The Conversation
This shy little wallaby has a white moustache and shares its name with a pub meal. Yet it's been overlooked for decades
Meet the parma wallaby: for decades it was presumed extinct, until it turned up in New Zealand. Today, its failure to charm Australians may have doomed it – for good.
Elliott Dooley, PhD Candidate, University of Newcastle
Matt Hayward, Professor of Conservation Science, University of Newcastle
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Rotting forest wood releases a whopping 10.9 billion tonnes of carbon each year. This will increase under climate change
This is the first time researchers have calculated the amount of carbon released from the world’s decaying wood. They found insects play an enormous role.
Marisa Stone, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University
David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
Kurtis Nisbet, Scientific Officer, Griffith University
Sebastian Seibold, Adjunct Teaching Professor, Technical University of Munich
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When it comes to preparing for disaster there are 4 distinct types of people. Which one are you?
New research also identified steps people wished they’d taken to prepare for disaster, such as protecting sentimental items, planning a meeting place and better managing stress.
Agathe Tiana Randrianarisoa, PhD student and Senior Researcher, RMIT University
John Richardson, Honorary Fellow, Child and Community Wellbeing Unit, Beyond Bushfires Research Program, The University of Melbourne
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Street life ain't easy for a stray cat, with most dying before they turn 1. So what's the best way to deal with them?
Adopt, neuter and return, or kill? There’s no easy way to deal with Australia’s stray cat problem, and we compare the main options.
Trish Fleming, Professor, Murdoch University
Heather M. Crawford, Assistant researcher, Murdoch University
Mike Calver, Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, Murdoch University
Tida Nou, Project officer, The University of Queensland
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Human progress is no excuse to destroy nature. A push to make ‘ecocide’ a global crime must recognise this fundamental truth
The push for a new environmental crime has attracted high-profile backers including French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg. But we must get the details right.
Anthony Burke, Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations, UNSW
Danielle Celermajer, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney
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Robber barons and high-speed traders dominate Australia’s water market
A new book says Australia’s 20-year water trading experiment is sucking hundreds of millions of dollars each year out of the Murray-Darling Basin and directing water away from productive land.
Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, The University of Melbourne
Stuart Kells, Adjunct Professor, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce, La Trobe University
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1,600 years ago, climate change hit the Australian Alps. We studied ancient lake mud to learn what happened
Australia’s alpine region warmed for about 600 years. What makes this climate change particularly interesting is that it bears striking similarity to today.
Zoë Thomas, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW
Haidee Cadd, Research associate, University of Wollongong
Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University
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This bird's stamina is remarkable: it flies non-stop for 5 days from Japan to Australia, but now its habitat is under threat
Imagine flying for five days straight, arriving at your destination emaciated and exhausted, only to find your habitat has disappeared. Such is the plight of the Latham’s Snipe.
Birgita Hansen, Senior Research Fellow, Federation University and Better Data for Better Decisions Constellation Leader, Food Agility CRC, Federation University Australia
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Bushfire survivors just won a crucial case against the NSW environmental watchdog, putting other states on notice
They argued the NSW Environment Protection Authority should take action on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In an Aussie first, the court agreed.
Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, The University of Melbourne
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New Zealand’s fossil record suggests more species lived in warmer waters. But the current rate of warming may break this pattern
New Zealand’s conservation needs to consider the long-term impact of climate change and focus not only on protecting native species but on preserving ecological richness.
Tom Womack, PhD Candidate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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As the world battles to slash carbon emissions, Australia considers paying dirty coal stations to stay open longer
Major coal generators say the proposal will help shore up energy supplies. But opponents say it will pay coal plants for simply existing and delay the clean energy transition.
Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University
Joel Gilmore, Associate Professor, Griffith University
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Who would win in a fight between a wedge-tailed eagle and a bald eagle? It's a close call for two nationally revered birds
It’s a clash that might rival Crocodile Dundee in New York City. While both iconic birds of prey are similarly sized, one is bolder and more ferocious.
Dominique Potvin, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast
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'Do-gooders', conservatives and reluctant recyclers: how personal morals can be harnessed for climate action
Understanding the moral dimensions of climate decisions could help promote fairer and more effective climate action
Jacqueline Lau, Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
Andrew Song, Lecturer / ARC Discovery Early Career Research Fellow (DECRA), University of Technology Sydney
Jessica Blythe, Assistant Professor, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, Brock University
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Australia has failed greater gliders: since they were listed as 'vulnerable' we’ve destroyed more of their habitat
This fluffy-eared marsupial was listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the national environment law in 2016. Five years later, it meets the criteria to be listed as ‘endangered’. Australia must do better.
Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University
Kita Ashman, Threatened Species & Climate Adaptation Ecologist, Deakin University
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What Greenland's record-breaking rain means for the planet
Greenland’s melting ice sheets threaten to significantly hamper humanity’s efforts to mitigate climate change.
Willow Hallgren, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University
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Pacific Island bats are utterly fascinating, yet under threat and overlooked. Meet 4 species
There are 191 different species of bat across the Pacific Island. They are vital parts of the region’s biodiversity, and many species have cultural significance.
John Martin, Research Scientist, Taronga Conservation Society Australia & Adjunct lecturer, University of Sydney
David L. Waldien, Adjunct assistant professor, Christopher Newport University
Junior Novera, PhD Candidate, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Justin A. Welbergen, President of the Australasian Bat Society | Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University
Malik OEDIN, PhD Population Biology and Ecology, Université de Nouvelle Calédonie
Nicola Hanrahan, Terrestrial Ecologist, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security, Northern Territory Government & Visiting Fellow, Charles Darwin University
Tigga Kingston, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University
Tyrone Lavery, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian National University
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Ordinary people, extraordinary change: addressing the climate emergency through 'quiet activism'
In the absence of national leadership, local communities are forging new responses to the climate crisis in places where they live, work and play. These three examples show how.
Wendy Steele, Associate Professor, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University
Diana MacCallum, Adjunct research academic, Curtin University
Donna Houston, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University
Jason Byrne, Professor of Human Geography and Planning, University of Tasmania
Jean Hillier, Professor Emerita, RMIT University
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Cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets battle for nest space as the best old trees disappear
Spring is rapidly approaching and many birds are hunting for the best nesting sites. Competition is fierce — especially for species that nest in tree hollows.
Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne
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When Greenland was green: rapid global warming 55 million years ago shows us what the future may hold
Greenland’s conditions were once similar to those of a greenhouse. Volcanoes swelled the land, constricted seaways and gigatonnes of greenhouse gases were released into the atmosphere.
Milo Barham, Senior Lecturer, Curtin University
Jussi Hovikoski, Senior scientist, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Michael B.W. Fyhn, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
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Land of opportunity: more sustainable Australian farming would protect our lucrative exports (and the planet)
Adopting more environmentally conscious farm models would safeguard our agricultural exports, cut emissions and help protect nature.
Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University
David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
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