a proposed MPA network. Homeward Bound gathered the first south-eastern Brazil,” explains Almada. The plan was generated using Marxan. 76 of a targeted 1000 women from CEED researcher Dr Justine Shaw in preparation for her Homeward Bound expedition to the around the world, all with science Antarctic in December 2016. “It contains many of the most Using this extensive database, “The Marxan workshop was critical backgrounds. The women undertook a productive oil and gas fields of Brazil, Almada and colleagues developed to our research. It allowed me to year-long state-of-the-art program for The Antarctic trip involved an intense and how we can make a change. We accounting for more the 60% of a map of benthic habitats and then use the Marxan software properly, developing leadership and strategic schedule of leadership, strategy can’t wait to see what comes out of total annual production. Our aim used Marxan to provide options of to develop the input files with capabilities to enhance scientific execution and global change science. this voyage, the future collaborations was to propose a network of marine networks of MPAs that protected at confidence, to completely understand expertise. The program culminated in The expeditioners presented their and what it all means for science.” protected areas (MPAs) that would least 30% of the area of each habitat. the mechanics of Marxan’s underlying the largest-ever female expedition to own research in a symposium while The women set sail from Ushuaia, in offer protection to areas of high algorithm (and its limitations and Antarctica in December 2016. at sea in Antarctica. They were Argentina, for the 20-day expedition. natural value within current offshore “Our analysis provided options premises) and to appropriately encouraged to explore opportunities The science program was led by UQ fields, with minimal impact on existing that we believe are politically interpret the software’s outputs.” for collaborations and to show how production activities in order to feasible as they have little impact CEED researcher Dr Justine Shaw and And the result is a conservation plan their work could have greater impact provide a politically feasible outcome.” on the ongoing oil industries Dr Mary-Anne Lea from the Institute that all parties can work with. and reach. activities,” says Almada. of Marine & Antarctic Studies, UTAS. Over the last three decades, Brazil’s Another CEED researcher, Dr Nancy Dr Shaw said: “It’s incredibly exciting main oil company, Petrobras, has “But our results have wider potential Auerbach, was also on the expedition, when you look at the group of women been collecting a range of information because we believe our approach can selected from a field of over 270 (who went), the range of backgrounds about the Campos Basin comprising be applied to other deep sea provinces applications to participate. and experiences, their scientific biological, geophysical, geochemical, along the Brazilian margin and serve disciplines and career stages. This isn’t hydrochemical, oceanographic and as a model for other regions seeking simply a trip to Antarctica, it’s about socioeconomic data. to protect deep-sea biodiversity on bringing women scientists together and around deep-sea oil fields, mining and exploring leadership and strategy prospects or fishing areas.”

46 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 47 Our People — Our Legacy

Women in Science Leadership Expedition to Antarctica 2016 PhD Scholars Student University Country of Thesis Title Supervisors continued... Origin James Allan UQ Australia Cumulative threat mapping and James Watson, Hugh conservation planning Possingham Dr Justine Shaw Research Fellow Dr Justine Shaw, from CEED, was the Science Program Carla Archibald UQ Australia How to utilise privately protected areas in Jonathan Rhodes conservation planning to reach local and Coordinator and on-board science faculty for Homeward Bound. Justine’s international conservation targets research focus is the conservation of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems and invasive species establishment in these areas of low human- Stephanie Avery- UQ Australia Global spatial threats analysis and Hugh Possingham, Richard pressure. Justine is interested in understanding the way in which species interact Gomm conservation of marine migratory species Fuller with each other and their role in ecosystem function. Her research examines the Christopher Baker UM Australia Optimising invasive species management Michael Bode, Michael role of environmental factors in influencing species abundance, distribution and McCarthy, Steve Carnie occurrence. She is currently examining the risks posed by non-native species to the Antarctic protected areas and the role of climatic change in conservation Payal Bal UQ India Biodiversity indices for monitoring and Jonathan Rhodes, Eve planning for Antarctica. She is also quantifying human movements within managing ecosystems McDonald-Madden, Ayesha Tulloch Dr Justine Shaw Antarctica and investigating how sub-Antarctic island ecosystems respond to pest eradications to inform conservation decision-making. Justine has a Sana Bau UM New Zealand Reconciling value judgements and Michael McCarthy, Terry Walshe wide global research network, having worked in Australia, South Africa, sub- evidence-based decision making theory in Antarctic/Antarctic and the Arctic. She has been “going south” for 19 years and is conservation passionate about expedition science, having spent many hours in the snow, wind Richard Beggs ANU Australia Impact of noisy miner removal from small David Lindenmayer, Jennifer and rain with a pack on her back. She is subject editor for several journals and a fragment of native vegetation on presence Pierson, Ayesha Tulloch co-founder of the Women in Polar Science Network. Through her research, she and behaviour of small passerines hopes to further the conservation of these last true wilderness areas. Donna Belder ANU Australia Survival and persistence of woodland birds David Lindenmayer, Jennifer in restoration plantings Pierson, Ayesha Tulloch Dr Nancy Auerbach Laurence Berry ANU Australia The ecology of fire refugia in the Victorian David Lindenmayer, Sam Banks, Dr Nancy Auerbach earned a PhD for her CEED research into prioritising Central Highlands Don Driscoll management actions for the conservation of threatened flora and fauna. She is Louise Blackmore UWA Australia Collaborative conservation: getting Steven Schilizzi, Sayed Iftekhar, the senior project officer in database support for the NSW Office of Environment landholders to work together to achieve Marit Kragt, Kerrie Wilson, and Heritage Saving Our Species program and an Adjunct Fellow at the UQ biodiversity outcomes Abbie Rogers Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science. She is also the managing Sugeng Budiharta UQ Indonesia Systematic planning for the rehabilitation Kerrie Wilson, Hugh editor of eBird Australia. Her passion for the natural world had already led her of degraded tropical forests: Scenarios for Possingham, Peter Erskine, Erik to work in alpine, Arctic, rainforest and desert ecosystems and her connections optimum allocation of REDD+ in Indonesia Meijaard to the living world and interactions with the increasingly distressed biosphere have inspired her commitment to biodiversity conservation. She was compelled Abbey Camaclang UQ Canada Critical habitat definition and identification Hugh Possingham, Tara Martin, to participate in Homeward Bound to join other women scientists in creating for threatened and endangered species Martine Maron Dr Nancy Auerbach an alternative future and advocates a holistic stewardship of nature and the Hernan Caceres UQ Chile Prioritisation of management actions for Salit Kark, Eve McDonald- environment over economic growth. Escobar invasive mammals and threatened species Madden, Hugh Possingham in Southeastern Queensland Islands

Xyomara UQ Colombia Conservation planning of primates in Jonathan Rhodes, Thomas Carretero-Pinzón rapidly transformed landscapes Defler, Clive McAlpine

Colleen Corrigan UQ USA Biophysical and social measures of Marc Hockings, Catherine conservation effectiveness: Using the Robinson, Stephen Garnett, lens of Indigenous and local land and sea Hugh Possingham management in protected areas as an evidence base

Marie Dade UQ Australia Identifying and managing ecosystem service Jonathan Rhodes relationships in dynamic landscapes

48 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 49 Our People — Our Legacy

2016 PhD Scholars continued...

Student University Country of Thesis Title Supervisors Student University Country of Thesis Title Supervisors Origin Origin Brendan Dillon UQ Australia Share or spare? A quantitative framework Hugh Possingham, Margie David Johnson ANU Australia Restoring floristic diversity of the ground Phil Gibbons, Don Driscoll, Jane for optimising investment between Mayfield layer in modified ecosystems Catford restoration of human dominated landscapes and pristine ecosystems Kendall Jones UQ Australia Planning for the impacts of land uses on James Watson, Hugh coral reef fisheries under different climate Possingham John Evans ANU Australia The long-term and large-scale effects of Sam Banks, Don Driscoll, Katrina scenarios the establishment of an exotic plantation Davies on species of native forest beetles and Geoffrey Kay ANU Australia Conserving endangered ecosystems David Lindenmayer, Blanchard, butterflies through environmental stewardship Don Driscoll, Saul Cunningham UM Australia Conservation genetics of the growling grass Kirsten Parris, Geoff Heard Dini Fardila UM Indonesia Relating landscape metrics to ecological Michael McCarthy, Luke Kelly Claire Keely processes for spatial planning and frog in an urbanising landscape management of birds in fragmented habitat Alex Kusmanoff RMIT Australia How message framing influences Sarah Bekessy, Ascelin Gordon, environmental decisions Fiona Fidler Claire Foster ANU Australia Ecological impacts of highly abundant David Lindenmayer, Phil Barton, macropods Chloe Sato Juliana Lazzari ANU Australia The interaction of fire and fragmentation: Geoff Cary, David Lindenmayer, Can fire in fragmented landscapes cause Don Driscoll Hannah Fraser UM Australia Of woodlands and birds: how terminology Michael McCarthy effects our inferences regional declines of fire-specialist (reptile) species Rachel Friedman UQ USA A multi-level governance networks — Kerrie Wilson participating in social forestry in Indonesia Darren Le Roux ANU South Africa Maintaining and perpetuating resources Phil Gibbons, Adrian Manning, associated with mature trees for wildlife in David Lindenmayer Eduardo Gallo- UQ Columbia How effective is the international regime for Richard Fuller, Salit Kark modified landscapes Cajiao the conservation of migratory shorebirds in the East Asian Australasian flyway Hsien-Yung Lin UQ Taiwan Conserving migratory species under human Hugh Possingham, Richard impacts and climate change Fuller Veronica Gama UQ Brazil Are migratory birds more threatened than Hugh Possingham, Richard non-migrants? Fuller, Morena Mills, Simon Sophia Lopez- UQ Columbia Using ecosystem services for spatial Eve McDonald-Madden Blomberg Cubillos planning in tropical agricultural landscapes UQ Australia Priorities for the restoration and protection Hugh Possingham, James Katherine UM Australia Optimal fire management for biodiversity Michael McCarthy, Tracey Bonnie Mappin of habitat to conserve global terrestrial Watson, Carissa Klein Giljohann conservation in fire-prone landscapes Regan biodiversity Valerie Hagger UQ Australia The costs and success of ecological Kerrie Wilson, John Dwyer, restoration in Australia and the potential Jacqui England Maria Martinez- UQ Chile Conservation planning for ecosystem Kerrie Wilson, Brett Bryan, for achieving multiple outcomes for Harms services in the system of natural protected Jonathan Rhodes, Hugh biodiversity and carbon areas of Chile Possingham UQ New Zealand Applying the ecosystem services concept Hugh Possingham, Alec Mackay, Yi Han UQ China Modelling the effects of invasive species Eve McDonald-Madden, Yvonne Fleur Maseyk eradication on other interacting species in Buckley, Justine Shaw, Hugh to natural resource management and Yvonne Buckley, Marit Kragt an ecosystem context Possingham conservation decision making UQ Australia Ecological, social and economic factors for James Watson, Jonathan Nicole Hansen ANU Australia Movement of reptiles through fragmented David Lindenmayer, Damian Sean Maxwell agricultural landscapes Michael, Don Driscoll, Milton conservation decision making: what should Rhodes, Eve McDonald-Madden Lewis we learn about and when UQ USA Benchmarking reef health of spatial Hugh Possingham, Carissa Klein, Jeffrey Hanson UQ Australia Designing reserve networks that are Richard Fuller, Jonathan Rhodes Jennifer McGowan resistant to environmental change conversation Maria Beger UQ USA Modelling invasion success: Natural and Salit Kark, Jonathan Rhodes, Mat Hardy RMIT Australia The use of decision theoretic approaches to Sarah Bekessy, Ascelin Gordon, Matthew improve private land conservation James Fitzsimons McKinney human-related factors for spatial systematic Hugh Possingham planning and prioritization of actions to Brett Howland ANU Australia Managing kangaroo grazing in the David Lindenmayer, Adrian confront invasive species conservation of grassland and grassy Manning woodland fauna Courtney Morgans UQ Australia Conservation Strategy Evaluation Kerrie Wilson, Erik Meijaard and Kelly Fielding

50 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 51 Our People — Our Legacy

2016 PhD Scholars continued...

Student University Country of Thesis Title Supervisors Student University Country of Thesis Title Supervisors Origin Origin Will Morris UM Australia The value of information for vegetation Peter Vesk Nicole Shumway UQ Australia Human-predator conflict and conservation Martine Maron, James Watson management policy

