March 2006
ISSUE 4
FROM THE
DIRECTOR
1
2
OPIONION
Assoc Prof Mark
Morrison
1
2
IN THE NEWS
2
3
FUTURE
DIRECTIONS
New ecology
group
3
PROFILE
Dr Gary Luck
4
CONFERENCES & 5
SEMINARS
6
PUBLICATIONS
6
7
JC-EC
7
PROJECTS &
GRANTS
8
AWARDS &
APPOINMENTS
8
FROM THE DIRECTOR
OPINION
The ILWS Advisory Board (Wendy Craik,
Victoria Keighery, Ian Kiernan, Ken
Matthews, Cathy McGowan, Steve Morton
and Denis Saunders (chair) met with the
Management Team in February and in this
note I want to provide an update on that
meeting and some developments in ILWS.
By Assoc Prof Mark Morrison, leader of the
ILWS Economic and Regional Development
group
In my introductory comments to the Board I
provided an overview of the ILWS context,
governance, profile and goals. The Board was
impressed by our ambition to develop a
substantial regional capacity for integrated
research that will address the key sustainability
issues in the Murray-Darling Basin. I highlighted
examples of high quality research in ILWS, but
also emphasized the challenges we face of
maintaining relevance in our regions.
The Board meeting was structured as a workshop
with the focus on exploring Advisory Board ideas
about opportunities for ILWS. The advice given
was that we should develop a small number of
programs that will attract investment from partners
and make a difference in our regions. Principles
were identified to guide topic selection and then
three topics consistent with these principles were
developed:
1.
The sustainable management of key
environmental assets in the central MurrayDarling Basin (Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and
Macquarie catchments) where there has
been limited investment in research.
Examples of key assets included the
LowerBidgee wetlands, the Macquarie
Marshes, and groundwater resources.
2.
Tools and methods for comprehensive
environmental accounting, with particular
attention to the social and economic
dimensions and to integration across the
triple bottom line. Valuing environmental
services would be an important element of
this work.
(cont.page 2)
A feature article
What Should We Expect From MarketBased Instruments?
Market-based instruments (MBIs) seem to make
a lot of policy makers go wobbly at the knees.
They offer the potential of environmental
improvements at a much lower cost than
command and control regulations. MBIs seem
to be one way of achieving the “Holy Grails” of
development and sustainability. Advocates
point to the success of MBIs such as the Sulfur
Dioxide trading scheme in the USA, or the Bush
Tender trial in Victoria.
However, at the coal face, many practitioners
are more circumspect. There have been many
MBIs that have simply not worked because
people or businesses have not been willing to
participate. We are only beginning to
understand what it is that motivates participation
in MBIs. In economic theory, if we provide an
incentive it should be responded to, but in reality
people face many incentives and the probability
of participating will be influenced by all of these.
MBIs can also be costly to implement. In
Europe, payments for environmental services
are becoming widespread, are coming to
replace traditional farm subsidies, and farmers
are coming to see themselves as
“greenkeepers”. Yet is this something that we
can realistically afford in Australia with our
smaller population? Widespread payment for
environmental services on a European scale
would require tens of billions of dollars.
MBI can also have some unexpected and
undesirable properties. One that is currently
getting academic attention is the notion of
“crowding out”. MBIs such as tenders and
offset schemes involve payments to
landholders.
(cont. page 2)
FEATURE STORY: Dr Gary Luck
Ecologist Dr Gary Luck (School of Environmental and
Information Sciences) talks about “balance” and his latest
research project research projects, including a collaborative study for the World
Wildlife Fund.
Story page 4
March 2006
P1
FROM THE DIRECTOR
OPINION
3.
The concern is about the incentive properties of these
payments – what effect will they have on farmers who currently
provide environmental services? Will they continue to do so or
will they allow environmental services on their property to
decline in the hope of receiving a subsidy? So where does this
leave us? In the short term we need to be realistic about what
MBIs can offer. Over time we can expect that that progress will
be made on design issues, such as minimising crowding out,
and how to encourage participation in MBIs. As we understand
their properties better, MBIs can be applied with more
confidence.
The drivers, impacts and opportunities/ challenges
posed by the trend to "post-agricultural” landscapes
where large tracts of land are being settled by people
who are not primarily interested in primary production.
This trend has implications for community well-being and
the management of key environmental assets.
Landscape design would be an important element of this
topic. Issues that could be addressed include adapting to
climate change, bushfire management, forestry on
private land, and water harvesting.
This, and other advice, will be considered by the Management
Team meeting on Feb 28, the Reference Group when it meets
on March 21, and an ILWS Planning Day on May 19. As part of
our response we will be preparing brief research proposals that
outline the rationale, likely components, potential partners, and
a course of action over the next 2 years. Each of the topics
identified has a “champion(s)” in the Management Team. We
are already acting to capitalize on opportunities to develop ARC
Linkage Grants and prepare bids for the National Water
Initiative. Each of these bids will involve industry partners such
as Catchment Management Authorities, Water for Rivers, the
Murray-Darling Basin Commission, state agencies and CSIRO.
