Biodiversity Conservation

Ensuring the diversity of species and ecosystems

The survival of humans, and indeed of all living organisms on Earth, depends on biodiversity. Unfortunately, we are facing one of the largest extinction events in the history of the Earth, and this is a direct consequence of human activities. As researchers, we are addressing this threat to our life support system by:

• studying the habitat and other requirements of species that are most sensitive to human activities
• determining best management practices for ecologically sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and land-use planning
• understanding the values of the public and people who are managing lands and waters
  

Help save the world—literally

During your graduate studies, you could make a difference by learning how to protect, maintain and enhance places in the world that can sustain species and ecosystems. You will develop a range of skills, including biodiversity management and planning; responsible forestry, agriculture and fishery; and conservation policy.

Here are just a few examples of research projects you could be involved in:

• conducting biodiversity conservation system planning for vulnerable species and ecosystems
  
• examining forest regeneration following disease
• understanding farmer perspectives on wetlands in a changing climate
  

Find out what our researchers are working on:

	Karen Beazley Dr. Beazley focuses on broad landscape and regional planning for biodiversity conservation. She has strong relationships with local and regional organizations that are implementing biodiversity conservation research and planning, which provides her students with great opportunities to work on interesting projects.
	Peter Duinker Dr. Duinker studies forest habitats in both rural and urban environments.  He works closely with private- and public-sector land managers to design biodiversity-friendly management approaches.
	Kate Sherren Dr. Sherren focuses on farmer perspectives of biodiversity, including habitat heterogeneity and wetlands on production land. Her work with ranchers in Australia about scattered trees has impacted scholarly circles, as well as identifying win-wins for nature and farm management.
	Tony Walker Dr. Walker has conducted research on the impacts of atmospheric pollution using lichen biodiversity as indicators of air quality. Recent research has also been conducted with international collaborators on the PREDICTS project. PREDICTS uses meta-analytical methods to quantify biodiversity responses to a range of human pressures to help us make quantitative predictions and inform global conservation policy.