Science for saving species ISSN 2652-1334 Summer 2021 Issue 18 Beyond offsetting: Target-based ecological compensation Solutions to biodiversity policy challenges Our big successes The economics of threatened species Producing science for policy Cat diseases: $6 billion impact Biodiversity in urban design Using eDNA to identify cryptic petrels Threatened plant trends in spotlight Rachel Morgain IMAGE: ANDREW CRAWFORD Magazine of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub Director’s editorial... Solutions to Australia’s most pressing biodiversity policy challenges IMAGE: NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE As we reach the final months of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub’s research program ABOVE: Brendan Wintle went to we’re starting to reflect on our legacy. Looking back, our six-year program was incredibly ambitious, Kangaroo Island following the island’s devastating 2019–20 delivering 147 research projects, but the need was great; Australia has over 1800 species and bushfires to work with stakeholders communities listed as threatened by a large, complex and interacting set of threats. on recovery planning. In Australia’s first ever national compilation the implementation of Australia’s most of threatened species monitoring data, our widespread policy mechanism for Threatened Species Index revealed that in compensating for the impacts of development just over 20 years (1995–2017) the population on biodiversity (see p4) and has even sizes of threatened Australian birds have presented an alternative called target declined by about one-third, mammals based ecological compensation (see p6). by about half and plants by almost Professor Sarah Bekessy and Dr Georgia three-quarters (72%) (see p18). Garrard’s (RMIT/UniMelb) work is embracing Preventing extinctions and halting and opportunities for biodiversity conservation reversing long-term declines at meaningful in cities and the benefits that this has for scales ultimately depends on effective policies residents by developing a framework to and strategies at all levels of government, and support local governments, urban planners by non-government organisations, Traditional and architects to implement biodiversity Owner land managers, and civil society. sensitive urban design (BSUD) (see p14). Each of our projects is providing valuable In addition to our research projects, I and new knowledge to support better decision- many of our senior scientists have also making for pressing challenges facing provided advice, evidence and support to threatened biodiversity. In some cases we important national strategies and reviews, have also moved to more direct contributions for example, Professor Samuel’s review of the IMAGE: PATRICK K59 CC BY 2.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS to policy development and outcomes. EPBC Act, Senate Inquiries into the Faunal ABOVE: Hub research found that the plains For example, Professor Martine Maron’s Extinction Crisis and the problem of feral wanderer is one of the native bird species at (UQ) work on biodiversity offsets is and domestic cats in Australia, and the first highest risk of extinction within 20 years providing important tools to improve and the new Threatened Species Strategy. unless there is new conservation effort. Inside the Summer 2021 issue of Science for Saving Species Director’s editorial: Solutions to Australia’s Cat-spread diseases: $6 billion impact ...................12 most pressing biodiversity policy challenges ..... 2 Biodiversity sensitive urban design ......................14 Beyond offsetting: Target-based eDNA: A successful technique for identifying ecological compensation ........................................... 6 cryptic species in a remote location .....................16 The economics of threatened species ................... 8 Threatened plant trends in the spotlight ............18 Producing science for policy ...................................10 Researcher profile: Rachel Morgain ......................20 2 Science for saving species #18 Our science and scientists have also been shaping action on cats through the Feral Cat Taskforce. Research on havens and the mammals most vulnerable to cats led by Professor Sarah Legge (UQ/ANU) has directly informed Australian Government strategies and investment decisions to support new havens (see p4). Immediately following the 2019–20 bushfires we worked closely with our government and non-government partners to offer our support. We made a significant contribution to support the recovery of threatened biodiversity impacted by the crisis through many regional, state and Commonwealth forums and the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Expert Panel. The large number of hub scientists asked to contribute to various Ministerial roundtables, including in response to the 2019–20 bushfires, is testament to the standing that our members IMAGE: NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE have in policy circles. The list of our direct policy contributions is long, and is one of ABOVE: Karajarri Rangers have led research on the impact of fire management on desert biodiversity. the key strengths of the hub. that estimated the likelihood of extinction actions, monitoring and research. Community Good policy is based on good evidence. within 20 years of the most imperilled birds, awareness of Australia’s threatened Robust monitoring is essential to know whether mammals, freshwater fish, reptiles, frogs and biodiversity and support for action is species are recovering, stable or declining; butterflies. Such estimates and listings of growing rapidly (see p4-5). whether management is working; and which the most imperilled species allow managers The work of our dedicated scientists and species are in greatest need of assistance. and the community time to act before species partners has captured public attention, Yet, a nationwide inventory completed by the are lost. Several of these species are not yet hub in 2017 found that around one-third of listed as threatened under Australian law and attracting over 6,000 media stories on hub Australia’s listed threatened species had not a few are not formally described; without research, with an estimated reach of over been the focus of any monitoring, and the this research some may have become 19 million people. monitoring of many others had been poor. extinct before they even received a name. We have made huge gains in the knowledge To address this, Professor David Lindenmayer Effective policies and plans for threatened needed to recover many threatened species (ANU) led an integrated program which has biodiversity also depend on a comprehensive and ecological communities. We have also substantially moved the state of knowledge understanding of the costs of conservation built an incredible network with policy and capacity in Australia for threatened action. However, lack of data on costs has makers, planners and on-ground partners species monitoring and management (see p5). previously led many recovery plans remaining to ensure that those findings are applied In many cases, decisions must be made uncosted, reducing their practical utility. and have the greatest possible impact. before robust empirical evidence can be New hub research led by Professor Stephen This hub has been a monumental collective compiled. In the absence of existing data Garnett, Dr Ram Pandit (UWA) and Professor effort and I have been humbled by the for many species and management actions, David Pannell (UWA) provides guidance we have used a range of structured expert for budgetary planning for recovery plans, incredible commitment of so many people elicitation processes to fill strategically including detailed indicative direct and working selflessly in the interests of Australia’s essential knowledge gaps by tapping into the related costs for a range of actions, and threatened species. While many more experience and knowledge of hundreds of their estimated benefits. challenges remain, we should pause to reflect the most relevant scientists and on-ground on the substantial contribution we have made Business as usual will see a continuation conservation managers across the country. to the preservation of Australia’s nature. of biodiversity declines. An engaged and Using these methods, Professors Stephen educated public will be essential to support Professor Brendan Wintle Garnett and John Woinarski led projects ongoing and expanded investment in recovery Director, Threatened Species Recovery Hub Dr Daniella Teixeira developed a new efficient acoustic technique to monitor black-cockatoo breeding, which is difficult and expensive to monitor with traditional methods. IMAGE: NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE 3 Magazine of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub Delivering science for saving species: A few of our big successes Better outcomes from biodiversity Professor Craig Franklin (UQ) used a Managing the impacts of cats offsets biohydrodynamics laboratory to fill critical IMAGE: NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT knowledge gaps about the swimming IMAGE: BUTUPA, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC2.0 ability and behaviour of key native fish species, and tested existing and novel designs for fishways. Their research now underpins the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Fisheries’ Road Crossing Design Guidelines that are currently being drafted, and will help reduce the impact of manmade barriers that limit native fish from accessing key habitat. The team delivered both the largest quantified dataset on native fish swimming ability and A feral cat in a conservation area. a practical and cost-effective new design Malleefowl. The hub’s large and integrated program