Laura Mumaw RMIT Australia Biodiversity decision making and Sarah Bekessy, Cecily Maller Blake Simmons UQ USA Disentangling the political, cultural, and Kerrie Wilson, Clive McAlpine, stewardship in urban neighbourhoods socioeconomic dimensions of tree clearing Elizabeth Law and Raymundo to inform environmental policy Marcos Martinez Thayse Nery UWA Brazil Optimal land-use change to increase water Morteza Chalak, Ben White, quality, quantity and biodiversity outcomes Rohan Sandler, Maksym Ingrid Stirnemann ANU New Zealand Habitat heterogeneity: how it is generated David Lindenmayer, Wade Polyakov and drives spatial patterns in mammals and Blanchard, Phil Gibbons birds Katherina Ng ANU Australia Movement of ground arthropods in David Lindenmayer, Don fragmented agricultural landscapes Driscoll, Milton Lewis Freya Thomas UM Australia The generation and generalisation of plant Peter Vesk functional traits in fire-prone communities Christy Nguyen UWA Vietnam Factors influencing calculation of capacity Morteza Chalak. Atakelty Hailu, value of wind power: a case study of the Chubo Ma Nooshin Torabi RMIT Australia Understanding landholder participation in Sarah Bekessy and Kathryn Australian National Electricity Market biodiverse carbon plantings Hegarty

Junior Novera UQ Papua New Incorporating Biological and Cultural Salit Kark Vivitskaia Tulloch UQ Australia Managing threats to land and sea Hugh Possingham, Chris Brown, Guinea Diversity into Conservation Prioritisation: ecosystems to balance multiple objectives Carissa Klein, Eva Plaganyi the Mammals of Bougainville, East Melanesia Biodiversity Hotspot as a case Els Van Burm UM Belgium Optimal monitoring for environmental Michael McCarthy, Gurutzeta study management Guillera-Arroita, Brendan Wintle UQ Costa Rica Marine conservation prioritization in a Salit Kark, Noam Levin and Estibaliz Palma UM Spain Plant invasion ecology: seeking for Jane Catford, Peter Vesk Ruben Venegas generalisation through species traits rapidly changing world Hugh Possingham ANU Chile Biodiversity conservation in urbanising David Lindenmayer, Don Michaela Plein UM Germany Assessing and managing interacting species Peter Vesk, Melinda Moir, Nelida Villasenor at risk of co-extinction Michael Bode, Michael forested landscapes Driscoll, Phil Gibbons McCarthy Casey Visintin UM USA Wildlife collisions with linear infrastructure: Michael McCarthy, Rodney van Modelling, management and mitigation der Ree (ARCUE) Tal Polak UQ Israel Using fine and coarse conservation targets Hugh Possingham to maximize cost-effectiveness of road Matt West UM Australia Evaluating the response to frogs to multiple Michael McCarthy mitigation and protected areas threats ANU Australia Exploring methods for improving David Lindenmayer, Don Stephanie Pulsford David Wilkinson UM Australia Evaluation of, and Extensions to, the Joint Michael McCarthy, Reid Tingley; connectivity of terrestrial native fauna in Driscoll, Alessio Mortelliti Species Distribution Modeling Framework Gurutzeta Guillera-Arroita; Nick South East Australian grazing landscapes Golding UWA Australia Mitigating mining’s enigmatic ecological Richard Hobbs, Hugh Keren Raiter Steve Wilson UQ Australia Factors affecting the conservation of the Salit Kark, Duan Biggs and Anne impacts in Australia’s Great Western Possingham, Suzanne Prober, critically endangered Javan Rhinoceros Goldizen Woodlands Leonie Valentine Michael Wysong UWA USA Understanding the mechanisms between Richard Hobbs, Leonie Andrew Rogers UQ USA Avian community response to invasion by Salit Kark, Berndt Van Rensburg feral cat and wild dog interactions in the Valentine, Neil Burrows, Euan non native species arid rangelands of Western Australia Ritchie UQ Spain Evaluating interventions to manage James Watson, Morena Mills Cristina Romero Hui Xiao UQ China Conservation based on ecosystem Eve McDonald Madden De Diego conservation conflicts complexity using network theory UQ Australia Managing natural capital assets and Jonathan Rhodes, Hugh Rebecca Runting Ding Li Yong ANU Singapore Cross-taxonomic surrogates of biodiversity David Lindenmayer, Phil Barton, ecosystem services under global change Possingham in a woodland setting in Australia Saul Cunningham UM Australia Birds in the sky, fish in the sea, money in Michael McCarthy, Emily Gerard Ryan Johanna UWA Germany Interactions of diving tourism and fisheries David Pannell, Mark Meekan, the bank: quantitative methods for more Nicholson Zimmerhackel in marine protected areas: market values Marit Kragt, Abbie Rogers effective conservation and new approaches to deter illegal fishing in the Maldives Shark Sanctuary Matthew Selinske RMIT USA Predicting human behaviour for better Sarah Bekessy environmental policy decision making

52 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 53 Communication and Outreach

Communication and Outreach

The Centre maintained its focus on the importance of effective communication during 2016 Table 2 Significant CEED media stories building on the communications strategy developed in late 2015. CEED researcher Topic Media Circulation Brendan Wintle (UM) Tightening of land clearing laws ABC News (syndicated) 251,701 Danielle Shanahan (ECR - UQ) How 30 minutes of outdoor activity can 126 articles in Radio & Print 305,147 Consultation with CEED staff The potential reach of our most The second year of our online version improve people’s health media revealed a desire to reach a wider significant stories are listed in Table 2. at http://decision-point.com.au/ gave Darren Southwell (ECR – UM) Creating a dry barrier to stop the spread of 40 articles, ABC News, 24 ABC 541,969 range of audiences; better coordinate Their significance lies not only in their download access to any story from the Cane toads TV Centre communication products; quality, measured by the circulation 98 editions produced over the years. David Lindenmayer (ANU) Various commentaries on approaches to 329 articles 1,906,592 and make more effective use of our and number of stories, but in the The June issue of Decision Point (#96) conservation practice and policy All media internal talent. Evaluation of our number of early career researchers focused on marine conservation in David Lindenmayer (ANU) “Devastating” long-term prognosis for ancient Various print, web, TV and radio 372,970 previous media strategy indicated who led these stories. celebration of the ‘decade of marine Gondwanan ecosystem after bushfires media that using online and social media conservation’ and coinciding with (ANU) Comment on Australia’s short sighted to cut WEB NATURE 840,703 sources were more effective than the Society for Conservation Biology David Lindenmayer environmental posts (at CSIRO) standard media releases. Decision Point Magazine Oceania Brisbane 2016 conference. In 2016 five English and one Spanish David Pannell (UWA) Benefits of planting trees in rural areas The Saturday Age newspaper 241,029 The August issue (#97) introduced a issues of Decision Point were Duan Biggs (ECR – UQ) Discussion regarding building private tourism Radio National 170,000 new design to freshen the brand and Media Coverage produced and made available to its facilities within National Parks around the coincided with the release of a second CEED’s media coverage included readership of over 6000 subscribers. world issue of a Spanish version (en Espanol) an emphasis on telling our stories Hugh Possingham (UQ) Various 419 articles various news media 1,903,675 The quality of stories and diversity of . with 69 news items posted, often Decision Point of topics covered aims to connect Hugh Possingham (UQ) Discusses the value of local urban areas, Brisbane News (magazine) 239,502 repurposed from media releases. The most popular 2016 stories conservation policymakers, like Sherwood Arboretum, for preserving Across print, TV, radio and web based included: biodiversity and encouraging citizen science researchers and practitioners. media 1,260 stories were published. Feb-16 Beyond threat maps Hugh Possingham (UQ) Discussing the best way to save endangered ABC Radio Sydney 149,200 This translated into 1,623 total The magazine’s audience covers a animals in Australia stories being aired or printed through wide spectrum from universities and The permanency of Aug-16 Hugh Possingham (UQ) Native animals at risk of extinction could be Sun-Herald (Sydney) 196,060 syndication e.g. a radio interview research institutions, government conservation covenants leased to landowners being broadcast to smaller radio agencies, and the private sector. Apr-16 Restoring marine coastal (UQ) Concerns about clearing native vegetation if ABC Radio, Web WA Today, 431,899 stations; see Table 1. The quality of Hugh Possingham ecosystems new NSW legislation is successful Web Brisbane Times & Web media coverage was exceptional, Melbourne Age with a potential audience reach of Feb-16 What’s in a [species (UQ) Articles regarding Koala conservation and land 179 articles 1,552,534 8,035,872 people for all our common] name? Jonathan Rhodes clearing Various, print, web, TV and radio media stories. media Kerrie Wilson (UQ) Award of the Fenner Prize for Life Science Various print, web, and radio 124,497 Table 1 Media coverage (a Prime Ministers Prize for Science) media Sarah Bekessy (RMIT) Melbourne’s urban biodiversity and feral cats Various print and web media 133,724 Media Type Number outlets Magazines 11 Sean Maxwell Guns, Nets and Bulldozers: ¾ of the world’s Various web news outlets, Radio 88,273 (PhD Student – UQ) threatened species are imperilled from Adelaide (syndicated) Newspapers 52 agriculture, land conversion and over- Online News 1,189 harvesting Work to create a map which describes deep ABC Radio Melbourne 124,000 Radio 246 Skipton Woolley (PhD Student – UM) sea biodiversity around the globe TV 125 Decision Point Magazine.

54 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 55 Communication and Outreach

Online Communications The social media strategy during 2016 Reteets focused largely on Facebook and ies Twitter platforms, including a move to R clics management by in-house volunteers. Mentions Overall, the average reach increased 37% for Facebook and 210% for Twitter impressions — the number of Activity times the tweet is seen. Nuber of FolloersNuber An additional 650 new followers have been added on Twitter, for a total of 1655 at the end of 2016 (Figure 3). an e ar Ar a n l A e ct ov Dec an e ar Ar a n l A e ct ov Dec The actual number of impressions onth onth tripled (from 109,000 in 2015 to Figure 3 Twitter Follower Growth — 2016 338,291 in 2016), and engagement — clicks and retweets — more than doubled (from almost 2000 in 2015 to Reteets ies 5334 in 2016) (Figure 4). R clics Spikes in engagement occurred Mentions around the Society for Conservation Biology Oceania (SCBO) conference in July, the IUCN World Conservation Activity Congress in August, and the Ecological Nuber of FolloersNuber Society of Australia meeting in November, which was associated with elevated activity on Twitter an e ar Ar a n l A e ct ov Dec an e ar Ar a n l A e ct ov Dec and interactions with conference onth onth attendees (Table 3). Twitter is ideal Figure 4 Twitter Activity — 2016 for this type of outreach, because it is fast-moving and reactive. In 2016 the number of Facebook page Table 3 International Distribution of Twitter Followers and Audience followers increased 25% to 170. The number of posts shared has been Country Followers Audience Reached stable, at an average of 12 posts per (%) (%) month (with a total of 153 in 2016). Australia 50 33 Collectively, these posts generated USA 12 18 a significant amount of engagement UK 11 15 (>1,400 Likes) and shares. Posts with Canada 4 5 photos and links were most popular. The content predominantly involved New Zealand 3 3 announcement of new publications, Spain 2 2 illustrating the scientific impact ARC Germany 1 2 CEED has in the conservation sphere. Switzerland 1 1 India 1 1 South Africa 1 1 Other 14 19

