SER in the News

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SER PhD Scholar Susan Jacups' study looking at the relationship between sea surface temperature and reported box jellyfish stings has featured in this NT News article.

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A collaborative research paper involving Dr. Clive McMahon and Dr. Neil Collier of CDU’s  School for Environmental Research features in the inaugural issue of the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution which was released today. The researchers devised an innovative model for the strategic management of invasive ungulates (pigs, swamp buffalo and horses) in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, Northern Australia. The model provides a practical tool for park managers and others involved in feral animal control. In keeping with the subject of this paper, the journal’s cover image depicts the Asian swamp buffalo, Bubalis bubalis, and was taken by SER’s Communication Officer Jesse Northfield.

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People living in Darwin have an environmental footprint nearly four times the global average, a study by Charles Darwin University shows. The head of the university's environmental research school Professor Stephen Garnett says the survey shows the average Territorian needs about 8.3 hectares of land to support themselves, compared to the worldwide average of 2.2.

Professor Garnett says a recent survey by the university shows Territorians' impact on the planet is unsustainable.

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Territorians have the largest ecological footprint in Australia, according to new research.   

It found the average person in the Northern Territory needs 8.3 hectares of land to support their lifestyle and energy needs. This compares to an average of 6.5ha for most other Australians while people elsewhere in the world need an average of only 2.2ha per person. The paper, conducted by Charles Darwin University's School for Environmental Research, assesses the impact people in the north of Australia have on the environment.   

12 Jan: Kakadu vegetation growth up 10pc: report (ABC Online)

"[There has been] a substantial increase in woody vegetation in parts of the floodplains from about 21 per cent in 1964 to 31 per cent in 2004," she said. "We found that although buffalo did have a slight effect, it wasn't done very strongly. You had an increase in woody vegetation whether they were there or not."

7 Jan: Territorians take out top bird award (ABC Online)

The DL Serventry Medal for the study of birds has been won by two Northern Territory researchers.

Professor Stephen Garnett and Dr Gabriel Crowley won the national award for their research, which they say has helped save some species from extinction. Professor Garnett says the Northern Territory presents challenges unlike other areas. "We're a bit luckier than the southern states, we've still got a lot of our stuff in tact up here. "The changes tend to be related to changes in fire management - that would be the big difference. "So there's been some species that have declined because of the way the fire management has changed." Professor Garnett says birds are a great indicator of environmental health.

"We hope our research on birds will help us understand what's happening with the environment and help us understand the environment and where the management has been successful or not successful.

"We've worked a lot with pastoralists and got some really good results. And its resulted in what we think much better land management."

17 Nov: Shark-cam captures ocean motion (BBC News)

It is as thick as your arm and smells disgusting - and it has just been caught on camera for what is thought to be the first time. A crew has managed to record a whale shark - the world's biggest fish - expelling food waste, which was then scooped up for research. Biologist Mark Meekan said the sample had helped him to discover more about the giant creature's feeding habits. The footage forms part of a BBC Natural World wildlife programme: Whale Shark.

Dr Mark Meekan is an Adjunct Principal Research Fellow with SER.

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15 Nov: Make amends for 150 years (Weekend Australian)

If we could have predicted 150 years ago the impact that our actions would have on the Murray-Darling Basin rivers, we would have done things differently. The crisis facing that area is one that state and federal governments are wrestling with in a race against time to save one of Australia's most crucial resources. Perhaps with better knowledge and foresight, south-eastern Australia would have been better equipped to deal with the crippling drought conditions of recent years and the increasingly dry conditions brought on by climate change.

As rivers dry up in southern Australia, governments are examining the potential for a broad range of economic development opportunities that draw on the land and water resources of northern Australia. But these decisions about managing northern rivers need to be made with the best available knowledge. The Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) project brings together more than 70 leading researchers from 15 organisations to improve our understanding of the rivers, catchments and estuaries across northern Australia.

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15 Nov: Whale shark tracked to inland village (Sydney Morning Herald)

MARK MEEKAN knew something was amiss when the massive whale shark he was tracking suddenly appeared to be heading inland. The Australian marine scientist had been following the meanderings of the five-metre-long fish for months via satellite, as it swam more than 4000 kilometres from Christmas Island up to West Papua, and back south again. The high-tech tracking tag on its back was collecting important new information about these mysterious giants - the world's largest fish - which are under threat from ocean-going vessels and hunting in Asia.