We are also engaging these partners in our planning for
conferences/ workshop in 2006/07.
The success of ILWS depends on the contributions of members
and there will be opportunities for all of you to participate in
ILWS activities for this year. I will be writing to all members in
March asking you to reapply for ILWS membership. The five
established discipline groups (Centre for Rural Social
Research, Ecology, Human Dimensions of Environmental
Management, Hydrology, Economics and Regional
Development) are the critical foundations of ILWS. Your
membership of ILWS assumes you will be an active participant
in the life of one of these scholarly communities. Margaret
Alston, David Watson & Robyn Watts, Joanne Millar, Shahbaz
Khan and Mark Morrison are the leaders of these Centres/
Discipline groups.
- Prof Allan Curtis
It is also important to keep the big picture in mind. Australia
does not have the budget of the EU and we cannot afford to
have a bush tender for every environmental issue. We need to
consider how to best use MBIs. Tenders should be targeted
only at critical issues for limited time periods. Perhaps they can
be used as part of a sequence, involving education, then MBIs
and regulation. MBIs could be used to alter behaviour with the
expectation that they will not be available in the longer term.
And given budget realities, we should prioritise research into
MBIs that require less ongoing funding.
IN THE NEWS
LIVESTOCK SCIENCE
Prof Marg Alston address at the CSIRO Horizons in Livestock
Science Conference was featured in Australian Biotechnology
News on Dec 5.
BIRD FLU AND WATERBIRD MOVEMENTS
Dr David Roshier continued to be sought by the media for his
knowledge about bird flu and waterbird movements. Interviews
include:
•
ABC Goulburn Murray morning show on Dec 7
•
ABC Riverina morning show on Dec 12
•
Macquarie Regional Radioworks (Charles Wooley
Across Australia) on Feb 16
SEX IN THE COUNTRY
Dr Angela Ragusa’s research on sex workers in the country
continued to attract media interest with two interviews (one
radio, one print with Kim Woods from The Weekly Times, after
she presented a paper on the topic at The Australian
Sociological Association Conference in December last year.
SPECIES ON THE BRINK
Dr Gary Luck, part of an international researchers investigating
animals and plant species at risk of imminent extinction, was
featured in ABC Science Online article on Dec 13 at
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1527720.htm
INSTITUTE FOR LAND, WATER AND SOCIETY ADVISORY
BOARD
(Back row) Ken Matthews AO, Dr Wendy Craik, Dr Steve
Morton, Ian Kiernan AO, Dr Denis Saunders (Chair)
(Front row) Victoria Keighery, Prof Allan Curtis (Institute
director), Cathy McGowan AO
March 2006
P2
CONTROLLING WEEDS WITH SUGAR
Stories and media releases on Dr Suzanne Prober and Dr Ian
Lunt’s research on using sugar to control weeds in grassy box
woodlands restoration project have been widely publicised,
including:
•
Southern Weekly Magazine (Rural Press Publication);
•
North East Farmer January 2006
•
Eco Voice, Environment News & Info, Feb 2006
www.ecovoice.com.au
•
The Weekly Times Dec 14
•
Western Advocate Dec 15
•
Narooma News
•
Town and Country in December
•
Small Farms March 2006
•
Bioiversity newsletter (February issue)
Radio interviews with Ian were on 2WG/2LF/Star FM on Dec
20; with ABC Riverina on Dec 21; and with Suzanne on
ABC Country Hour on Dec 8; and ABC Central West on Dec
8.
MALLEE FOWL RELEASE PROGRAM
Dr Andrea Wilson spoke to ABC Riverina about her
research looking at post release survival and movement
patterns of captive bred Mallee fowls on Dec 23. Honours
student Chris Coombes, who was out at Yathong nature
reserve tracking the birds, was also interviewed.
DUNG BEETLES & WEEDS
Prof Nick Klomp was on Prime TV News (Albury) on Jan 4
commenting on the effect of dung beetles on blowfly
numbers, and again on Jan 6 commenting on the
significance of the Victorian Government’s $7million to
remove weeds and revegetate the alpine plains.
ALLEVIATING POVERTY
Dr Manohar Pawar appeared on WIN TV news (Wagga and
Orange) on January 5 speaking about alleviating world
poverty. A book he co-authored “International Social Work:
Issues, strategies and programmes” (Sage, California) was
featured in the Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga, on January
20.