56 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 57 Publications

Publications

In 2016 CEED again excelled in publishing our scientific findings in peer-reviewed, high ranking CEED 2016 Publications — 1 January–31 December 2016 scientific journals, empowering our Early Career Researchers and collaborating widely. Book Chapter 5 Barnes MD, ID Craigie, LB Harrison, 13 Bode M, DH Williamson, R Weeks, GP J Geldmann, B Collen, S Whitmee, A Jones, GR Almany, HB Harrison, JK Hopf, Polyakov M and DJ Pannell (2016) 1 Balmford, NG Burgess, T Brooks, M RL Pressey (2016) Planning Marine Accounting for private benefits in Hockings, S Woodle (2016) Wildlife Reserve Networks for Both Feature ecological restoration planning. In (Eds) population trends in protected areas Representation and Demographic In 2016 CEED researchers produced CEED has continued to demonstrate Ansell D, F Gibson and D Salt, Learning predicted by national socio-economic Persistence Using Connectivity Patterns. 161 publications comprised of 159 exemplary collaboration with 95% from Agri- Environment Schemes metrics and body size. Nature PLoS One 11(5) ~ IF: 3.057 journal articles and 2 book chapters. of publications involving cross- in Australia. ANU Press, Canberra, Communications7(12747) ~ IF: 11.329 CEED publications appeared in 75 institutional collaboration, and 57% Australia. 14 Bode M, JN Sanchirico, PR Armsworth 6 Beher J, HP Possingham, S Hoobin, (2016) Returns from matching different journals in 2016, across 20 involving international collaboration. Renwick A and N Schellhorn (2016) 2 C Dougall, C Klein (2016) Prioritising management resolution to ecological different research areas, as diverse Ch 9: A perspective on land sparing The strong development of our ECRs catchment management projects variation in a coral reef fishery. versus land sharing. In Ansell D, F as Ecology, Agriculture, Economics, to improve marine water quality. Proceedings of The Royal Society resulted in the number of publications Gibson, D Salt (Eds) Learning from Forestry, Plant Sciences and Remote Environmental Science & Policy 59:35- B-Biological Sciences 283(1826) ~ IF: involving an ECR increased from 39% Agri-Environment Schemes in Australia: Sensing, (ISI Web of Science 43 ~ IF: 2.972 4.823 in 2015 to 74% in 2016. Remarkably Investing in Biodiversity and Other Categories). 53% of publications involving an ECR Ecosystem Services on Farms ANU Press 7 Bennett JR and B Gilbert (2016) 15 Bodin O, G Robins, RRJ McAllister, The high publication quality is evident had them listed as the first author. Contrasting beta diversity among AM Guerrero, B Crona, M Tengo, M Journal Article regions: how do classical and Lubell (2016) Theorizing benefits with 30% of the 159 journal articles multivariate approaches compare? and constraints in collaborative Evidence of CEED’s research impact 1 Abram NK, DC MacMillan, P Xofis, M being published in journals with an environmental governance: a and quality reputation is apparent Ancrenaz, J Tzanopoulos, R Ong, B Global Ecology and Biogeography Impact Factor (IF) greater than five 25(3):368-377 ~ IF: 5.840 transdisciplinary social-ecological in the 443 Google Scholar citations Goossens, LP Koh, C Del Valle, L Peter, network approach for empirical (see Figure 5). These include 10 AC Morel, I Lackman, R Chung, H Kler, Beyer HL, E Gurarie, L Borger, M overall for 2016 papers accumulated 8 investigations.Ecology and Society 21(1) journal articles published in some L Ambu, W Baya, AT Knight (2016) Panzacchi, M Basille, I Herfindal, B by February 2017 with 38% ~ IF: 2.305 of the most prestigious journals Identifying Where REDD plus Financially having two or more citations. An Van Moorter, SR Lele, J Matthiopoulos including , , Out-Competes Oil Palm in Floodplain (2016) ‘You shall not pass!’: quantifying 16 Boettiger C, M Bode, JN Sanchirico, J Nature Science Nature extraordinary 10 publications (6%) Climate Change, TREE, and Ecology Landscapes Using a Fine-Scale barrier permeability and proximity LaRiviere, A Hastings, PR Armsworth had 10 or more citations, with one Approach. PLoS One 11(6) ~ IF: 3.057 Letters (all IF > 10). avoidance by animals. Journal of (2016) Optimal management of a journal article published in 2016 Animal Ecology 85(1):43-53 ~ IF: 4.827 stochastically varying population when 2 Adams-Hosking C, MF McBride, G Citations:12 policy adjustment is costly. already receiving 18 citations. Baxter, M Burgman, D de Villiers, R Ecological Applications26(3):808-817 ~ IF: 4.252 Kavanagh, I Lawler, D Lunney, A Melzer, 9 Beyer HL, Y Dujardin, ME Watts, HP P Menkhorst, R Molsher, BD Moore, D Possingham (2016) Solving conservation 17 Bohm M, R Williams, HR Bramhall, Phalen, JR Rhodes, C Todd, D Whisson, planning problems with integer linear KM McMillan, AD Davidson, A Garcia, CA McAlpine (2016) Use of expert programming. Ecological Modelling LM Bland, K Bielby, B Collen (2016) knowledge to elicit population trends 328:14-22 ~ IF: 2.275 Correlates of extinction risk in squamate for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). reptiles: the relative importance of Biggs D, F Amar, A Valdebenito, S Diversity and Distributions22(3):249- 10 biology, geography, threat and range Gelcich (2016) Potential Synergies 262 ~ IF: 4.566 size. Global Ecology and Biogeography between Nature-Based Tourism and 25 (4):391-405 ~ IF: 5.840 Citations:12 3 Arnold S, S Attinger, K Frank, P Baxter, Sustainable Use of Mari Resources: HP Possingham, A Hildebrandt (2016) Insights from Dive Tourism in Territorial 18 Boon PY and M Beger (2016) The Ipact factor Ecosystem Management Along User Rights for Fisheries in Chile. PLoS effect of contrasting threat mitigation Ephemeral Rivers: Trading Off Socio- One 11(3) ~ IF: 3.057 objectives on spatial conservation Ipact factor Economic Water Supply and Vegetation priorities.Marine Policy 68:23-29 ~ IF: ess tan Biggs D, MH Holden, AR Braczkowski, Conservation under Flood Regime 11 2.453 eteen HP Possingham (2016) Track the Uncertainty. River Research and eteen Applications32(3):219-233 ~ IF: 1.980 impact of Kenya’s ivory burn. Nature 19 Bowman DMJS, GJ Williamson, LD 534(7606):179-179 ~ IF: 38.138 Prior, BP Murphy (2016) The relative ver 4 Atkinson SC, SD Jupiter, VM Adams, importance of intrinsic and extrinsic Bland LM and M Bohm (2016) JC Ingram, S Narayan, CJ Klein, HP 12 factors in the decline of obligate Year Overcoming data deficiency in reptiles. Possingham (2016) Prioritising seeder forests. Global Ecology and Biological Conservation204:16-22 ~ IF: Mangrove Ecosystem Services Results Biogeography 25(10):1166-1172 ~ IF: 3.985 Figure 5 Impact factor categories for journal publications in Spatially Variable Management 5.840 Priorities.PLoS One 11(3) ~ IF: 3.057

58 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 59 Publications

CEED 2016 Publications continued...

