Science for Healthy Country Science and Research Plan 2015-2025 Since 1991, Bush Heritage Australia has applied a practical and evidence-based approach to conserving Australia’s environment and unique plants and animals. Protecting Australia’s natural environment Bush Heritage Australia is a national leader in landscape-scale conservation. We are Cover: Mareeba Rock-wallaby. independent, evidence-based and committed to returning the bush to good health. Photo by Steve Parish The plight of many of Australia’s native plants and An integral part of our science program is working Left: Naree Station, NSW. Photo by animals has progressed to the point where they are now with our partners to build skills and conservation Katrina Blake fighting for survival. One in five of Australia’s capacity through planning, ecological surveys and surviving mammals and 16 percent of Australia’s birds research. This is a two-way process, with knowledge Above: Pebble Mound Mouse, Yourka Reserve, are now threatened with extinction. Currently, exchange and learning moving in both directions. Qld. Photo by Australia’s National Reserve System (the network of Together, we protect biodiversity on a much larger Annette Ruzicka protected areas, parks and reserves across the country) scale – creating healthier, more resilient ecosystems is not sufficient to protect our plants and animals from that benefit people as well as our native species. further harm. It is for this reason that a collaborative and landscape-scale approach is needed if we’re to succeed in responding to Australia’s extinction crisis We use evidence-based conservation before it is too late. management strategies to: Since 1991, Bush Heritage Australia has applied a • support hundreds of species of birds, practical and evidence-based approach to conserving reptiles, fish, amphibians and mammals, Australia’s environment and unique biodiversity. We thousands of plants, and innumerable carefully select, purchase and manage land of invertebrates, fungi and bacteria; outstanding conservation value and work in • protect dozens of threatened ecosystems partnership with others, including Traditional and more than 235 species listed as rare or Owners, pastoralists, and non-government and threatened under state or Commonwealth government organisations. Working with others law; and means we are able to have an even greater impact: • improve the condition and resilience of creating healthier, more resilient ecosystems for the landscapes by reducing threats such as benefit of people and our native species. weeds, feral animals and soil erosion, Science is vital to our conservation management. Our managing fire and other natural disturbance ecologists work hand-in-hand with land managers to regimes, and reconnecting and restoring plan and deliver effective conservation management habitat. for Australia’s species. We use science to inform, monitor and adapt our conservation strategies and actions, as well as to advance solutions to key conservation problems. 1 Above: Rainbow What does Bush Heritage Australia Bee-eater. Photo by contribute? Glen Norris The situation for our plants and animals: Top right: Misty We are providing secure habitat for at least 235 state morning on Yourka Australia is one of the world’s 17 and nationally listed threatened species across our Reserve, Qld. Photo by mega-diverse countries with an reserves and partnership properties. Annette Ruzicka estimated 7 percent of the world’s Right: Measuring a Combined, we help protect and manage over Planigale at Boolcoomatta species 6 million hectares of land for conservation. Station Reserve, SA. Photo by Annette Ruzicka One in five of Australia’s surviving Percentage of Australian species recorded on our Bottom right: Measuring mammals are now threatened with reserves and partnership properties so far: a leopardwood tree at extinction Naree Station, NSW. Photo by Craig Allen 24% of all Australian plant species Growth in area managed for conservation Area Land purchases Cumulative area protected 52% (hectares) Partnership agreements of Australia’s 7 000 000 land mammals 6 000 000 59% 5 000 000 of Australia’s bird species 4 000 000 3 000 000 28% 2 000 000 of Australia’s reptile species 1 000 000 32% 1 2 3 5 7 8 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 4 5 6 9 0 9 0 16 9 0 1 1 1 1 9 9 0 9 9 0 94 05 13 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 99 99 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 of all Australia’s 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Calendar years amphibian species. 