GROWTH AT ORANGE
Prof Kevin Parton, head of the School of Rural Management
at Orange, has been featured in the Central Western Daily
three times over the last few months. Stories include “CSU
plans Orange campus expansion” on Jan 16; “Growth tied to
Bells Line access” on January 31; and “TAFE director visits
campuses in Person” on Feb 23.
CRAB SPIDER AND MILLIPEDE RESEARCH
PhD student Carr’s research on crab spiders and millipedes
was featured on WIN TV news on Jan 13.
VIEW ON SCHEME
Prof Kevin Parton was interviewed by Kathy Bedford from
ABC Victoria Statewide Drive on the supposed climate
science part of a scheme to move rain to the Mallee, Feb 6.
RU487 DEBATE
On behalf of the Community of Scholars, Gender Women
and Society, Dr Ingrid Muenstermann, a sociology lecturer
with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences was
interviewed (together with a social work student and a
nursing student) by Edwina Farley for Rural ABC radio for a
story on the RU487 debate which went to air on Feb 7.
BATS & HOUSES
Prof Nick Klomp was interviewed by ABC Goulburn Murray
for a story about bats in houses and what to do about them
on Feb 15. The on-line version of the story plus some great
bat pics by Craig Grabham is at
http://www.abc.net.au/goulburnmurray/stories/s1569546.htm
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS DONATED
Assoc Prof Dirk Spennemann, who visited Micronesia in
January/February, made the Saipan Tribune on Feb 15 in
an article “Council donates historical documents to NMI
archives” re a donation of collections by the Northern
Mariana Islands Council for the Humanities. Dirk also
featured in the Pacific Daily News in Guam on Feb 7 for a
Distinguished Speaker certificate he received at the Richard
Flores Taitano Micronesian Area research Center at the
University of Guam.
March 2006
P3
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
NEW ECOLOGY DISCIPLINE
GROUP
The formation of an ecology group within the institute
is an exciting development.
“It will foster internal communications, allow us to find out
about what we are do, be a catalyst for collaboration, and
provide further opportunities for supporting and mentoring
each other,” says Dr David Watson who will share the
leadership role with Dr Robyn Watts. “We’re a strong group
with 11 full-time academics based at Thurgoona and
Wagga, plus all our PhD students – there’s about 15 of them
– plus the Johnstone Centre Environmental Consulting staff.
There are also a couple of ecologists at Orange and, while
we understand that the distance between campuses makes
it difficult, they will join us when they can.”
The ecology group is already well on the way to achieving
their goal of holding one activity a month. To make up for a
quiet January, three events were held in February. The first
of these was a seminar presented by new SEIS lecturer
Rachel O’Brien on “Niche Modelling and other GIS
Applications in Ecology” held on Wednesday, February 15
at Thurgoona. She covered most of the current approaches
to predictive modelling and gave several worked examples
from her doctoral research, illustrating how they can be
applied to real-world questions.
The following week, there were two workshops. The first
covered Dissertation Writing, with Dr Gary Luck, Dr Ian Lunt
and Jon O’Neill sharing their perspectives on how to go
about writing a PhD thesis. According to PhD student
Robyn Whipp, the workshop was a great success, and “demystified the process of putting together a thesis”.
On February 22, David Watson ran a workshop on
establishing research capacity. The workshop was aimed at
all early career researchers, not just ecologists. It covered
eight main areas which included reading and thinking; key
skills and activities; writing and publishing; impact and
research quality; grants –big and small;
students/collaborators; demonstrating versatility; and
maintaining your interest, and included a forum for open
discussion. Second year PhD student Anna Burns found
the workshop quite useful: “it gave me a good overview of
what to keep in mind and plan for in the coming years, as
well as some skills to develop and apply now.”
The next event is a seminar by Catherine Bach, a visiting
professor from Eastern Michigan University. Catherine is
doing four months field work at a site near Woomargama
comparing the herbivory (leaf damage), pollination and
seed dispersal of mistletoe growing on the edges of forest
fragments to mistletoe growing in the forest interior. She will
be using the results of her research to compare with similar
studies she has done in New Zealand. “We are trying to find
out what effect human interference i.e. forest clearing has
had on this plant, “says Cathy whose seminar will be held
on Wednesday, March 15 from 12 noon to 1pm at
Thurgoona.
The ecology group also plan to run an “Ecology Day” for
group members followed by a dinner sometime before
Easter, and there are more activities planned for later in the
year.
PROFILE
graduate (research) coordinator looking after 32 PhD students
and five Masters students. He supervises and co-supervises six
PhD students.
“One of the things that’s good about this place [the University]
is the closeness between the academic staff and the students,
something that is more difficult to achieve in a big university
where you would be lecturing to 500 students,” says Gary.
“Here there are classes with 20 or 30 students. You get to know
all their names. The most rewarding part is encouraging the
good students and seeing them develop and having some
influence on making them think about the world.”