20 Briscoe NJ, MR Kearney, CA Taylor, 28 Canessa S, SJ Converse, M West, N 36 Cordes EE, DOB Jones, TA Schlacher, 43 Di Marco M, L Santini, P Visconti, A 51 Giakoumi S, F Guilhaumon, S Kark, A 59 Harts AMF, NP Kristensen, H Kokko BA Wintle (2016) Unpacking the Clemann, G Gillespie, M McFadden, AK DJ Amon, AF Bernardino, S Brooke, R Mortelliti, L Boitani, C Rondinini (2016) Terlizzi, J Claudet, S Felline, C Cerrano, (2016) Predation can select for later mechanisms captured by a correlative Silla, KM Parris, MA McCarthy (2016) Carney, DM DeLeo, KM Dunlop, EG Using habitat suitability models to scale M Coll, R Danovaro, S Fraschetti, D and more synchronous arrival times in species distribution model to improve Planning for ex situ conservation in Escobar-Brione AR Gates, L Génio, J up population persistence targets. Koutsoubas, JB Ledoux, T Mazor, B migrating species.Oikos 125(10):1528- predictions of climate refugia.Global the face of uncertainty. Conservation Gobin, L Henry, S Herrera, S Hoyt, S HYSTRIX-Italian Journal of Mammology Merigot, F Micheli, S Katsanevakis 1538 ~ IF: 3.586 Change Biology 22(7):2425-2439 ~ IF: Biology 30(3):599-609 ~ IF: 4.267 Joye, S Kark, NC Mestre, A Metaxas, S 27(1) ~ IF: 4.333 (2016) Space invaders; biological Haslem A, SWJ Leonard, MJ Bruce, 8.444 Pfeifer, K Sink, A Kvassnes Sweetman, U invasions in marine conservation 60 Catalano AS and AT Knight (2016) Dodd AJ, MA McCarthy, N Ainsworth, F Christie, GJ Holland, LT Kelly, J 29 Felicitas, M Witte. (2016) Environmental 44 planning Diversity and Distributions Buckley YM and J Catford (2016) Does Does procrastination promote failure MA Burgman (2016) Identifying MacHunter, AF Bennett, MF Clarke, A 21 impacts of the deep-water oil and 22(12):1220-1231 ~ IF: 4.566 the biogeographic origin of species in conservation of extremely small hotspots of alien plant naturalisation in York (2016) Do multiple fires interact to gas industry: a review to guide matter? Ecological effects of native populations? A response to Meek. Australia: approaches and predictions. Gibson RK, RA Bradstock, T Penman, DA affect vegetation structure in temperate management strategies. Frontiers in 52 and non-native species and the use of Biodiversity and Conservation194:217- Biological Invasions 18(3):631-645 ~ IF: Keith, DA Driscoll (2016) Determinants eucalypt forests? Ecological Applications Environmental Science 4(58) origin to guide management. Journal 217 ~ IF: 2.258 2.855 of growth of the flammable grass, 26(8):2412-2421 ~ IF: 4.252 of Ecology 104(1):4-17 ~ IF: 6.180 37 Costelloe B, B Collen, EJ Milner-Gulland, Triodia scariosa: Consequences for fuel Catford JA, JB Baumgartner, PA Vesk, Dodd AJ, N Ainsworth, CE Hauser, MA Helmstedt KJ, JD Shaw, M Bode, A Citations:18 30 ID Craigie, L McRae, C Rondinini, E 45 dynamics under climate change in the 61 M White, YM Buckley, MA McCarthy McCarthy (2016) Prioritizing plant Terauds, K Springer, SA Robinson, Nicholson (2016) Global Biodiversity Mediterranean region of South Eastern Budiharta S, E Meijaard, JA Wells, NK (2016) Disentangling the four eradication targets by re-framing the HP Possingham (2016) Prioritizing 22 Indicators Reflect the Modeled Impacts Australia. Austral Ecology 41(6):594-603 Abram, KA Wilson (2016) Enhancing demographic dimensions of species project prioritization protocol (PPP) eradication actions on islands: it’s of Protected Area Policy Change. ~ IF: 1.598 feasibility: Incorporating a socio- invasiveness. Journal of Ecology for use in biosecurity applications. not all or nothing. Journal of Applied Conservation Letters9(1):14-20 ~ IF: ecological systems framework into 104(6):1745-1758 ~ IF: 6.180 19(3):859-873 ~ IF: Gonzalez-Orozco CE, LJ Pollock, AH 53(3):733-741 ~ IF: 5.196 7.126 Biological Invasions 53 Ecology restoration planning.Environmental 2.855 Thornhill, BD Mishler, N Knerr, S Laffan, 31 Cattarino L, CA McAlpine, JR Rhodes 62 Hobbs, RJ (2016) Degraded or just Science & Policy 64:83-92 ~ IF: 2.972 38 Coutts SR, R Salguero-Gomez, AM JT Miller, DF Rosauer, DP Faith, DA (2016) Spatial scale and movement Driscoll DA, M Bode, RA Bradstock, different? Perceptions and value Csergo, YM Buckley (2016) Extrapolating 46 Nipperess, H Kujala, S Linke, N Butt, C Bull JW, A Gordon, JEM Watson, M behaviour traits control the impacts DA Keith, TD Penman, OF Price (2016) judgements in restoration decisions. 23 demography with climate, proximity Kulheim, MD Crisp, B Gruber (2016) Maron (2016) Seeking convergence on of habitat fragmentation on individual Resolving future fire management 24 (2):153-158 ~ and phylogeny: approach with caution. Phylogenetic approaches reveal Restoration Ecology the key concepts in “no net loss’ policy. fitness.Journal of Animal Ecology conflicts using multicriteria decision IF: 1.891 Ecology Letters19(12):1429-1438 ~ IF: biodiversity threats under climate Journal of Applied Ecology 53(6):1686- 85(1):168-177 ~ IF: 4.827 making. Conservation Biology 10.772 change. Nature Climate Change Hock K, NH Wolff, R Beeden, J Hoey, SA 1693 ~ IF: 5.196 30(1):196-205 ~ IF: 4.267 63 32 Charter M, I Izhaki, Y Ben Mocha, S Kark 6(12):1110-1116 ~ IF: 17.184 Condie, KRN Anthony, HP Possingham, 39 Dann LM, S Rosales, J McKerral, JS 24 Butt N, HP Possingham, C De Los Rios, (2016) Nest-site competition between 47 Dumbrell NP, ME Kragt, FL Gibson PJ Mumby (2016) Controlling range Paterson, RJ Smith, TC Jeffries, RL 54 Griffith AB, R Salguero-Gomez, R Maggini, RA Fuller, SL Maxwell, JEM invasive and native cavity nesting birds (2016) What carbon farming activities expansion in habitat networks by Oliver, JG Mitchell (2016) Marine and C Merow, S McMahon (2016) Watson (2016) Challenges in assessing and its implication for conservation. are farmers likely to adopt? A best- adaptively targeting source populations. giant viruses as indicators of a marine Demography beyond the population. the vulnerability of species, to climate Journal of Environmental Management worst scaling survey. Land Use Policy Conservation Biology30(4):856-866 ~ microbial community in a riverine Journal of Ecology 104(2):271-280 ~ IF: change to inform conservation actions. 181:129-134 ~ IF: 3.131 54:29-37 ~ IF: 2.768 IF: 4.267 system. MicrobiologyOpen 5(6):1071- 6.180 Citations:14 Biological Conservation199:10-15 ~ IF: 33 Chauvenet ALM and M Barnes (2016) 1084 ~ IF: 2.148 48 Fraser IP, RJ Williams, BP Murphy, 64 Holden MH and SP Ellner (2016) Human 3.985 55 Guerrero AM and KA Wilson (2016) Expanding protected areas is not JS Camac, PA Vesk (2016) Fuels and judgment vs. quantitative models 40 Dawson SK, A Fisher, R Lucas, DK Using a social-ecological framework Callister KE, PA Griffioen, SC Avitabile, A enough. 353(6299):551-552 ~ landscape flammability in an Australian for the management of ecological 25 Science Hutchinson, P Berney, D Keith, JA to inform the implementation of Haslem, LT Kelly, SA Kenny, DG Nimmo, IF: 34.661 alpine environment Austral Ecology resources. Ecological Applications Catford, RT Kingsford (2016) Remote conservation plans.Conservation LM Farnsworth, RS Taylor, SJ Watson, 41(6):657-670 ~ IF: 1.598 26(5):1553-1565 ~ IF: 4.252 Chee YE, L Wilkinson, AE Nicholson, PF Sensing Measures Restoration Biology DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12832 ~ IF: AF Bennett, MF Clarke (2016) Historical 34 Quintana-Ascencio, JE Fauth, D Hall, Successes, but Canopy Heights Lag Fukuda Y, R Tingley, B Crase, G Webb, K 4.267 Holden MH, JP Nyrop, SP Ellner (2016) Maps from Modern Images: Using 49 65 KJ Ponzio, L Rumpff (2016) Modelling in Restoring Floodplain Vegetation. Saalfeld (2016) Long-term monitoring The economic benefit of time-varying Remote Sensing to Model and Map 56 Hamilton RJ, GR Almany, D Stevens, spatial and temporal changes with Remote Sensing 8(7) ~ IF: 3.036 reveals declines in an endemic predator surveillance effort for invasive species Century-Long Vegetation Change in a M Bode, J Pita, NA Peterson, JH Choat GIS and Spatial and Dynamic Bayesian following invasion by an exotic prey management. Journal of Applied Fire-Prone Region. PLoS One 11(3) ~ IF: 41 Dhanjal-Adams KL, K Mustin, HP (2016) Hyperstability masks declines in Networks. Environmental Modelling & species. Animal Conservation19(1):75- Ecology 53(3):712-721 ~ IF: 5.196 3.057 Possingham, RA Fuller (2016) bumphead parrotfish Bolbometopon( Software 82:108-120 ~ IF: 4.2 87 ~ IF: 2.788 Optimizing disturbance management muricatum) populations.Coral Reefs 66 Houghton M, PB McQuillan, DM 26 Canessa S, G Guillera-Arroita, JJ Lahoz- Clemens RS, DI Rogers, BD Hansen, for wildlife protection: the enforcement Funk JL, RJ Standish, WD Stock, F 35(3):751-763 ~ IF: 3.0 Bergstrom, L Frost, J van den Hoff, Monfort, DM Southwell, DP Armstrong, 35 50 K Gosbell, CDT Minton, P Straw, M allocation problem.Journal of Applied Valladares (2016) Plant functional traits J Shaw (2016) Pathways of alien I Chades, RC Lacy, SJ Converse (2016) 57 Hammill E, AIT Tulloch, HP Possingham, Bamford, EJ Woehler, DA Milton, MA Ecology 53(4):1215-1224 ~ IF: 5.196 of dominant native and invasive species invertebrate transfer to the Antarctic Adaptive management for improving N Strange, KA Wilson (2016) Factoring Weston, B Venables D Weller, C Hassell, in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. region. Polar Biology 39(1):23-33 ~ IF: species conservation across the captive- 42 Di Fonzo MMI, B Collen, ALM attitudes towards armed conflict risk B Rutherford, K Onton, A Herrod, CE Ecology 97(1):75-83 ~ IF: 4.733 1.711 wild spectrum. Biological Conservation Chauvenet, GM Mace (2016) Patterns of into selection protected areas for Studds, CY Choi, KL Dhanjal-Adams, 199:123-131 ~ IF: 3.985 mammalian population decline inform conservation.Nature Communications7 Iacona G, FD Price, PR Armsworth NJ Murray, GA Skilleter, RA Fuller 67 conservation action.Journal of Applied ~ IF: 11.329 (2016) Predicting the presence and 27 Canessa S, JG Ewen, M West, MA (2016) Continental-scale decreases in Ecology 53(4):1046-1054 ~ IF: 5.196 cover of management relevant invasive McCarthy, TV Walshe (2016) Stochastic shorebird populations in Australia.Emu 58 Hardy MJ, JA Fitzsimons, SA Bekessy, plant species on protected areas. Dominance to Account for Uncertainty 116(2):119-135 ~ IF: 1.035 Citations:11 A Gordon (2016) Exploring the and Risk in Conservation Decisions. permanence of conservation covenants. Journal of Environmental Management 166:537-543 ~ IF: 3.131 Conservation Letters9(4):260-266 ~ IF: Conservation Letter DOI:10.1111/ 7.126 conl.12243 ~ IF: 7.126

