The Conversation

By spending $2 billion each year for about 30 years, we could restore much of Australia’s severely denuded landscapes. Bonnie Mappin, PhD Candidate, Conservation Science, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Lesley Hughes, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many valuable scientific breakthroughs were originally published in a non-English language. New research shows more effort is needed to transcend language barriers to improve conservation science. Tatsuya Amano, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Feral horses trample endangered plant communities, destroy threatened species’ habitat and damage Aboriginal cultural heritage — and their numbers are increasing. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Desley Whisson, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Maggie J. Watson, Lecturer in Ornithology, Ecology, Conservation and Parasitology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wild sandalwood populations in Australia have been slowly collapsing for decades. New research found the Western Australian government has been warned repeatedly for a century. Richard McLellan, PhD candidate, Charles Sturt University David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Kingsley Dixon, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cyclists in Melbourne are less likely than those in Dublin or Seville to ride in the rain. Understanding why is crucial. Richard Bean, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Dorina Pojani, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland Jonathan Corcoran, Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reaching net-zero emissions will require intense policy focus, private investment and clear accountability – conditions only a firm numerical target can provide. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When a plant is stressed, it mobilises its resources and often converts its starch reserves back to sugar. As soon as this happens, the stressed plant becomes sweeter than its healthier neighbours. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Spring has settled in and fruit is starting to ripen. Read this before you start helping yourself to the edible plants growing in your neighbourhood. Alexandra Crosby, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney Ilaria Vanni, Associate Professor, International Studies and Global Societies, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A suite of proposed changes to energy efficiency section of the National Construction Code are a good step forward. However, a lot more can be done. Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Erika Bartak, PhD Candidate (& ESD Consultant), Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne Nicola Willand, Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Aboriginal people view so-called wilderness as sick, neglected land. This runs counter to the view of wilderness as pristine and healthy, which underpins non-Indigenous conservation efforts. Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Associate Professor in Biogeography, The University of Melbourne Lisa Palmer, Associate Professor, School of Geography, The University of Melbourne Rebecca Hamilton, Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Wolfram Dressler, Senior Fellow, Development Geography, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The oceans around New Zealand are warming faster in winter than in summer. During the winter of 2021, most coastal areas were warmer than usual, and this is likely to bring more storms during summer. João Marcos Azevedo Correia de Souza, MetOcean Solutions Science Manager of the Research and Development Team. Moana Project Science Lead, MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi Amandine Schaeffer, UNSW Jonathan Gardner, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Robert Smith, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Recovering historical genetic data has been severely impeded by the methods used to preserve specimens, from dried butterfly wings to platypus bills floating in alcohol. Erin Hahn, Postdoc, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government has proposed changes to threatened species protection which would lead to weaker legal protections. Conservationists are alarmed, but in reality, it’s no great loss. Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wasting food feeds climate change but relatively small changes can make a big difference. Here are 6 to try. Mark Boulet, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The National Party’s position on net-zero is wrong, for so many reasons. Not least, it’s a betrayal of rural Australia. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Three things define an ice age: Earth has to be cold enough for a long time, ice grows to cover significant areas, and it lasts for millions of years. Michael Petterson, Professor of Geology, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fraser Island was renamed to the original Butchulla name, K'gari. Returning to original place names is a significant step in First Nations people maintaining cultural identity in Australia. Rose Barrowcliffe, Doctoral Candidate, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world hydropower industry has public relations work to do, if its global expansion is to be realised. But stringent oversight is urgently needed. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some Nationals want agriculture carved out of any net-zero target. Cutting emissions from farms won’t be easy, but it’s essential. James Ha, Associate, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scott Morrison will announce a deal, but not until the details, heavy with technology and trade offs and pay offs, are sorted with Joyce. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.