DR GARY LUCK
Gary manages a good balance between his teaching and his
research. He undertakes some research projects himself and
has others where he has found funding for students. These
student projects include:
•
$30,000 from NSW National Parks and Wildlife to
support two PhD students, Elisa Tack and Andrew
Carter, to study the conservation of the Bush Stone
Curlew in the Murray-Darling Basin. This project
started in 2004.
•
$30,000 from NSW National Parks and Wildlife for a
project starting this year with PhD student Kylie Eklom
looking at the relationship between grazing and the
plains wanderer, a nationally threatened bird species,
in a new grasslands national park at Oolambeyan
Station, in central NSW.
Chatting with Dr Gary Luck, an ecologist with the
University’s School of Environmental and Information
Sciences, brings up a discussion on “balance.”
Gary, who has been with the University for three years in his
first full-time academic position, talks about ensuring there is
balance in his life –between his work, and those things outside
his work, such as working in the garden, and being with his
partner and their two border collies. He likes the more relaxed
pace and size of CSU in comparison to a much larger
university. “That’s why I’m here. I didn’t want to sacrifice those
things outside my work which I also enjoy,” says Gary who lives
on an acre block at Kiewa, Victoria, that he is busy planting out
with indigenous trees and shrubs.
Gary’s areas of research interest – conservation and
management of endangered fauna in agricultural landscapes;
the relationship between human demographics and biodiversity;
and the role of species in providing ecosystem services – reflect
his awareness of the need for balance on a bigger scale.
Gary, now 39 years of age, is a relative late-comer to the
academic world. He spent the first eight years of his working life
with the National Australia Bank but a trip to Kakadu National
Park in the Northern territory in 1992 changed his life. “I wanted
to have a job where I could make a positive contribution to the
conservation and management of Australia’s unique flora and
fauna, and ensure the continued health of our environment for
the good of all species,” says Gary who initially wanted to be a
park ranger.
Gary obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science from the
University of South Australia in 1995 before completing his
honours at the University of Adelaide in 1996 where he
conducted one of the first studies in Australia on the
relationship between birds and habitat edges in fragmented
landscapes. In 1997 he moved to Edith Cowan University in
Perth (where he met his partner Gayle, a cell biologist now with
the CSUs School of Community Health in Albury) and did his
PhD on the conservation of threatened birds in agricultural
landscapes. In 2001, he moved to California to take up a
Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University working on a
range of research projects including conservation of avian
frugivores in Costa Rica, and the relationship between human
demographics and biodiversity conservation.
Currently Gary teaches wildlife ecology and management, avian
biology and landscape ecology of birds and is the School post
March 2006
P4
Gary has recently been involved in an international
collaborative study supported for the World Wildlife Fund with
23 other researchers looking at sites across the globe
containing species threatened with immediate extinction. Gary,
who did the Australian component of the study, said there are
21 such sites in Australia and its territories. Study findings were
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences.
A current project, also driven by WWF, involves work with
colleagues from Princeton University looking at factors that
drive species diversity across broad spatial scales.
Gary has just completed a study on managing pine plantations
to conserve bird species (data for that study, which was funded
by a CSU Competitive grant, has been collected by Terry
Korodaj in Mt Lawson State Park, in North-East Victoria); has a
paper ready to submit on the relationship between net primary
productivity and human population density and the implications
of that on conservation; and has just completed a literature
review on the relationship between human population density
and biodiversity conservation. Last year he had a couple of
papers published on ecological thresholds. “Once native
vegetation goes below a certain percent coverage you start
losing a large number of species out of the landscape so there
is a threshold value there,” says Gary.
Gary has been invited to a weeklong international workshop in
NSW in March this year on landscape design principles for
conservation looking at what is needed to restore landscapes to
maximise conservation. Each of the 30 or so invited
researchers will write a book chapter on a set topic. Gary’s topic
is “Edges in Landscapes” such as edges between a remnant
and cropland. During the workshop researchers will give short
presentations and work on syntheses papers. The workshop
has been organised by Prof David Lindenmayer from ANU and
Prof Richard Hobbs from Murdoch – both among Australia’s
leading landscape ecologists.
As Gary discusses his research projects and his teaching
responsibilities, it seems quite a lot. But as he says: “I do what
I can in the time I’ve got. This isn’t a job, it’s something I do
because I love doing it. “
CONFERENCES AND
SEMINARS
and co-chaired a preservation workshop at Pohnpei in January.
CORRUGATIONS
Dr Peter Spooner presented a paper on ‘The development of
historic roads in rural areas of New South Wales’. Corrugations:
the romance and reality of historic roads at the Australian
International Council on Monuments & Sites (ICMOS) National
Conference. Melbourne, 25-27 Nov last year.