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68 Iacona GD, M Bode, PR Armsworth 76 Kark S, WJ Sutherland, U Shanas, K 84 Latawiec AE, R Crouzeilles, PHS 92 Lindenmayer DB, W Blanchard, C 99 McAlpine C, CP Catterall, R Mac Nally, 106 Moore CH, BT Radford, HP Possingham, (2016) Limitations of outsourcing on- Klass, H Achisar, T Dayan, Y Gavrieli, R Brancalion, RR Rodrigues, JB Sansevero, MacGregor, P Barton, SC Banks, M D Lindenmayer, JL Reid, KD Holl, AF AK Heyward, RR Stewart, ME Watts, the-ground biodiversity conservation. Justo-Hanani, Y Mandelik, N Orion, D JS dos Santos, M Mills, AG Nave, BB Crane, D Michael, S Okada, L Berry, D Bennett, RK Runting, K Wilson, RJ J Prescott, SJ Newman, ES Harvey, R Conservation Biology30(6):1245-1254 Pargament, M Portman, O Reisman- Strassburg (2016 Natural regeneration Florance, M Gill (201 Temporal trends Hobbs, L Seabrook S Cunningham, A Fisher, CW Bryce, RJ Lowe, O Berry, A ~ IF: 4.267 Berman, UN Safriel, G Schaffer, N and biodiversity: a global meta-analysis in mammal responses to fire reveals Moilanen, M Maron, L Shoo, I Lunt, P Espinosa-Gayosso, E Sporer, T Saunders Steiner, I Tauber, N Levin (2016) Priority and implications for spatial planning. the complex effects of fire regime Vesk, L Rumpff, T Martin, J Thomson, (2016) Improving spatial prioritisation Iftekhar MS, M Polyakov, D Ansell, F 69 Questions and Horizon Scanning for Biotropica 48(6):844-855 ~ IF: 1.944 attributes.Ecological Applications HP Possingham (2016) Integrating for remote marine regions: optimising Gibson, G Kay (2016) How economics Conservation: A Comparative Study. 26(2):557-573 ~ IF: 4.252 plant- and animal-based perspectives biodiversity conservation and can further the success of ecological Law EA, BA Bryan, E Meijaard, T PLoS One 11(1) ~ IF: 3.057 85 for more effective restoration of sustainable development trade-offs. restoration.Conservation Biology Mallawaarachchi, MJ. Struebig, ME Lunney D, M Predavec, I Miller, 93 biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and Scientific Reports6(32029) ~ IF: 4.791 DOI:10.1111/cobi.12778 ~ IF: 4.267 Kerr NZ, PWJ Baxter, R Salguero- Watts, KA Wilson (2016) Mixed policies I Shannon, M Fisher, C Moon, A 77 The Environment 14(1):37-45 ~ IF: 8.504 Gomez, GM Wardle, YM Buckley (2016) give more options in multifunctional Matthews, J Turbill, JR Rhodes (2016) 107 Moore TL, KX Ruthrof, MD Craig, LE Ikin K, A Tulloch, P Gibbons, D Ansell, Citations:10 70 Prioritizing management actions for tropical forest landscapes. Journal of Interpreting patterns of population Valentine, GESJ Hardy, PA Fleming J Seddon, D Lindenmayer (2016) invasive populations using cost, efficacy, Applied Ecology 54:51-60 ~ IF: 5.196 change in koalas from long-term 100 McClanahan TR and PS Rankin (2016) (2016) Living (and reproducing) on Evaluating complementary networks demography and expert opinion for datasets in Coffs Harbour on the north Geography of conservation spending, the edge: reproductive phenology is of restoration planting for landscape- Le Roux DS, K Ikin, DB Lindenmayer, 14 plant species world-wide. Journal 86 coast of New South Wales. Australian biodiversity, and culture. Conservation impacted by rainfall and canopy decline scale occurrence of temporally G Bistricer, AD Manning, P Gibbons of Applied Ecology 53(2):305-316 ~ IF: Mammalo 38(1):29-43 ~ IF: .872 Biology 30 (5):1089-1101 ~ IF: 4.267 in a Mediterranean eucalypt. Australian dynamic species. Conservation Biology (2016) Effects of entrance size, tree 5.196 Journal of Botany 64(2):129-141 ~ IF: 30(5):1027-1037 ~ IF: 4.267 size and landscape context on nest Ma CB, M Polyakov, R Pandit (2016) McClanahan TR, JM Maina, NAJ 94 101 1.586 78 Kordjazi Z, S Frusher, C Buxton, C box occupancy: Considerations for Capitalisation of residential solar Graham, KF Jones (2016) Modeling Reef 71 Iles DT, R Salguero-Gomez, PB Adler, DN Gardner, T Bird (2016) The Influence management and biodiversity offsets. photovoltaic systems in Western Fish Biomass, Recovery Potential, and 108 Morán-Ordóñez A, AL Whitehead, Koons (2016) Linking transient dynamics of Mark-Recapture Sampling Effort on Forest Ecology and Management Australia. Australian Journal of Management Priorities in the Western GW Luck, GD Cook, R Maggini, JA and life history to biological invasion Estimates of Rock Lobster Survival.PLoS 366:135-142 ~ IF: 2.826 Agricultural and Resource Economics Indian Ocean. PLoS One 11(5) ~ IF: Fitzsimons, BA Wintle (2016) Analysis of success. Journal of Ecology 104(2):399- One 11(3) ~ IF: 3.057 60(3):366-385 ~ IF: 1.302 3.057 Trade-Offs Between Biodiversity, Carbon 408 ~ IF: 6.180 Levin N, D Crandall, S Kark (2016) Scale 87 Farming and Agricultural Development 79 Kragt ME, DJ Pannell, A McVittie, matters: differences between local, 95 Mantyka-Pringle CS, TG Martin, DB 102 McDonald-Madden E, R Sabbadin, Ives CD and AH Kelly (2016) The in Northern Australia Reveals the 72 AW Stott, BV Ahmadi, P Wilson regional, and global analyses. Ecological Moffatt, J Udy, J Olley, N Saxton, F ET Game, PWJ Baxter, I Chades, HP coexistence of amenity and biodiversity Benefits of Strategic Planning. (2016) Improving interdisciplinary Applications(7):2359-2362 ~ IF: 4.252 Sheldon, SE Bunn, JR Rhodes (2016) Possingham (2016) Using food-web in urban landscapes. Landscape Conservation Letters10(1):94-104 ~ IF: collaboration in bio-economic modelling Prioritizing management actions for the theory to conserve ecosystems. Nature Research 41(5):495-509 IF: 1.012 Li XP, X Liu, F Kraus, R Tingley, YM Li 7.126 for agricultural systems. Agricultural 88 conservation of freshwater biodiversity Communications7 ~ IF: 11.329 (2016) Risk of biological invasions 73 Jones KR, JEM Watson, HP Possingham Systems 143:217-224 ~ IF: 2.867 under changing climate and land-cover. 109 Morgan JW, J Dwyer, JN Price, SM is concentrated in biodiversity 103 McGowan J, M Beger, RL Lewison, R and CJ Klein (2016) Incorporating Biological Conservation197:80-89 ~ IF: Prober, SA Power, J Firn, JL Moore, G 80 Kragt ME, FL Gibson, F Maseyk, KA hotspots. Frontiers in Ecology and The Harcourt, H Campbell, M Priest, RG climate change into spatial conservation 3.985 Wardle, EW Seabloom, ET Borer, JS Wilson (2016) Public willingness to pay Environment 14(8):411-417 ~ IF: 8.504 Dwyer, HY Lin, P Lentini, C Dudgeon, C prioritisation: A review.Biological Camac (2016) Species origin affects for carbon farming and its co-benefits. 96 Maron M, CD Ives, H Kujala, JW Bull, McMahon, M Watts, HP Possingham ConservationDOI: 10.1016/j. Lindenmayer D, M Crane, W Blanchard, the rate of response to inter-annual Ecological Economics 126:125-131 ~ IF: 89 FJF Maseyk, S Bekessy, A Gordon, (2016) Integrating research using biocon.2015.12.008 ~ IF: 3.985 S Okada, R Montague-Drake (2016) growing season precipitation and 3.227 JEM Watson, PE Lentini, P Gibbons, animal-borne telemetry with the needs Citations:11 Do nest boxes in restored woodlands nutrient addition in four Australian HP Possingham, RJ Hobbs, DA of conservation management.Journal 81 Kubasiewicz LM, N Bunnefeld, AIT promote the conservation of hollow- native grasslands.Journal of Vegetation Juffe-Bignoli D, TM Brooks, SHM Keith, BA Wintle, MC Evans (2016) of Applied Ecology doi:10.1111/1365- 74 Tulloch, CP Quine, KJ Park (2016) dependent fauna? Restoration Ecology Science 27(6):1164-1176 ~ IF: 3.151 Butchart, RB Jenkins, K Boe, M Taming a Wicked Problem: Resolving 2664.12755 ~ IF: 5.196 Diversionary feeding: an effective 24(2):244-251 ~ IF: 1.891 Hoffmann, A Angulo, S Bachman, M Controversies in Biodiversity Offsetting. 110 Mortelliti A, K Ikin, AIT Tulloch, R management strategy for conservation 104 Mills M, K Mutafoglu, VM Adams, Bohm, N Brummitt, KE Carpenter, PJ Lindenmayer DB, PW Lane, PS Barton, Bioscience 66(6):489-498 ~ IF: 4.294 Cunningham, J Stein, D Michael, DB conflict?Biodiversity and Conservation 90 C Archibald, J Bell, JX Leon (2016) Comer, N Cox, A Cuttelod, WRT Darwall, M Crane, K Ikin, D Michael, S Okada Citations:10 Lindenmayer (2016) Surviving with 25(1):1-22 ~ IF: 2.258 Perceived and projected flood risk M Di Marco et al (2016) Assessing (2016) Long-term bird colonization a resident despot: do revegetated 97 Martinez-Harms MJ, S Quijas, AM and adaptation in coastal Southeast the Cost of Global Biodiversity and Kusmanoff AM, MJ Hardy, F Fidler, and turnover in restored woodlands. patches act as refuges from the 82 Merenlender, P Balvanera (2016) Queensland, Australia. Climate Change Conservation Knowledge. G Maffey, C Raymond, MS Reed, effects of the noisy miner Manorina( PLoS One Biodiversity and Conservation Enhancing ecosystem services maps 136(3/4/2017):523-537 ~ IF: 3.344 11(8) ~ IF: 3.057 JA Fitzsimons, SA Bekessy (2016) 25(8):1587-1603 ~ IF: 2.258 melanocephala) in a highly fragmented combining field and environmental Framing the private land conservation 105 Moore AL and MA McCarthy (2016) landscape? Diversity and Distributions Kansky R, M Kidd, AT Knight (2016) Lindenmayer DB, SG Candy, CI data. Ecosystem Services 22:32-40 ~ IF: 75 conversation: Strategic framing of the 91 Optimizing ecological survey effort over 22(7):770-782 ~ IF: 4.566 A wildlife tolerance model and case MacGregor, SC Banks, M Westgate, 4.307 benefits of conservation participation space and time.Methods in Ecology and study for understanding human wildlife K Ikin, J Pierson, A Tulloch, P Barton 111 Needham J, C Merow, N Butt, Y could increase landholder engagement. 98 Mazor T, M Beger, J McGowan, HP Evolution7 (8):891-899 ~ IF: 6.344 conflicts.Biodiversity and Conservation (2016) Do temporal changes in Malhi, TR Marthews, M Morecroft, Environmental Science & Policy 61:124- Possingham, S Kark (2016) The value of 201:137-145 ~ IF: 2.258 vegetation structure additional to SM McMahon (2016) Forest 128 ~ IF: 2.972 migration information for conservation time since fire predict changes in bird community response to invasive prioritization of sea turtles in the Lahoz-Monfort JJ, G Guillera-Arroita, R occurrence? Ecological Applications pathogens: the case of ash dieback in 83 Mediterranean. Global Ecology and Tingley (2016) Statistical approaches 26(7):2267-2279 ~ IF: 4.252 a British woodland.Journal of Ecology Biogeography 25(5):540-552 ~ IF: 5.840 to account for false-positive errors in 104(2):315-330 ~ IF: 6.180 environmental D samples. Molecular Ecology Resources 16(3):673-685 ~ IF: 5.298 Citations:15

