2015

Managing feral pigs on Cape York: it’s not a numbers game

About 3000 feral pigs are culled every year in the Archer River Basin on Cape York. But is this helping to protect the things we care about? Together, local people and scientists are building a case for targeted pig management in place of culling programs aimed at killing as many pigs as possible.

Cost-effective conservation helps species bounce back from brink

A new approach to help ecosystems bounce back after human disturbances was applied to a simulated disaster at Ningaloo Reef, and is applicable for decision-makers in other marine and terrestrial contexts.

Drawing the future of the Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait region faces potential pressures such as climate change, population growth, biosecurity and pollution risks, and the loss of traditional culture. Community members, leaders, government and scientists came together to find out how they could adapt to these pressures in a way that’s sustainable and equitable, and to identify what makes a community resilient.

Surveying the Amazon of the Indo-Pacific

Researchers have estimated the number of tropical tree species, and it's likely to be between approximately 40,000 and 53,000. The Indo-Pacific region is as rich in tree species as tropical America.

Deep under the sea: seeking options to save a delicate world

Deep sea corals are under threat from climate change. Scientists are searching for ways to protect the fragile ecosystems deep in the ocean.

Explainer: ocean acidification

The carbon sequestration service provided by the oceans comes at a price. The cost of carbon dioxide uptake is a gradual increase in the acidity levels of the oceans, which could have serious impacts on marine life.

Invasive ants get fired from Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Tropical Fire Ant Project won the Biodiversity category of the 2015 United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards, for two of the largest invasive ant eradications ever achieved

Conservation parks are growing, so why are species still declining?

It’s now five years since the International Year of Biodiversity, and nearly 15% of Earth’s land surface is protected in parks and reserves. By 2020, we should reach the agreed global target of 17%. This is good news for species diversity, right? Not really.

CSIRO is conducting the world’s best practice methane emissions research

When attempting to answer questions about whether the coal seam gas industry (CSG) is less greenhouse intensive than the coal industry, one of the big factors to consider is fugitive methane emissions—the amount of methane that leaks from the CSG wells.