WATERBIRD SOCIETY
Ornithologists Dr David Roshier and Dr Iain Taylor attended a
four day international conference held at Tainan, Taiwan, at the
end of November last year. The Waterbird Society Annual
Conference was attended by 300 delegates from around the
world including Europe, Asia, North America, Russia, Australia
and New Zealand. The event allowed for timely and informative
discussion on waterbird management and avian diseases, in
particular avian influenza. David gave a presentation on the
movement of teal ducks and what we know of nomadic species.
Iain was an invited speaker and with Mike Shultz from
Leeton presented some of the results of their study of egret
ecology in rice fields. He was able to link up with many of his
Asian colleagues to discuss possibilities for joint research
projects and the possible setting up of an Australasian section
of the Waterbird Society.
ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
A number of Institute members attended the Ecological Society
of Australia (ESA) Conference in Brisbane from 28 Nov- 2 Dec
last year. PhD student Robyn Whipp gave an oral presentation
titled ‘Effects Of Natural and Human Disturbance on Forest
Structure: 50 Years of Disturbance in the Pilliga State Forests,
Northern NSW’ . Robyn co-authored this paper with, Ian Lunt,
Ross Bradstock and Peter Spooner. Dr David Watson’s
conference presentations were ‘Resource-based determinants
of diversity in a fragmented landscape: insights from the RIFLE
study’ co-authored with Matt Herring and ‘Determinants of
parasitic plant distribution: a case study from central Australia’
co-authored with David Roshier. PhD student Wendy March
gave a talk on ‘The effects of parasitic plants on ecosystem
functioning: mistletoes in a grassy box woodland.’ Dr Peter
Spooner gave a paper ‘Using historical ecology to understand
patterns of biodiversity in fragmented agricultural landscapes’.
Terry Korodaj and Matt Herring also attended the conference.
SOCIOLOGICAL CONFERENCE
Two Institute members presented at The Australian Sociological
Association Conference 2005; Community, Place and Change,
at Hobart, 5-8 Dec last year. Dr Penny Davidson presented a
paper ‘Women’s private negotiations of holidays’ and Dr Angela
Ragusa presented a paper titled ‘For Sale-Sex and the Country:
The Benefits of Sex Work as an Occupational Choice in NSW,
Australia’.
CRAB SPIDERS & ANTHROPOD BIODIVERSITY
Cathy Car, who is doing her PhD on millipede taxonomy and
biogeography attended the joint conference of the 36th
Australian Entomological Society the Society of Australian
Systematic Biologists at ANU in Canberra from December 4- 9
last year. Cathy presented two papers. One was entitled ‘Crab
spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae): Up close and personal’. The
other was entitled ‘Monitoring arthropod biodiversity in the
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area’ which presented the results of a
consultancy undertaken by Skye Wassens and Cathy for
Murrumbidgee Irrigation.
PACIFIC PRESERVATION
Assoc Prof Dirk Spennemann chaired the internationally
attended three-day Pacific Preservation Symposium in Majuro
March
2006
SEP’ ISSUE
P5
P1
ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS
Dr David Watson, Dr Gary Luck and Matt Herring attended the
Australasian Ornithological Congress, Blenheim New Zealand
from 6-10 Dec last year. Matt presented a paper co-authored
with David on ‘Resource-based determinants of diversity in a
fragmented landscape: insights from the RIFLE study.’ David
presented ‘The influence of sample completeness on ecological
inference: insights from the RIFLE study’ co-authored with Matt.
Gary presented a paper on ‘Managing pine plantations for
birds.’
CHANGES IN WOODLANDS
Dr Ian Lunt gave a paper on ‘Long-term changes in Australia’s
agricultural woodlands: what do we know and why does it
matter?’ and Prof Allan Curtis gave an invited presentation
‘Providing the knowledge to underpin regional NRM: a social
research perspective.’ at the Catchment and Natural Resource
Management 2006: Learning to Better Manage Our Catchments
conference in Albury, 23-24 Feb 2006.
WORKSHOPS
LINKING CONCEPTS WITH EXPERIENCE
A training workshop – ‘Social and Community Dimensions of
ACIAR Projects’, was conducted by ILWS members Jo Millar
and Digby Race from 23-27 January 2006 in Vientiane, Lao
PDR. All workshop participants are actively involved in forestry,
agriculture, horticulture or fisheries projects. The aim was to
link key social science and community development concepts
with the project experiences of participants to improve the
outcomes of ACIAR funded projects. Twenty people completed
the workshop from six Lao national or regional agricultural
organisations, 2 international organisations and one Australian
organisation. The workshop was conducted with financial and
administrative support from ACIAR and was led by Principal
Trainers (Dr Joanne Millar & Dr Digby Race, CSU) and a local
facilitator (Mr Sitha Khemmarath from the National University of
Lao). Another two workshops will be held in Indonesia in May
and June.