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112 Nelson HR, CD Kuempel, AH Altieri 121 Polyakov M, FL Gibson, DJ Pannell 130 Salguero-Gomez R, OR Jones, CR 138 Southwell D, R Tingley, Ml Bode, E 146 Tingley R, PJ Mahoney, AM Durso, AG 154 Watson JEM, DF Shanahan, M Di Marco, (2016) The resilience of reef (2016) Antipodean agricultural and Archer, C Bein, H de Buhr, C Farack, F Nicholson, BL Phillips (2016) Cost and Tallian, A Moran-Ordonez, KH Beard J Allan, WF Laurance, EW Sanderson, B invertebrate biodiversity to coral resource economics at 60: Trends in Gottschalk, A Hartmann, A Henning, G feasibility of a barrier to halt the spread (2016) Threatened and invasive reptiles Mackey, O Venter (2016) Catastrophic mortality. Ecosphere 7(7) ~ IF: 2.287 topics, authorship and collaboration. Hoppe, G Romer T Ruoff, V Sommer, of invasive cane toads in arid Australia: are not two sides of the same coin. Declines Wilderness Areas Undermine Australian Journal of Agricultural and J Wille, J Voigt, S Zeh, D Vieregg, YM incorporating expert knowledge into Global Ecology and Biogeography Global Environment Targets. Current Newey S, K Mustin, R Bryce, D Fielding, 113 Resource Economics 60(4):506-515 ~ Buckley, J Che-Castaldo, D Hodgson, model-based decision-making. Journal 25(9):1050-1060 ~ IF: 5.840 biology 26(21):2929-2934 ~ IF: 8.983 S Redpath, N Bunnefeld, B Daniel, RJ IF: 1.302 A Scheuerlein, H Caswell, JW Vaupel of Applied Ecology 54:216-224 ~ IF: Irvine (2016) Impact of Management Torabi N, B Cooke, SA Bekessy (2016) Wauchope JS, JD Shaw, Ø Varpe, EG (2016) COMADRE: a global data base of 5.196 147 155 on Avian Communities in the Scottish Rademaker M, E Meijaard, G Semiadi, S The Role of Social Networks and Trusted Lappo, D Boertmann, RB Lanctot, RA 122 animal demography. Journal of Animal Highlands. PLoS One 11(5) ~ IF: 3.057 Blokland, EW Neilson, EJ Rode-Margono Southwell DM, CE Hauser, MA McCarthy Peers in Promoting Biodiverse Carbon Fuller (2016) Rapid climate-driven Ecology 85(2):371-384 ~ IF: 4.827 139 (2016) First Ecological Study of the (2016) Learning about colonization Plantings.Australian Geographer loss of breeding habitat for Arctic 114 Norabi N, L Mata, A Gordon, G Garrard, Bawean War Pig (Sus blouchi), One of 131 Sato CE, JT Wood, JA Stein, M Crane, when managing metapopulations under 47(2):139-156 ~ IF: 1.193 migratory birds. Global Change Biology W Wescott, P Dettmann, S Bekessy the Rarest Pigs on Earth. PLoS One 11(4) S Okada, DR Michael, GM Kay, D an adaptive management framework. doi:10.1111/gcb.13404 ~ IF: 8.444 (2016) The money or the trees: What Tracewski L, SHM Butchart, M Di Marco, ~ IF: 3.057 Florance, J Seddon, P Gibbons, DB Ecological Applications26(1):279-294 ~ 148 drives landholder participation in GF Ficetola, C Rondinini, A Symes, H Wells JA, KA Wilson, NK Abram, M Lindenmayer (2016) Natural tree IF: 4.252 156 biodiverse carbon plantings? Read CF, J Elith and PA Vesk (2016) Wheatley, AE Beresford, GM Buchanan Nunn, DLA Gaveau, RK Runting, N Global 123 regeneration in agricultural landscapes: 7:1-11 Testing a model of biological soil crust Southwell DM, JR Rhodes, E McDonald- (2016) Toward quantification of the Tarniati, KL Mengersen, E Meijaard Ecology and Conservation The implications of intensification. 140 succession. Journal of Vegetation Madden, S Nicol, KJ Helmstedt, MA impact of 21st-century deforestation (2016) Rising floodwater mapping Pannell DJ and FL Gibson (2016) Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 115 Science 27(1):174-186 ~ IF: 3.151 McCarthy, MA (2016) Abiotic and on the extinction risk of terrestrial impacts and perceptions of flooding Environmental cost of using poor 230:98-104 ~ IF: 3.564 biotic interactions determine whether vertebrates. Conservation Biology in Indonesian Borneo. Environmental decision metrics to prioritize 124 Robinson CJ, AR Renwick, T May, E 132 Schoneveld-de Lange N, E Meijaard, A increased colonization is beneficial 30(5):1070-1079 ~ IF: 4.267 Research Letters11(6) ~ IF: 4.134 environmental projects. Gerrard, R Foley, M Battaglia, HP Conservation Lohr (2016) South to South Learning or detrimental to metapopulation Biology 30(2):382-391 ~ IF: 4.267 Possingham, D Griggs, D Walker (2016) Tulloch AIT, I Chades, Y Dujardin, MJ Wilson JW and D Biggs (2016) Passport in Great Ape Conservation.American management. Theoretical Population 149 157 Indigenous benefits and carbon offset Westgate, PW Lane, D Lindenmayer power: Entrenching inequality. Science Pascual M, EP Minana, E Giacomello Journal of Primatology 78(6):669-678 ~ Biology 109:44-53 ~ IF: 1.452 116 schemes: An Australian case study. (2016) Dynamic species co-occurrence 353(6305):1216-1216 ~ IF: 34.661 (2016) Integrating knowledge on IF: 2.103 Environmental Science & Policy 56:129- 141 Sozio G, F Iannarilli, I Melcore, M networks require dynamic biodiversity biodiversity and ecosystem services: 158 Wilson KA & EA Law (2016) Ethics 134 ~ IF: 2.972 133 Shanahan DF, L Franco, BB Lin, KJ Boschetti, D Fipaldini, M Luciani, D surrogates. Ecography 39(12):1185- Mind-mapping and Bayesian Network of Conservation Triage. Gaston, RA Fuller (2016) The Benefits Roviani, A Schiavano, A Mortelliti (2016) 1196 ~ IF: 5.355 Frontiers in modelling. 17:112- Romera AJ and GJ Doole (2016) DOI:10.3389/ Ecosystem Services 125 of Natural Environments for Physical Forest management affects individual Ecology and Evolution 122 ~ IF: 4.307 Integrated analysis of profitable Tulloch AIT, P Sutcliffe, I Naujokaitis- fevo.2016.00112 Activity.Sports Medicine 46(7):989-995 and population parameters of the hazel 150 stocking-rate decisions in pasture-based Lewis, R Tingley, L Brotons, KMPMB Pascual M, Rossetto, E Ojea, N ~ IF: 5.579 dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). Woolley SNC, DP Tittensor, PK Dunstan, 117 dairy systems. Grass and Forage Science Ferraz, HP Possingham, A Guisan, JR 159 Milchakova, S Giakoumi, S Kark, Mammalian Biology 81(1):96-103 ~ IF G Guillera-Arroita, JJ Lahoz-Monfort, 71(1):90-101 ~ IF: 1.617 134 Shanahan DF, R Bush, KH Gaston, Rhodes (2016) Conservation planners D Korolesova, P Melia (2016) 1.595 BA Wintle, B Worm, TD O’Hara (2016) BB Lin, J Dean, E Barber, RA Fuller tend to ignore improved accuracy of Socioeconomic impacts of marine 126 Runge CA, AIT Tulloch, HP Possingham, Deep-sea diversity patterns are (2016) Health Benefits from Nature 142 Stigner MG, HL Beyer, CJ Klein, RA Fuller modelled species distributions to focus protected areas in the Mediterranean VJD Tulloch, RA Fuller (2016) shaped by energy availability. Nature Experiences Depend on Dose. Scientific (2016) Reconciling recreational use on multiple threats and ecological and Black Seas. Ocean & Coastal Incorporating dynamic distributions 533(7603):393-410 ~ IF: 38.138 Reports 6 ~ IF: 4.791 Citations:12 and conservation values in a coastal processes. Biological Conservation Management 133:1-10 ~ IF: 1.696 into spatial prioritization.Diversity and protected area. Journal of Applied 199:157-171 ~ IF: 3.985 Distributions22(3):332-343 ~ IF: 4.566 135 Shoo LP, CP Catterall, S Nicol, R 118 Phelps J, D Biggs, EL Webb (2016) Tools Ecology 53(4):1206-1214 ~ IF: 5.196 Christian, J Rhodes, P Atkinson, D Butler, 151 Tulloch VJD, CF Brown, HP Possingham, and terms for understanding illegal 127 Runge MC, JC Stroeve, AP Barrett, E R Zhu, KA Wilson (2016) Navigating 143 Tamme R, A Gazol, JN Price, I Hiiesalu, SD Jupiter, JM Maina, C Klein (2016) wildlife trade. McDonald-Madden (2016) Detecting Frontiers In Ecology and Complex Decision in Restoration M Partel (2016) Co-occurring grassland Improving conservation outcomes for The Environment 14(9):479-489 ~ IF: failure of climate predictions.Nature Investment. Conservation Letters species vary in their responses to coral reefs affected by future oil palm 8.504 Climate Change 6 (9):861-866 ~ IF: DOI:10.1111/conl.12327 ~ IF: 7.126 fine-scale soil heterogeneity.Journal of development in Papua New Guinea. 17.184 119 Phillips BL, R Shine, R Tingley (2016) The Vegetation Science 27(5):1012-1022 ~ Biological Conservation203:43-54 ~ IF: 136 Smart AS, AR Weeks, AR van Rooyen, genetic backburn: using rapid evolution Runting RK, BA Bryan, LE Dee, FJF IF: 3.151 3.985 128 A Moore, MA McCarthy, R Tingley to halt invasions. Proceedings of The Maseyk, L Mandle, P Hamel, KA Wilson, (2016) Assessing the cost-efficiency of 144 Tapsuwan S and M Polyakov (2016) 152 Venter O, EW Sanderson, A Magrach, Royal Society B-Biological Sciences K Yetka, HPP Possingham, JR Rhodes environmental DN sampling. Methods in Correctly Specifying Environmental JR Allan, J Beher, KH Jones, HP 283(1825) ~ IF: 4.823 (2017) Incorporating climate change Ecology and Evolution7(11):1291-1298 Assets in Spatial Hedonic Pricing Possingham, WF Laurance, P Wood, BM into ecosystem service assessments Plein M, M Bode, ML Moir, PA Vesk ~ IF: 6.344 Models. Society & Natural Resources Fekete, MA Levy, JEM Watson (2016) 120 and decisions: a review. Global Change (2016) Translocation strategies for 29(2):233-249 ~ IF: 1.758 Data Descriptor: Global terrestrial Biology 23(1):28-41 ~ IF 8.444 137 Smith AL, W Blanchard, DP Blair, L multiple species depend on interspecific Human Footprint maps for 1993 and McBurney, SC Banks, DA Driscoll, DB 145 Thamo T and DJ Pannell (2016) interaction type. Rytwinski T, K Soanes, JAG Jaeger, L 2009. Scientific Data 3(160067) ~ IF: 0 Ecological Applications 129 Lindenmayer (2016) The dynamic Challenges in developing effective 26(4):1186-1197 ~ IF: 4.252 Fahrig, CS Findlay, J Houlahan, R van regeneration niche of a forest following policy for soil carbon sequestration: 153 Visintin C, R van der Ree, MA McCarthy der Ree, EA van der Grift (2016) How a rare disturbance event. Diversity and perspectives on additionality leakage, (2016) A simple framework for a Effective Is Road Mitigation at Reducing Distributions22(4):457-467 ~ IF: 4.566 and permanence. Climate Policy complex problem? Predicting wildlife- Road-Kill? A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One 16(8):973-992 ~ IF: 1.980 vehicle collisions. Ecology and Evolution 11(11) ~ IF: 3.057 6(17):6409-6421 ~ IF: 2.537

64 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 65 Governance and Management

Governance and Management Centre Advisory Board Ex Officio Members Our Partnerships A Centre Advisory Board oversees Professor Hugh Possingham The collaborative partnerships the work of CEED. It comprises (Director), University of Queensland within CEED ensure the research is The Centre’s governance structure reflects the emphasis on strategy, research, and members drawn from the across of a consistently high quality and the research, industry, policy and Professor Michael McCarthy pushes the frontiers of environmental communication and outreach in planning and implementing the work programs. (Deputy Director), University of Figure 6 illustrates the governance and operating structure of the Centre. philanthropic sectors. decision science. The partners are Melbourne core to CEED’s operating structure The Board provides strategic advice and include: to the Centre’s executive leadership International Scientific team with a particular focus on Collaborating organisations governance, communication, impact, Advisory Panel outreach and research management. The function of the International The University of Queensland (UQ) Centre Advisory Board The Board held its annual meeting Scientific Advisory Panel (ISAP) The University of Melbourne (UM) in April 2016 in Brisbane, with is to ensure CEED remains at the The Australian National University International Scientific discussions focusing on progress forefront of international research (ANU) Advisory Panel against the strategic plan, in environmental decision science. implementation of early and mid- The ISAP is particularly important RMIT University (RMIT) Centre Director career researcher development in helping the Centre to enhance Professor Hugh Possingham Management and The University of Western Australia Communications Team activities, increasing CEED’s external its international linkages and show international leadership in its (UWA) ff Chief Operations Officer engagement and outreach efforts, and increasing the impact of our research. discipline. The ISAP has five members, ff Node Managers all of whom are world leaders in pure Partner organisations Centre Executive ff Office administrative staff Members: and applied ecological research. ff Deputy Director ff Communication staff CSIRO Professor Michael McCarthy Professor Stephen Walker (Chair), Members: Trinity College Dublin (TCD) ff Node Leaders University of Queensland ff Theme Leaders Professor Antoine Guisan, University Imperial College London (ICL) Professor Andrew Cockburn (FAA), ff Chief Investigators of Lausanne Australian National University Hebrew University of Jerusalem, ff Chief Operations Officer Professor Peter Kareiva (FNAS), Chief Israel (HUJI) Professor Alistar Robertson, Scientist and Director of Science, The US Geological Survey (USGS) University of Western Australia (ret) Nature Conservancy Professor Charlie Zammit, Professor Claire Kremen, University Commonwealth Department of the of California, Berkeley THEME A THEME B THEME C THEME D THEME E Environment (ret) Environmental Optimal Socio/Ecological Ecological Theory Quantitative Tools Professor Bill Murdoch (FNAS), Policy and Monitoring Analysis and and Processes and Approaches Dr Margaret Byrne, Western University of California, Santa Management Jonathan Rhodes Modelling for Peter Vesk Michael Bode Australian Department of Parks and Barbara Evaluation Environmental Wildlife Salit Kark Decision-making Professor Bill Sutherland, Sarah Bekessy Mr David Shelmerdine, Myer Miriam Rothschild Professor of Foundation Conservation Biology, Cambridge University Figure 6 CEED’s Governance Structure

66 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 67 Governance and Management

Centre Executive Centre Management and The Centre’s Executive guides our Communications Team operations and consists of the The Centre continues to deliver high- Theme Leaders, Node Directors, quality outputs and is supported by a Chief Investigators, and the Chief team of professional staff across the Operations Officer. The Director, five collaborating partner nodes: Chief Professor Hugh Possingham, and Operations Officer, Melanie King (UQ); Deputy Director, Professor Michael Node Managers — Dolla Boutros McCarthy, provide the overarching (UM), Claire Shepherd (ANU), Heather guidance and day-to-day leadership of Gordon, Caroline Mitchell / Tammie the Centre and its research. Harold (UWA); Administrative and The Executive meets monthly via support staff — Heather Christensen teleconferences or face-to-face at (UQ), Pauline Byron (UM), Tabitha events to discuss Centre management, Boyer (ANU), Jane Campbell (UQ), research, operations and policy. Barbara Whittaker (UQ), Michelle Baker (UQ) and Dominique Pomfret Executive members: (UQ); and Communication and Engagement staff — Gabrielle Prof Hugh Possingham (Director), UQ Sheehan (Currie Communications), Prof Michael McCarthy (Deputy Karen Gillow (UQ), David Salt (ANU). Director), UM The team plays an important role in Prof David Lindenmayer, ANU supporting the Centre’s core functions of research, research training and Prof David Pannell, UWA mentoring, events, communication Assoc Prof Jonathan Rhodes, UQ and outreach. Assoc Prof Kerrie Wilson, UQ Assoc Prof Sarah Bekessy, RMIT Assoc Prof Brendan Wintle, UM Dr Michael Bode, UM Prof Richard Hobbs, UWA Assoc Prof Salit Kark, UQ Dr Eve McDonald-Madden, UQ Dr Anthony Richardson, UQ Assoc Prof Peter Vesk, UM Ms Melanie King (Chief Operations Officer), UQ