Dr Mark Meekan is an Adjunct Principal Research Fellow with SER.

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14 Nov: CDU receives grant to research impact of cane toads on crocodiles (ABC Darwin)

SER Adjunct Professor Grahame Webb was interviewed on ABC Darwin Drive regarding the impact of cane toads on the freshwater crocodile populations. CDU has received $35,000 to conduct research in conjunction with Crocodylus Park.

12 Nov: Prestigious fellowship boosts research into Guangxi provence poverty alleviation (CDU media resease)

A Charles Darwin University (CDU) PhD candidate researching the potential for poverty alleviation through natural resources has been recognised with one of Australia's most prestigious research fellowships.

Darwin-based Nick Hogarth is one of only 36 researchers to receive an Endeavour Research Fellowship this year. It will allow him to continue his research exploring the role of forests in poverty alleviation in China’s remote Guangxi Province, 150km north of the border with Vietnam.

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4 Nov: International waters threaten marine turtles (Country Hour)

The Territory's closest neighbours such as Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea might just be our worst enemy when it comes to looking after our marine turtles. Six of the seven marine turtle species in the world, are found right here in the Top End, but they also like to migrate where they become an easy target for international fishermen.

Releasing 14 years of research, Karen Edyvane from Parks and Wildlife says more needs to be done to protect the turtles. "Not only do we need to be working very closely with Indigenous communities but we also need to be working very closely with Western Australia, Queensland and neighbouring countries.

"In the Territory, the turtles are already protected...and what we really need to protect is the nesting habitats and try and reduce the major threats to turtle populations."

Dr Karen Edyvane is an Adjunct Professorial Fellow with SER.

21 Oct: 40 scientists write: Climate disaster, an urgent challenge (Crikey)

A statement prepared by Dr Barrie Pittock PSM (former leader, Climate Impact Group, CSIRO, IPCC Lead Author, and author of "Climate Change: Turning Up the Heat"), and Dr Andrew Glikson (Earth and paleoclimate research scientist, former Principal Research Scientist, AGSO; Visiting Fellow, Australian National University) has been endorsed by 40 leading environment scientists including from CDU's School for Environmental Research.

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15 Oct: Water quality say (Katherine Times)

KATHERINE locals are being invited to have their say in regard to the Water Quality Monitoring Framework being set up the Katherine and Daly River regions. Public meetings will be held in late October and early November to consult community members on what they see as risks to water quality, what they think should be monitored and at what locations. Director of Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge, Associate Professor Michael Douglas, said community input was vital to the project.

"The ideas of the community and stakeholders are needed so that the framework is locally relevant and captures the values and uses that the community wants to protect now and for future generations," he said. "The framework, through public consultation, will identify what level of protection people want for their water resources so they can be appropriately managed in the future."

The Framework will provide resource managers with information and a set of practical steps for planning and implementing water quality monitoring in the Katherine and Daly rivers. To get involved in the project, call Lyz Risby at Charles Darwin University on 8946 7449.

9 Oct: Top End river monitoring 'to protect them from agriculture' (ABC Online)

Preparations are being made for a program to monitor the water quality of the Katherine and Daly River catchment areas. Public meetings are being held over the next month so that the community, government and other organisations can have a say on the plans. Charles Darwin University researcher, Simon Townsend, says people will be asked what they think are the risks to water quality and what areas should be monitored. "The framework seeks to identify how we use the rivers, what we value in them, identify what the issues are that may affect water quality in the Daly River and its catchment, that's both water based and land based, and then think through how do those issues affect the water quality."

He says water quality monitoring programs will help ensure the region is not degraded by any future agricultural development. "With the decline of agriculture, especially irrigated agriculture in southern Australia, there's greater interest in developing agriculture here in northern Australia, and that the Daly River is one of those sites in the focus of developers. "So this provides a good backdrop, a good starting point, to ensuring that that development is undertaken in a way that maintains the water quality of the Daly River."