Training in Lao PDR
COMING UP
ENCHANTED RIVER
The Enchanted River community festival which encourages the
sharing of the knowledge of science through the arts will be
held on Saturday evening, April 1, commencing at 4pm, on the
banks of the Murray River at Noreuil Park in Albury. The
festival, brainchild of local artist Annie Edney, is in its third year
and celebrates the Murray River. Described as a “medieval
fairground atmosphere” it will feature musicians, puppeteers,
circus performers and choirs as well as plenty of food and wine.
There will be a twilight procession of lanterns depicting aquatic
creatures, candles will float by on the river current, and
illuminated sculptures and screens will adorn the park. The
evening will culminate in a fire twirling and fire art display.
CONFERENCES AND
SEMINARS cont.
961-964.
SECOND BIRD FLU INFORMATION EVENING
Following the success of the ILWS panel discussion on bird flu
in Albury last November, a second evening for the public has
been organised for the Wagga Wagga region. Planning has
started for a similar evening at Orange. The “Bird Flu–A Local
Perspective” evening will be held on Tuesday 21 March at
6.00-8pm at the Wagga City Council Meeting Room, Baylis
Street.
Prof Jim Pratley will chair the panel discussion. Other
participants:
•
Institute ecologist Dr David Roshier – movements of
birds within Australia and between Australia and
South-East Asia
•
Tony Kolbe, Director of Population Health at Greater
Southern Area Health Service- public health and
planning
•
Dr John Glastonbury, CSU's School of Agriculture
and Veterinary Sciences – avian influenza, the
disease in birds and our plans to combat an outbreak
•
Kevin Prior, Environmental Health Officer, Wagga City
Council – local response to a bird flu outbreak
All are welcome to attend this free evening. CSU wine and
cheese available. RSVP on 02 6933 2778 or by
[email protected]
CURLEW SUMMIT
A two-day Curlew Summit will be held on Thursday, April 6
and Friday, April 7, at the Department of Primary Industries
(Rutherglen Research Institute), Chiltern Valley Rd.,
Rutherglen, Victoria. The free event (supported by ILWS and
the DPI will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss
research, on-ground management and conservation planning
for the Bush Stone Curlew, listed as an endangered bird in
Victoria and NSW and as vulnerable in South Australia.
Speakers will include landholders, ILWS researchers, state
government staff and community groups from across South
Australia, Victoria and NSW. A half-day field trip will include
visits to local properties to discuss captive breeding, predatorproof fencing and habitat management. On the Thursday
evening there will be a dinner/gathering at a local winery.
Approximate cost is $30. To register please contact Elisa Tack
on 02 6051 9837 or [email protected] Registrations close
March 24.
PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS
Selwood, A., Atkinson, J. and Black, R.S. (2005) Bridging the
Digital Divide: An analysis of a notebook borrowing program at
a rural primary school in Australia. In Communication, Internet
and Information Technology CIIT 2005 October 31- November
2, 2005, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Black, R.S. and Ham, S.H. (2005) Improving the quality of tour
guiding: Towards a model for tour guide certification. Journal of
Ecotourism 4 (3), pp.1-18.
Black, R.S and Weiler, B. (2005) Quality assurance and
regulatory mechanisms in the tour guiding industry: A
systematic review. Journal of Tourism Studies 16 (1), pp.24-37.
Burdett A.S., Watts R.J. & Jansen A. (2005) Invertebrate
fauna of temporary wetlands in agroecosystems on the
Murrumbidgee floodplain. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 29,
SEP’ ISSUE
March
2006
P6
P1
Coates, F., Lunt I.D. & Tremblay, R.L. (2006). Effects of
disturbance on population dynamics of the threatened orchid
Prasophyllum correctum D.L. Jones and implications for
grassland management in south-eastern Australia. Biological
Conservation, 129(1), 59-69.
Wickramasekera, R., and Oczkowski, E. (2006) Stage Models
Re-visited: A Measure of the Stage of Internationalisation of a
Firm. Management International Review, 46(1), 39-55.
Oczkowski, E., (2006) Modelling Winegrape Prices in
Disequilibrium. Agricultural Economics, 34(1), 97-107.
Jie, F., Parton, K. and Cox R.J. (2005) Developing a Suitable
Methodology for Supply Chain Analysis in the Australian Beef
Industry: A Research Proposal, The Winners Journal, volume 6,
number 2 pp 114-122.