68 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 69 Our People

Our People

Our Members Director Partner Investigators Dr Jose Lahoz-Monfort UM Ms Colleen Corrigan UQ Mr Andrew Rogers UQ Honours Students Prof Hugh Possingham Prof Yvonne Buckley TCD Dr Elizabeth Law UQ Ms Marie Dade UQ Ms Cristina Romero De Diego UQ Ms Sharna Bourke ANU-UQ (Jan – Nov) UQ Dr Iadine Chadès CSIRO Dr Pia Lentini UM Mr Brendan Dillon UQ Ms Rebecca Runting UQ Ms Helena Bowler UWA Prof Kerrie Wilson Assoc. Prof Noam Levin HUJI Dr Luis Mata UM Ms Megan Evans ANU Mr Gerard Ryan UM Ms Georgina Hockings UQ (Nov – Dec) UQ Dr Tara Martin CSIRO Dr Maina Mbui UQ Ms Dini Fardila UM Mr Matthew Selinske RMIT Ms Emma Lee UQ Deputy Director Prof E.J. Milner-Gulland ICL Dr Morena Mills UQ Ms Hannah Fraser UM Ms Nicole Shumway UQ Ms Carly Martin UQ Prof Mick McCarthy UM Dr James D. (Jim) Nichols USGS Dr Melinda Moir UWA Ms Rachel Friedman UQ Mr Blake Simmons UQ Ms Samantha Richardson UQ Dr Michael Runge USGS Dr Alana Moore UM Mr Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao UQ Mr Darren Southwell UM Ms Rachelle Todd UQ Executive Dr Ram Pandit UWA Ms Veronica Gama UQ Ms Madeline Stigner UQ Ms Brooke Williams UQ Prof David Lindenmayer ANU Post-Doctoral Fellows Dr Maksym Polyakov UWA Ms Katherine Giljohann UM Ms Ingrid Stirnemann ANU Prof Mick McCarthy UM Dr Vanessa Adams UQ Research Assistant Dr Tracey Regan UM Ms Valerie Hagger UQ Ms Freya Thomas UM Prof David Pannell UWA Dr Chris Baker UQ/UM Ms Jutta Beher UQ Dr Anna Renwick UQ Ms Yi Han UQ Mrs Nooshin Torabi RMIT Prof Hugh Possingham UQ Dr Maria Beger UQ Mr Joshua Volkman UQ Dr Abbie Rogers UWA Ms Nicole Hansen ANU Mr Arthur Tuda UQ Assoc. Prof Kerrie Wilson UQ Dr Hawthorne Beyer UQ Dr Tracy Rout UQ Mr Jeffrey Hanson UQ Ms Vivitskaia Tulloch UQ Operations Staff Assoc. Prof Brendan Wintle UM Dr Duan Biggs UQ Dr Libby Rumpff UM Mr Matthew Hardy RMIT Ms Els Van Burm UM Ms Dolla Boutros UM Ms Melanie King UQ Dr Lucie Bland UM Dr Rob Salguero-Gomez UQ Mr David Johnson ANU Mr Ruben Venegas Li UQ Ms Pauline Byron UM Dr Nathalie Butt UQ Theme Leaders Dr Truly Santika UQ Mr Kendall Jones UQ Ms Nelida Villasenor ANU Mrs Jane Campbell UQ Dr Jane Catford UM Assoc. Prof Salit Kark UQ Dr Danielle Shanahan UQ Mr Geoffrey Kay ANU Mr Casey Visintin UM Miss Heather Christensen UQ (Theme A) Dr Alienor Chauvenet UQ Dr Justine Shaw UQ Ms Claire Keely UM Mr Matthew West UM Ms Carol Fawcett UQ Assoc. Prof Jonathan Rhodes UQ Dr Shaun Coutts UQ Dr Luke Shoo UQ Mr Alex Kusmanoff RMIT Mr David Wilkinson UM Mrs Sarah Gillow UQ (Theme B) Dr Mike Craig UWA Dr Martin Stringer UQ Ms Juliana Lazzari ANU Mr Steve Wilson UQ Ms Heather Gordon UWA Assoc. Prof Sarah Bekessy RMIT Dr Katrina Davis UQ Mr Hsien-Yung Lin UQ Mr Skipton Woolley UM Ms Tammie Harold UWA (Theme C) Dr Reid Tingley UM Dr Martina Di Fonzo UQ Ms Sophia Lopez-Cubillos UQ Ms Melissa Wynn ANU Ms Caroline Mitchell UWA Assoc. Prof Peter Vesk UM Dr Ayesha Tulloch ANU Dr Moreno Di Marco UQ (Theme D) Dr Leonie Valentine UWA Ms Bonnie Mappin UQ Mr Michael Wysong UWA Ms Dominique Pomfret UQ Dr Claire Foster ANU Dr Michael Bode UM Dr Oscar Venter JCU Ms Maria Martinez-Harms UQ Ms Hui Xiao UQ Ms Claire Shepherd ANU Dr Fiona Gibson UWA (Theme E) Dr Jessie Wells UQ Ms Fleur Maseyk UQ Mr Ding Li Yong ANU Ms Barbara Whittaker UQ Dr Nicholas Golding UM Chief Investigators Dr Jian Yen UM Mr Sean Maxwell UQ Ms Johanna Zimmerhackel UWA Dr Ascelin Gordon RMIT Science Communications Assoc. Prof Sarah Bekessy RMIT Ms Jennifer McGowan UQ Dr Angela Guerrero Gonzalez UQ PhD Students Masters Students Ms Gabrielle Sheehan Currie Dr Michael Bode UM Mr Matthew McKinney UQ Communications Dr Gurutzeta Guillera-Arroita UM Mr James Allan UQ Mr David Blair ANU Prof Richard Hobbs UWA Ms Courtney Morgans UQ Mr David Salt ANU Dr Cindy Hauser UM Ms Carla Archibald UQ Ms Renae Boyd UWA Assoc. Prof Salit Kark UQ Mr Will Morris UM Ms Karen Gillow UQ Dr Geoff Heard UM Ms Stephanie Avery-Gomm UQ Ms Kate Cranney UM Prof David Lindenmayer ANU Ms Laura Mumaw RMIT Ms Michelle Baker UQ Dr Matt Holden UQ Ms Payal Bal UQ Mr Gunther de Vos UWA Prof Michael McCarthy UM Ms Wendy Neilan ANU Dr Gwen Iacona UQ Ms Sana Bau UM Dr Eve McDonald-Madden UQ Mr Thayse Nery UWA Mr Russell McKenna UQ Dr Sayed Iftekhar UWA Mr Richard Beggs ANU Prof David Pannell UWA Ms Katherina Ng ANU Ms Sonia Mennen UWA Dr Karen Ikin ANU Ms Donna Belder ANU Prof Hugh Possingham UQ Ms Christy Nguyen UWA Dr Luke Kelly UM Mr Laurence Berry ANU Ms Sachiko Okada ANU Assoc. Prof Jonathan Rhodes UQ Mr Junior Novera UQ Dr Carissa Klein UQ Ms Louise Blackmore UWA Ms Alina Pung UM Dr Anthony Richardson UQ Ms Estibaliz Palma UM Dr Marit Kragt UWA Ms Elle Bowd ANU Mr Thomas Stephens UM Assoc. Prof Peter Vesk UM Ms Michaela Plein UQ Dr Nadiah Kristensen UQ Mr Sugeng Budiharta UQ Assoc. Prof Kerrie Wilson UQ Ms Stephanie Pulsford ANU Ms Krishnani Vasundhara (Tanvi) UQ Dr Heini Kujala UM Mr Hernan Caceres Escobar UQ Assoc. Prof Brendan Wintle UM Ms Keren Raiter UWA

70 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 71 Our People

International Collaborators 1 AgResearch, New Zealand 26 Hungarian Natural History 48 Massey University, New Zealand 72 Sabah Wildlife Department, 97 University of Copenhagen, 128 University of Wisconsin- Museum, Hungary 2 City of Annapolis, MD 49 Max-Planck Institute for Indonesia Denmark Madison, USA Hutan — Kinabatangan Demographic Research, 3 Ben Gurion University of the 27 73 Santa Clara University, USA 98 University of Exter, UK 129 US Geological Survey, USA Negev, Israel Orangutan Conservation Germany Programme, Malaysia 74 Sapienza University of Rome, 99 University of Haifa-Oranim, 130 Utah State University, USA 50 Mediterranean Center for 4 BirdLife International, UK Italy Israel Wageningen University, 28 Imperial College London, UK Marine and Environmental 131 5 Cambridge University, UK Research, Spanish National 75 Smithsonian Institute, USA 100 University of Hamburg, Germany Netherlands 29 Indiana University, USA 6 Carleton University, Canada Research Council, Spain 76 South African Environmental 101 University of Hawaii, USA 132 Weizmann Institute of Science, 30 Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Observation Network, South Israel 7 Cary Institute of Ecosystem Indonesia 51 Michigan State University, USA 102 University of Helsinki, Finland Africa Wildlife Conservation Society, Studies, USA 52 Misgurnus Association, Romania 103 University of Illinois, USA 133 31 French Research Institute for 77 South African National USA 8 Center for Ecological Research Development, France 53 Missouri Botanical Garden, USA Biodiversity Institute, South 104 University of Kent, UK and Forestry Applications, Spain 134 World Agroforestry Centre, 32 Institute of Ecology and 54 Montpellier Supagro, France Africa 105 University of Kiel, Germany Indonesia 9 Center for International Forestry Biodiversity, Chile Stanford University, USA Research, Indonesia 55 National Autonomous University 78 106 University of Lausanne, 135 Wuhan University, China 33 International Long Term of Mexico, Mexico 79 Stellenbosch University, South Switzerland 10 Center for Large Landscape Ecological Research 136 World Wildlife Fund, Cambodia 56 National Center for Scientific Africa 107 University of Lisbon, Portugal Conservation, USA 137 World Wildlife Fund, Switzerland 34 International Union for Research, France 80 Stockholm University, Sweden 108 University of Maine, USA 11 Centre for Ecosystems, Society Conservation of Nature, 138 World Wildlife Fund, Vietnam and Biosecurity, Forest Research, 57 National Marine Park of 81 Taranaki Regional Council, New 109 University of Manchester, UK Switzerland Zakynthos, Ministry of 139 Zoological Society of London, UK Forestry Commission, UK Zealand University of Minnesota, USA 35 Israel Academy of Sciences and Environment and Energy, Greece 110 12 Colombian Primatological Humanities, Israel 82 Tel Aviv University, Israel University of Montpellier, France 58 National Park Service, USA 111 National Collaborators Association, Columbia 83 Tel Hai College, Israel 36 Israel Institute of Technology, National Socio-Environmental 112 University of Montreal, Canada 13 Colorado State University, USA 59 1 Aboriginal Carbon Fund, Australia Israel Synthesis Center, USA 84 The Biodiversity Consultancy University of New Hampshire, 113 2 Alcoa of Australia, Australia 14 Conservation International, USA Israel Ministry of Environmental Ltd, UK USA 37 60 National Wildlife Institute, Italy 15 Cornell University, USA Protection, Israel 85 The Nature Conservancy, USA 3 Allens Australia Pty Ltd, Australia Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 114 University of Northern British 61 4 Alluvium, Australia 16 Department of Conservation, 38 Israel Nature and Parks Leiden, Netherlands 86 UN Global Compact Cities Columbia, Canada New Zealand Government, New Authority, Israel Programme University of Nottingham, UK 5 Arthur Rylah Institute for 62 New Zealand Forest Research 115 Zealand 39 Israel Oceanographic and 87 UNEP World Conservation Environmental Research, Institute, New Zealand 116 University of Otago, New Australia 17 Durham University, UK Limnological Research, Israel Monitoring Centre, UK Zealand 63 Nice Sophia Antipolis University, Israel Society of Ecology and UNEP Great Apes Survival 6 ARUP Consulting, Australia 18 Earthwatch, Brazil 40 France 88 117 University of Oxford, UK Environmental Sciences, Israel Partnership, Kenya 19 EcoHealth Alliance, USA 7 Australian Antarctic Division, 64 PBL Netherlands Environmental 118 University of Paris-Sud, France Australia 41 Venezuelan Institute for Assessment Agency, Neherlands 89 United Nations University, Japan 20 Finnish Environment Institute, 119 University of Porto, Portugal Scientific Research, Venezuela University College of London, UK 8 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Finland 65 Pennsylvania State University, 90 42 Johns Hopkins University, USA 120 University of Salento, Italy Australia 21 Forest Sciences Center of USA 91 University of Alberta, Canada Land Development Authority, 121 University of Sao Paulo, Brazil 9 Australian Conservation Catalonia, Spain 43 66 People and Nature Consulting 92 University of Auckland, New Israel Government, Israel University of Stirling, UK Foundation, Australia 22 Fundacion Proyecto Titi, International, Indonesia Zealand 122 10 Australian Institute of Marine Columbia 44 Landcare Research, New Zealand University of British Columbia, 123 University of Tennessee, USA 67 Pontifical Catholic University of 93 Science, Australia 23 Georgia Institute of Technology, 45 Leibniz Institute of Agriculture Chile, Chile Canada 124 University of the Aegean, Development in Transition 11 Australian Labor Party, Australia USA 68 Princeton University, USA 94 University of California, USA Greece Economies, Germany 12 Australian Research Centre 24 Ghent University, Belgium University of Cape Town, South 125 University of the Witwatersrand, 69 Provita, Venezuela 95 for Urban Ecology, Victoria, 46 Living Landscape Alliance, UK Africa South Africa 25 Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 70 Radboud University, Netherlands Australia Israel 47 Marche Polytechnic University, 96 University of Chile 126 University of Turku, Finland Italy 71 Rutgers University, USA 13 Biosecurity, South Australia, 127 University of Washington, USA Australia