2 Bush Heritage Australia Science Program Our science mission Bush Heritage and collaborators generate and apply scientific knowledge to manage threats to Australian landscapes. Innovation and best- practice land management ensure our landscapes thrive. Our Approach Bush Heritage uses science to: (i) inform decision making using existing knowledge; (ii) generate new knowledge through research and modelling; and (iii) design biological surveys and ecological monitoring. This Science Plan is our blueprint to increase capacity and collaboration across all three areas of our science program. Informing investment and management decisions Bush Heritage is a data driven organisation. We generate and apply scientific and traditional knowledge to inform investment and management decisions, which drive our strategies and actions. 3 Above: Dr Jim Radford Research at Boolcoomatta Reserve, SA. Photo by Research across a range of ecological and The Bush Heritage Science Peter Morris. environmental management disciplines is required Plan includes: Below: Biological survey to find solutions to conservation problems and at Naree Station, NSW. increase our foundational knowledge of landscapes, 54 research projects with partners Photo by Katrina Blake ecosystems and species. This plan includes strategies from 24 universities or other and actions to double Bush Heritage’s research organisations. capacity through partnership and collaboration with scientists and students from a wide range of Actions to double our science universities and other organisations. capacity by 2025 through collaborative research, science Survey and monitoring fellowships and citizen science. We will continue to use scientific principles to design and implement our biological survey, ecological Support for young scientists with monitoring and mapping programs. Baseline knowledge new post-graduate scholarships, of the species and communities present on our internships and placements. properties is essential if we are to manage them effectively. Monitoring is critical to the evaluation and Growth to support 120 collaborative review of our conservation management actions. As our research projects by 2025 aimed property portfolio grows, we will increasingly look to at halting biodiversity loss. citizen scientists and collaborative programs (e.g. Bush Blitz) to collect data and generate new knowledge. Communication and knowledge exchange is the final step in the process. Our findings will be shared with our partners, supporters, the scientific community and the general public. 4 Flagship research themes Bush Heritage will collaborate with national leaders in ecology and environmental management to increase our science capacity and address knowledge gaps. We are committed to supporting students and young scientists through scholarships and incentives. Traditional knowledge and ‘two-way learning’ will become an increasingly important part of our science program in our work with Aboriginal partners across the country. This 10-year Science Plan aims to build sustainable research partnerships in each state and territory and double the number of collaborative research projects we undertake by 2025. Our research will be focused on six flagship research themes, each pivotal to our work, and which address key biodiversity conservation issues in Australia. Above: Western Blue-tongue at Chingarrup partnership, WA. Photo by Annette Ruzicka Right: Horace Rocky, Umpila Elder, and Bush Heritage Chief Executive Gerard O’Neill on Cape York, Qld. Photo by Emma Ignjic Bottom right: Team of Umpila rangers, Bush Heritage staff and scientists at the Umpila rocky lake survey, Cape York. Photo by Emma Ignjic 5 Bush Heritage Australia’s reserve and partnership Arafura Swamp Darwin Cape York network and priority Warddeken Wunambal Arnhem Land Umpila Gaambera landscapes Olkola Kimberley Fan Palm Balkanu Bunuba Yourka Gulf Plains Research theme 1: Einasleigh Uplands Landscape connectivity Mitchell Grass Downs Mulligan Cravens Peak Edgbaston Western Australian Desert Ethabuka Pullen Goonderoo Reedy Creek Pullen Birriliburu Carnarvon Brigalow Hamelin Brisbane Bulloo Eurardy Currumbin Mid-west WA Rangelands SA Arid Rangelands Naree Valley Gunduwa Paroo Warrego Lesueur-Eneabba Arid Recovery South Charles Darwin Bon Bon Endeavour Northern Woodlands Planting native vegetation to reconnect the Fitz-Stirling Nantawarrina Trust region. Photo by Jessica Wyld Photography Perth Boolcoomatta Mawonga Yarraweyah South West WA Falls Canberra Gondwana Link Sydney Kojonup South East NSW Beringa Scottsdale ‘Nameless’ Sylvan Research theme 2: Adelaide Tarcutta Hills Burrin Burrin Yarrabee Chereninup Creek Habitat refugia Nardoo Hills Upper Murrumbidgee Monjebup, Chingarrup John Riverina Goldfields Brogo Demonstration Reach Monjebup North, Colahan Kosciuszko 2 Coast Red Moort Griffin Melbourne Research theme 3: Introduced species and over- South Esk Pine abundant native species Liffey Valley Friendly Beaches Tasmanian Midlands Tasmanian Hobart Midlandscapes Scottsdale Reserve Field Officer