McCown, R. L., Brennan, L. E. and Parton, K. A. (2006)
Learning from the historical failure of farm management models
to aid management practice. Part 1. The rise and demise of
theoretical models of farm economics. Australian Journal of
Agricultural Research, 57, pp143 – 156, CSIRO Publishing
McCown, R. L., Brennan, L. E. and Parton, K. A. (2006)
Learning from the historical failure of farm management models
to aid management practice. Part 2. Three systems
approaches. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 57,
pp157 – 172, CSIRO Publishing
http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/40/issue/1380.htm
Battley, P.F., D.I. Rogers and Hassell. C (2006) Pre-breeding
moult, plumage, and evidence for a presupplemental moult in
the Great Knot. Ibis 148: 27-38
Spooner P.G. (2005) On squatters, settlers and early
surveyors: historical development of road reserves in southern
New South Wales. Australian Geographer 36, 55-73.
Cooney SJN and Watson D.M. (2005) Diamond firetails
Stagonopleura guttata preferentially nest in mistletoe. Emu 105:
317–22
Stevens H.C. and Watson D.M. (2005) Breeding biology of
the Grey Shrike-thrush, Colluricincla harmonica. Emu 105:
223–31
Ryder D.S., Watts R.J., Nye E., & Burns, A. (2006) Can flow
velocity regulate epixylic biofilm structure in a regulated
floodplain river? Marine and Freshwater Research, 57(1), 2936.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Buchan, J., Black, R, Howard, J & Macklin, M.,( 2005) Meeting
the challenges of distance education in a regional university
through the development of multimedia resources, 17th Biennial
Conference of the Open and Distance Learning Association of
Australia, ODLAA, November 2005.
TECHNICAL REPORTS
ILWS Report No 2. Evaluation of the North East Catchment
Management Authority’s River Tender Pilot. Allan, C., and
Curtis, A., Howard, J., Mcdonald, S., and Roberton, S. (2006)
ILWS researchers were contracted by the North East CMA to
evaluate a pilot market-based instrument (MBI) that aims to
enhance vegetation and water quality in the heritage-listed
Ovens River valley. Landholders with river frontage were invited
to bid to provide environmental services.
With a budget of $100K, the evaluation is investigating whether
landholders engaged through the MBI are different to those
engaged through Fixed grants; the extent the MBI builds long
term commitment to conservation; and the quality and impact of
communication strategies and tools employed.
tA Multi-Disciplined Community of Scholars: A Johnstone
Centre Bibliography: Dirk HR Spennemann
The Johnstone Centre was a founding partner of ILWS. Named
in honour of Donald A. Johnstone (1927-1997) who was a
director of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the
Centre started off as a teaching and consulting facility in 1987.
It developed into a major player shaping environmental and
social research in south-eastern Australia and the Asia-Pacific
region. During this period, Centre members published 1500
books, journal articles and reports and presented over 600
papers at national and international conferences, details of
which are contained in this bibliography. In his introduction,
Assoc Prof Dirk Spennemann traces the Centre’s history and
examines the level of collaboration between Centre members
and the Australian research community. Copies are available
on loan from Kris Deegan.
In Thailand he visited the offices of the Poverty and
Development and Emerging Social Issues divisions at the
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia, and
the Pacific (UNESCAP) and was an invited member of a panel
of scholars discussing ‘Achieving the Millennium Development
Goals - empowering the poorest of the poor’ organised by
UNESCAP at the United Nations Conference Centre to mark
the International Day for Eradication of Poverty on October 17.
As co-convenor of the Asia-Pacific branch of the International
Consortium for Social Development, Dr Pawar developed a
significant partnership between CSU and Thammasat
University (Thailand) to organise an international conference
“Globilisation, Development and Human Security in the AsiaPacific Region” to be held 18 -20 October 2006 in Thailand.
In India he was a visiting professor at the Tata Institute of
Social Sciences, where he addressed tertiary teachers and
social work educators on the role of communities’ informal
welfare practices in contemporary contexts, and undertook field
visits to flood affected areas. Manohar also presented two
papers at an international symposium, social needs, global
solutions, held at Recifie, Brazil.
SCOTTISH RESEARCH
The impact of drought on secondary education access in
Australia’s rural and remote areas. Prof Marg Alston and
Jenny Kent. A report to the Department of Education, Science
and Training of the Foundation for Rural and Regional
Renewal.
NEWSLETTERS
Forestry partnerships in Indonesia and Australia (Project leader
Dr Digby Race), Project Newsletter #2, January 2006
SPECIAL STUDY PROGRAM
FROM THE HIGHLANDS TO THE LOWLANDS
Dr Rosemary Black recently spent five months on study leave in
the UK. The aim of her visit was to update and improve her
skills and understanding of current heritage interpretation
issues to inform her teaching of heritage interpretation subjects.
Rosemary worked with interpretation staff at Scottish Natural
Heritage in Inverness and the British Museum in London. These
two organisations provided an interesting contrast, the former
focussing on natural heritage and the latter on cultural heritage.