6 Oct: Water catchment monitoring in the Daly (NT News)

Planning has begun to monitor water quality in the Katherine and Daly River Catchment. The Water Quality Monitoring Framework will provide resource managers with a practical set of steps to implement water programs. Public meetings will be held in the region in October and November to gather information from the community. Director of Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge, Associate Professor Michael Douglas, said changes in land use could affect water quality. To get involved, call 8946 7449.

23 Sept: Global warming could save endangered sharks (ABC Radio)

Conservationists fear Australia's grey nurse shark could become extinct by 2050. But Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw is one of a grou pof scientists who think global warming could help save them: "This is probably one of those one in a hundred examples where climate change may actually be somewhat beneficial for this particular species.

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5 Sept: Garnaut report emphasises retention of northern grasslands and forests to store carbon (ABC Rural)

Professor Ross Garnaut will today release a key report on carbon emission reductions needed to alleviate climate change, including better land management. Garnaut asserts the Govt needs to lift its focus on retaining natural grasslands and forests in the north, potentially planting vast tracts of lands to trees to store as much carbon as possible. But CEO of the Tropical Savanna Cooperative Research Centre Dr David Garnett says there are huge gaps in the research. He says the north will continue to enjoy good rains, and there is logic to the Garnaut suggestion, but he disputes the suggested land use in the north.

Dr Steven Garnett, Director of the School for Environmental Research at Charles Darwin University, joins the discussion. Garnett says Northern pastoralists can better manage their land to store more carbon, and if they can be paid for managing their land well to store carbon, they won't be pushed to overgraze. He says there is a responsibility to look after the savanna and also a commercial incentive.

3 Sept: Survival in the grasslands (The Australian)

A scientific study of wildlife in the Kimberley's grassy expanses is unlocking the secrets of survival v species extinction. Small mammals and some birds have almost disappeared in many parts of northern Australia, says Sarah Legge, an animal ecologist who spends her days measuring the destructive effects of fire, feral predators and out of- control weeds.

That's the bad news. But the three-year research program Dr Legge has led at Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary, 350km northeast of Derby, has also produced good news. Dr Legge and her team have discovered that by bringing such threats under control through careful land management, such as fire control and de-stocking of cattle, the fate of some endangered species can be reversed. The results were spectacular, much better than we ever expected," she says. "The number of mammals increased in every habitat type."

Much of Dr Legge's work is being funded by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, a not-for-profit conservation agency that owns Mornington and 18 other sanctuaries across Australia. But she has also received funds from an Australian Research Grant under the Linkage scheme, which supports partnerships between industry and academe.

Dr Legge is an adjunct staff member of Charles Darwin University and the Australian National University.

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2 Sept: Feral buffalo on the rise (Country Hour)

Dr Clive McMahon says wild swamp buffalos are not migratory animals but are building up their populations by reproducing at quick rate within their own herds.

"They have high rates of breeding and high survival rates and what that would suggest was that if we had to control animals local controls would probably be fairly effective in terms of once populations are reduced or removed in a local area there's a lag for those areas to be recolonised with animals from other areas."

With the Territory having no current management plan for wild buffalo, Clive says his findings are an important tool for a future plan.

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22 Aug: Eco-tourism touted as a chance to save whale sharks (ABC News)

Scientists say whale shark numbers have depleted over the past 10 years. A Darwin conference has been told that eco-tourism could be the best way to save dwindling whale shark populations off the north coast of Australia.

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22 Aug: Shark patrol possible alternative for Indonesian fishermen (ABC Radio)

Researchers say Indonesian fishermen who've been banned from hunting certain species in the waters off Northern Australia could work as sea rangers monitoring vulnerable whale shark populations.

The fishermen are considered a rich source of information about the migratory habits of the whale sharks which travel between Australia and South-East Asia. Marine animal researchers have told a conference in Darwin that satellite tagging is already providing important information about the vulnerable animals.

Natasha Stacey is an environmental researcher, and she says there's already a pilot program for coastal villagers in West Timor to become involved in monitoring the shark population."They can get paid for that service or be provided with an income that takes them away from pressure on exploiting already overexploited fisheries resources," Ms Stacey said.