72 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 73 Our People

National Collaborators continued... International Visitors in 2016 14 Birdlife Australia, Australia 33 Department of Primary 56 Natural Decisions Pty Ltd, Dr Marc Ancrenaz Professor Rob Johnston Ms Monica Shandal (student) Industries, Parks, Water and Australia Hutan Kinabatangan Orang-utan Clark University, USA University of Alberta, Canada 15 Brisbane City Council, Environment, Tasmania, Conservation Programme, Malaysia Queensland, Australia 57 Norman Wettenhall Foundation, Professor Andrew Knight Dr Gopi Sundar Australia Australia Dr Rob Alkemade Imperial College London, UK SarusScape Program, International 16 Bush Heritage Australia, PBL Netherlands Environmental Crane Foundation, India 34 Department of the Environment Professor Charles Krebs Australia 58 Office of Environment and Assessment Agency, Netherlands and Energy, Australian Heritage, NSW, Australia University of British Columbia, Canada Professor John Terry 17 Central Tablelands Local Land Government, Australia University of Exeter, UK Mr Ryan Blanchard (PhD student) Dr Cornelia Krug Services, NSW, Australia 59 Parks Australia, Department of Stellenbosch University, South Africa 35 Earthwatch Institute, Australia the Environment and Energy, Paris-Sud University, France Ms Haiyan Tian (PhD student) 18 Charles Sturt University, Australia College of the Environment & Ecology, 36 Environment Division, Australian Government, Dr Tom Brooks Professor Uwe Latacz-Lohmann 19 City of Ballarat, Victoria, Environment and Planning Australia International Union for Conservation University of Kiel, Germany Xiamen University, China Australia Directorate, ACT Government, of Nature, Switzerland 60 Pew Charitable Trust, Australia Professor Paul Leadley Dr Simon Thorn 20 City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Associate Professor Orjan Bodin Paris-Sud University, France University of Würzburg, Germany 61 Queensland Herbarium, Stockholm Resilience Institute, Australia 37 Gary Goucher and Associates, Professor Katja Tielbörger Department of Science, Sweden Professor Jounghun Lee 21 City of Joondalup, Western Australia Information, Technology, Kyushu University, Japan University of Tübingen, Germany Australia, Australia Innovation and the Arts, Dr Daan Bos 38 Gondwana Link Ltd, Australia Dr Erin McCreless Ms Ellen Waddle (student) Queensland, Australia Altenburg & Wymenga, Netherlands University of Colorado, USA 22 City of Melbourne, Victoria, 39 Greenfleet Australia, Australia University of California, USA Australia 62 Queensland University of Professor Peter Boxall 40 Griffith University, Australia University of Alberta, Canada Dr Erik Meijaard 23 Committee for Economic Technology, Australia PT Habitat Hutan Alam Indonesia, 41 Growth Areas Authority, Development of Australia, 63 Stockland, Australia Mr Antoine Camus (student) Indonesia Australia Victoria, Australia AgroParisTech, France Sustainability Victoria, Australia Professor Jean Paul Metzger 42 Indigenous Architecture and 64 24 Common Cause Australia, Dr Stefeno Canessa The Institute of Biosciences, University Design Victoria, Australia 65 Sydney Coastal Councils Australia Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of Sao Paulo, Brazil Association, Australia 43 James Cook University, Australia of London, UK 25 Commonwealth Scientific and Dr David L Miller 66 Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Industrial Research Organisation, 44 Kids Teaching Kids, Australia Assistant Professor Román Carrasco Integrated Statistics, Woods Hole, Network, Australia National University of Singapore, Australia La Trobe University, Australia USA, and Centre for Research 45 Singapore Deakin University, Australia 67 Tiwi Land Council, Australia into Ecological and Environmental 26 46 Lake Cowal Conservation Dr Kwek Chong Modelling, University of St Andrews, Dennis Family Homes, Australia Centre, Lake Cowal Foundation, 68 Trust for Nature, Australia 27 NUS Overseas Postdoctoral Scotland, UK Australia University of Canberra, Australia 28 Department of Agriculture 69 Fellowship, National University of Dr Michael Perring and Food, Western Australia, Macquarie University, Australia University of Sydney, Australia 47 70 Singapore, Singapore Ghent University, Belgium Australia Melbourne Water, Victoria, 71 University of Tasmania, Australia 48 Dr Sarah Converse Dr Marc Rius Department of Defence, Australia 29 72 Urban Design Forum, Australia US Geological Society, USA National Oceanography Centre Australian Government, Melbourne Zoo, Victoria, 49 73 VicRoads, Victoria, Australia Professor Carsten Dormann Southampton, University of Australia Australia University of Freiburg, Germany Southampton, UK Department of Environment 74 Waterwatch, Australia 30 50 Mineral Policy Institute, Australia Ms Constance Fastre (student) Ms Leslie Roberson and Primary Industries, Victoria, 75 Wentworth Group of Concerned University or Antwerp, Netherlands Department of Biological Sciences, 51 Monash University, Australia Australia Scientists, Australia University of Cape Town Moreton Bay Council, Mr Sebastian Fiedler 31 Department of Environment, 52 76 Western Australian Museum, Queensland, Australia Free University of Berlin, Germany Dr Osamu Saito Land Water and Planning, Western Australia, Australia United Nations University Institute for Victoria, Australia 53 Murdoch University, Australia Professor Ben Halpern 77 World Wildlife Fund, Australia University of California, USA the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Department of Parks and Murray LLS, Australia Japan 32 54 78 Yarra City Council, Victoria, Wildlife, Western Australia, 55 National Climate Change Australia Australia Adaptation Research Facility, Australia

74 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 75 Performance Measures

Performance Measures

Key Result Area

Key Result Area Performance Measure Target 2016 Outcome 2016 Key Result Area Performance Measure Target 2016 Outcome 2016 Research Findings Number of research outputs: Organisational Support Annual cash contributions from Collaborating Organisations • Peer reviewed publications 80 161 • The University of Queensland 386,439 386,439 Quality of research outputs • The University of Melbourne 131,675 132.192 • 50% of papers with IF in top 25% of ecology journals 50% 84% • The University of Western Australia 203,184 203,184 Number of invited talks / papers / keynote lectures given at major • The Australian National University 56,109 55,458 international meetings: • RMIT University 56,630 56,630 • Plenary talks at international conferences 9 6 Annual in-kind contributions from Collaborating Organisations • Invitations to international workshops and conferences not 30 40 covered above • The University of Queensland 458,872 458,872 Research training and Number of attended professional training courses for staff and 20 15 • The University of Melbourne 189,333 232,217 professional education students • The University of Western Australia 203,627 281,264 Number of Centre attendees at all professional training courses 40 84 • The Australian National University 138,936 150,070 Number of new postgraduate students working on core Centre 10 11 • RMIT University 25,859 25,859 research and supervised by Centre staff (including PhD, Masters by Annual cash contributions from Partner Organisations 0 0 research and coursework) Annual in-kind contributions from Partner Organisations Number of new postdoctoral researchers recruited to the Centre 6 2 working on core Centre research • Hebrew University of Jerusalem 15,000 15,000 Number of new Honours students working on core Centre research 10 6 • CSIRO 26,857 26,857 and supervised by Centre staff • Imperial College 24,114 24,114 Number of postgraduate completions and completion times, by 11 18 • US Geological Survey 12,000 12,000 students working on core Centre research and supervised by Number of new organisations collaborating with, or involved in, the 1 >10 Centre staff: Centre • PhD: 3–4 years (13) National Benefit Contribution to the National Research Priorities and the National • Masters by research: 2 years (5) Innovation Priorities Number of Early Career Researchers (within five years of completing 15 20 • Briefings to government, business and interest groups 106 PhD) working on core Centre research • Cross-institutional publications 152 Number of students mentored 50 90 • Submissions to government on policy matters 5 Number of mentoring programs 1 1 Centre-specific End-user Links International, national Number of international visitors and visiting fellows: Performance • Internally produced Magazine, issues 10 6 and regional links and • For 10 days or more 10 14 Indicators networks • Separate media stories (releases) 10 1623 • For less than 10 days 20 34 • Media outputs, articles, radio 100 1259 Number of national and international workshops held / organised 2 3 by the Centre • Memberships of national and international boards and advisory 20 75 committees Number of visits to overseas laboratories and facilities ^ Technical issues due to website upgrades hindered Google analytics tracking of hits after September 2016 • For 10 days or more 15 13 • For less than 10 days 30 44 End-user links Number of government, industry and business community briefings 20 106 Number and nature of public awareness programs 10 TBC Number of website hits 50,000 52,650^ Number of public talks given by Centre staff 80 17

76 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 77 Performance Measures

Finances In-Kind Contributions Expenditure Statement of Operating Income and Expenditure for Year Ended 31 December 2016 In-kind support totalled $1,148,282 Expenditure for CEED totalled The Australian Research 2016 Council Centre of Excellence for from the administering and $2,910,874 in 2016. This was Income ($) Environmental Decisions formally collaborating organisations. The composed of salaries for personnel, ARC Centre Grant $1,986,040 commenced operations in 2011. The in-kind contributions are primarily equipment, travel, research Centre’s financial operations are for personnel (e.g. salaries and on- maintenance and consumables, Host Institutions cash support $833,901 conducted within the established costs), support for RHD students, scholarships, communication Total Income $2,819,943 procedures, controls and delegations administration and office costs, and administration. The highest of the relevant collaborators and and facilities. expenditure item was salaries for partner institutions and as set out by personnel at $2,374,355 (82%). Partner Contributions 2016 the Australian Research Council. Travel was also a priority for the The CEED is very grateful for the Centre with $185,768 (6%) expended Expenditure ($) In 2016, the ARC CEED received support of its partner organisations to ensure researchers undertook Salaries $2,374,355 $1,986,040 in income from the ARC. who contribute expertise towards fieldwork, visited other nodes, This statement provides an analysis the Centre’s research agenda, and presented at conferences and Equipment $35,933 of the income and expenditure of the assist in mentoring early career attended research workshops and Travel $185,768 Centre of Excellence. researchers. In 2016 the Centre’s made linkages and collaborations partner organisations contributed nationally and internationally. Research maintenance and consumables $31,770 Collaborating Organisation $77,971 in-kind towards CEED with Scholarships $121,348 Funding this primarily to support the partner Cash contributions to the Centre of investigator’s time. Centre Administration $43,656 Excellence from the administering and Communication and outreach $118,044 collaborating organisations totalled $833,903. This was composed of: Total Expenditure $2,910,874

Organisation Amount ($)

UQ 386, 439

UM 132,192

ANU 55,458

RMIT 56,630 alaries 2 ravel 6 UWA 203,184 colarsis Communication and outreach Centre Administration 2 Equipment 1 Research maintenance and consumables 1

Figure 7 Summary of CEED expenditure

78 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Annual Report 2016 79 Abbreviations

Abbreviations

AERA Australian Ecology Research HUJI The Hebrew University of NRM Natural Resource Award Jerusalem Management ANU The Australian National ICL Imperial College London NUS National University of University Singapore ICN Interdisciplinary Conservation ARC Australian Research Council Network RMIT RMIT University ARCUE Australian Research Centre for ISAP International Scientific TCD Trinity College Dublin Urban Ecology Advisory Panel TNC The Nature Conservancy BBN Bayesian Belief Network IPBES International Platform on UM The University of Melbourne Biodiversity and Ecosystem CBD Convention of Biological Services UQ The University of Queensland Diversity IUCN International Union for USGS US Geological Survey CEED Centre of Excellence for Conservation of Nature Environmental Decisions UWA The University of Western JCU James Cook University Australia CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation MPA Marine Protected Area WCS The Wildlife Conservation Society CUGE Centre for Urban Greenery NGO Non-governmental and Ecology organisation ECR Early Career Researcher NNL No-net-loss

80 Collaborating Organisations

Partner Organisations

ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions Room 532, Goddard Building 8 The University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia P (+61 7) 3365 6907 F (+61 7) 3365 1692 www.ceed.edu.au