Posts – Page 65 – ECOS

Many pieces of plastic littered across a sandy beach

CSIRO researchers have been named finalists in the 2015 Eurkea Prize for Environmental Research for their work looking at plastic pollution in the oceans.

Close up of wheat heads and blue sky in background

By embracing science and technology, Australia's agricultural industry could be more efficient, productive and sustainable.

We can extract a lot of information from core samples taken from trees, but we may risk the health of valuable trees doing so. How do we find a balance between research and conservation?

Australia’s soil, water, vegetation and biodiversity, and our vast marine estate, are incredibly valuable national assets, which need to be managed effectively. There are still significant gaps in our understanding of these components, and the ways in which they interact. We need to understand them so we can manage them sustainably.

Scientists met in Paris recently for the major scientific conference in the lead up to November's UN climate change negotiations. They believe limiting warming to 2˚C is economically feasible, and can be an important contributor to sustainable economic growth.

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.

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.

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.

Plant with reddish-purple berries

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.