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20 Aug: Scientists urge careful approach to northern rivers development (ABC News)

Scientists are warning there must be a careful and thorough approach to development near Australia's northern rivers to avoid another Murray-Darling crisis.

Environmental scientists agree the abundance of natural resources like water in northern Australia offers huge potential for further development and agricultural opportunities.  The director of the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge research hub, Michael Douglas, says the assets of the north will attract further migration but a careful approach on development is critical. "We all want more development so we can meet the needs of the people in the region but we don't want to push the system so far that we go down to another Murray-Darling system," he said.

Mr Douglas is conducting research on the Daly River system to ensure the survival of wildlife and fish species like the barramundi. He says his project will play a pivotal role in future environmental government policy in the Northern Territory.

http://www.track.gov.au/

The world's largest fish is shrinking in both size and numbers, according to a study published in a recent issue of the journal Biological Conservation.

The study by Australian scientists Corey Bradshaw, Ben Fitzpatrick, Craig Steinberg, Barry Brook and Mark Meekan analysed data collected from tourist sightings and estimates of total lengths of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) on Ningaloo Reef.
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Research into temperature change and salinity in southern oceans conducted by Clive McMahon andIan Field, amongst others, was published this month in the prestigious US journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Science".

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16 July: Whale sharks, Ningaloo and Bajo fishermen

Natasha Stacey was interviewed on ABC Perth local radio morning show (720 AM) on joint CDU/AIMS research on whale shark research management in Indonesia in response to The Australian article (see article below).

http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/720_mornings/index.html

14 July: Hunters can turn saviours of graceful whale shark (The Australian)

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link to whale shark report >>

An environmental economist says 830,000 large feral animals in the Northern Territory need to be culled, within the next two years. Dr Adam Drucker says most of the current populations of feral camels, horses, donkeys and buffalo should be shot, to meet the Territory's resource management goals. He says a tenfold increase in funding is required to carry out the proposed aerial cull, but the benefits will outweigh the cost.

"If we look at some of the benefits, in terms of reduced competition with cattle on pastoral properties and even start to count some of the reduction in methane emissions through reducing feral animal numbers, it seems there are fairly large net benefits to a controlled program of this type."

13 June: Territorians angry about climate (Country Hour)

Did you know that people in the Territory, emit twice as much carbon as the average person across Australia? That's partly because we have a lot of land and a small amount of people, but it's also because we have a heaps of fires, and we use use air conditioners and fuel.

Prof Stephen Garnett, director of the School for Environmental Research at Charles Darwin University helped put together the 80 page discussion paper updating the NT Government's first climate change strategy, originally released in 2006. It outlines the threats and opportunities in climate change, current policies and how the NT could be adapted in the future. Prof Garnett agrees the public hasn't done a lot to change their behaviour when it comes to climate change, and he believes it's up to the government to introduce policy to do this.

12 June: Feral animals and Carbon credits (ABC Darwin)

The NT Govt has released a discussion paper this week which will be debated in a public meeting tonight and while it says savanna burning is the biggest contributor to the NT in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, feral animals are bad as well. Prof Garnett is working on a new plan to sort out this problem.

"Feral animals, especially buffalo, produce a lot of methane gas and they should be culled" Garnett says. Culling feral buffaloes and camels will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He suggests a feral animal cull in remote parts of the NT be funded by carbon offset credits.

link to NT Climate Change Issues Discussion Paper >>

2 June: Water in the Top End (2UE Sydney)

Bocking speaks with Dr Adam Drucker, Charles Darwin University about water in the Top End. According to the Chairman of the Australian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage about 70 percent of Australia's stream flow runoff occurs in the north and only one percent of it is used. Drucker says what is available for agricultural development in the NT is more limited than what the numbers imply - environmental stewardship payments and payments for environmental services essentially pay for things like biodiversity conservation, changed fire management regimes and invasive species management. An NT gas plant offsets its emissions by paying Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land to undertake a fire management regime to reduce carbon emissions. Drucker says the WA Government convened an expert panel to look at transporting water from the Kimberleys to Perth. It was found that a tanker scheme would have cost five times as much as desalination.

20 May: Hobbit Discovery Seminar (ABC Drive)

A brand new species of human was found on Flores, an island off Indonesia. Scientists say it dated back 18,000 years ago. On Monday 26th May the archaeologist who led the research team, Prof Mike Morwood, will give his first public lecture in the NT at the Charles Darwin University. Morwood says his talk will cover the history of the findings and more recent research on the new species.

20 May: Australia admits mistake over fishing arrests (Australia Network)

More than 50 Indonesian fishermen are back in their villages today after being wrongfully detained by Australian authorities. Dr Natasha Stacey, a Darwin antropologist discusses the problem of reduced livelihood possibilities facing the Bajo people, Indonesia's coastal nomadic fishermen.

To listen to the interview follow link >>

7 May: Whale Shark Seminar (Territory Talk FM)

Dr Natasha Stacey and Johanna Karam, researchers from the School for Environmental Research will present a seminar this Friday at 1pm dicussing Traditional Ecological Knowledge of whale sharks: Collaborating with Bajo Fishermen of Eastern Indonesia for Whale Shark Conservation.

For more details please see http://www.cdu.edu.au/ser/StaceyAbstract08.html

18 April: 2020 Summit (Stateline)

This weekend a thousand people from around the country are converging on Canberra for the PM's 2020 Summit. Sceptics fear it will be an unwieldy talk-fest but the Govt has promised every new idea will get genuine consideration. About 30 Territorians will be there. They include Stephen Garnett, Professor of Tropical Knowledge at Charles Darwin University.

Garnett says his message will be that sustainability is about the economy. He says there is a lot of good willed people taxing themselves but the govt needs to make tough economic decisions.

10 April: Biodiversity conservation works... but more is needed (BirdLife International)

Conservation efforts have slowed the rate that species are slipping towards extinction, argues a paper published online today in Conservation Biology by scientists from BirdLife International and Cambridge University. Direct conservation action has saved 16 bird species from extinction since 1994 and has substantially slowed the rate of population decline for an additional 33 Critically Endangered bird species.

31 March: Debate on Gamba grass ban (ABC 1)

Farming and environmental groups are at odds over whether an imported grass should be declared a weed. Gamba grass is widely used by cattle graziers but scientists fear it is damaging the country's biodiversity. Mcfadyen says if it keeps getting planted it will be a disaster like the cane toad. Garnett says when it was bought in from Africa they wanted a plant that would grow vigorously and now it is out of control. Weed experts have given petitions to both the NT and Fed Govt's calling for the rest of Aust to follow WA's lead and outlaw the grass.

5 March: Bamboo and Poverty Reduction in China (CIFOR website)

Since October 2006 Australia's Nick Hogarth has been based in China, seeking to understand the relationship of forests and forest-products to the livelihoods of the rural poor. His research is part of CIFOR's Poverty and Environment Network (PEN) project and focuses specifically on the case of bamboo in Tianlin County, Guangxi Province, with the aim to determine its potential as a natural resource for economic development and poverty alleviation.

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28 February: NT in 20 years time? (NT Country Hour)

Where do you think the Territory will be like in 20 years time? That's the question answered in a new book being launched today in Darwin. It draws together ideas from four experts including co-author and Professor Stephen Garnett who's in charge of the school for environmental research at Charles Darwin University. He says they came up with seven scenarios to try and imagine what the future looked like. These looked at degeneration, the Territory as a northern ricebowl, an industrial powerhouse and chronic underdevelopment. He says there have identified a number of major drivers which will influence the future of the NT: population, social function, property rights, Commonwealth policy, the global economy, resource use, oil futures, climate change, invasive organisms and technological innovation. "It's not about making predictions, it's about what could happen under particular policy settings." view article>>

28 February: Breakthrough made in Top End mosquito control (ABC News)

Scientists say they have made a breakthrough in the modelling of mosquito outbreaks in northern Australia. A powerful new mathematical model has been created as part of a three year collaborative study by Charles Darwin University, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Department of Defence and the Territory Government. CDU's Professor Corey Bradshaw says the forecasting tool will help control plague numbers of biting insects such as mosquitoes. view article>>

26 February: Researcher warns of need to reduce feral buffalo numbers (ABC News)

25 February: Researchers call for help in endangered shark study (ABC News)

23 February: Amphibians run out of space (New Scientist)