In Inverness she also completed an agency-wide assessment
of formal education delivery on National Nature Reserves. She
also spent time in the Tourism, Hospitality and Events School at
Leeds Metropolitan University working with researchers on
supply chain management in the ecotourism industry. While in
the UK she attended the Association of Heritage Interpretation
conference at Birmingham University, met UK interpretation
professionals and presented a paper on cave interpretation.
IMPACTS ON WOMEN
The focus of social work and human services lecturer Elizabeth
Moore’s sabbatical program was ‘feminisation of poverty’ and
the impacts on women, globally, of intimate partner violence
and the burden of caring for increasing numbers of vulnerable
family and community members. She spent time at the
University of Manitoba and gained experience of community
partnership research methods adopted by the centre for
Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse
(RESOLVE) as well as educational partnerships focused on
indigenous access and case management. In India, Elizabeth
was hosted by Oxfam Australia, and met with its community
partner organisations involved in delivering microfinance
programs to women in rural remote Maharashta and Rajasthan.
THAILAND AND INDIA
Dr Manohar Pawar has recently returned from a sabbatical that
included visits to Thailand and India.
March 2006 P7
Dr Iain Taylor spent his study leave at the “Lighthouse” (pic.
above) research station of Aberdeen University at Cromarty,
northern Scotland - an ideal centre for the study of coastal birds
and mammals. While there Iain analysed data and wrote
papers from his work on the ecology of waterbirds including
studies of egrets, ibises and shorebirds on temporary inland
wetlands in the Murray and Murrumbidgee catchments and
shorebirds in coastal habitats. On his way back to Australia,
Iain spent time in Sri Lanka with Max Finlayson and Maria Bellio
at the International Water Management Institute, Colombo,
discussing possibilities for wetland research in Asia and visiting
coastal Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance).
He then visited the Wildlife Institute of India at Dehra Dun for a
lecture on waterbirds in Australia and to discuss potential
collaborative projects at Chilika Lagoon, Orissa, with Indian
collaborators. Chilika Lagoon is India’s most important Ramsar
site, supporting several million migratory waterbirds.
JC-EC
It is an exciting new year for the JC-EC. We have just added
another member to our staff, Steven Sass as a technical officer
based at Wagga Wagga. Steve will provide much needed
experience, particularly for our flora and fauna assessment
projects. Steve is completing his honours on the determinants
of reptile diversity in a fragmented landscape which will add
valuable knowledge to the consulting unit. Thus far we have
taken on five new projects for the year ranging from roadside
vegetation assessments in the Greater Hume Shire, an aquatic
ecological assessment near Jerilderie in southern New South
Wales and an assessment and evaluation program of sites on
private lands that have been rehabilitated with government
funding assistance within the NECMA area. This year is busy
again already and to top it off Leigh Thompson is away on her
honeymoon. (Congratulations Leigh!!!!!). –Craig Grabham,
Manager JCEC
PROJECTS AND
GRANTS
NATIONALLY
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
Land and Water Australia: Pathways to
good practice in regional NRM
governance. Dr Michael Lockwood
(UTas), Dr Elaine Stratford (UTas), Prof.
Allan Curtis (2006/07). $357,000. This
research involves collaboration with the
Victorian, NSW and Tasmanian lead
agencies for NRM and will identify
principles for sound governance and then
assess current practice in six regions
against those principles. Examples of
good practice will be highlighted for others
to consider. There is also a component
that will explore the impact of governance
on sustainability outcomes from
Catchment Management investments
using qualitative assessments by
stakeholders. Rod Griffith, an ILWS
Research Fellow, and Julie Davidson a
UTas Research Fellow, will be working on
this project with the principal researchers.
RESEARCH
CONTRACTS
Patch Protection – An after-the-fence
look at remnant vegetation. Project to
conduct site assessments of remnant
vegetation fenced under the Greening
Australia (NSW) Program in the Murray
catchment. NSW Environmental Trust/
CSIRO/ Greening Australia. $25,000
(2005/06). Dr Peter Spooner (As GA
project officer for the Murray region)
Effects Of Grazing Management
Following Fencing On Native
Vegetation. Project to report on the
effects of grazing management on
remnant vegetation after fencing. NSW
Department of Environment &
Conservation $20,000 (2006/07) Dr Peter
Spooner.
Derived vegetation communities:
perceptions and values. Project to
assess the values and perceptions of
derived vegetation communities. NSW
Department of Environment &
Conservation. (2006/07) Honours
scholarship ($5,000) Drs Jo Millar & Peter
Spooner supervisors, Honours student:
Emily Sharp.
EXTERNAL GRANTS
Mistletoe: saviour of biodiversity in
remnant woodlands? Winnifred Violet
Scott Trust, ($53,000) Dr David Watson.
Teleworking opportunities for rural and
remote women. (2006) Commonwealth
Office for Women in conjunction with the
Foundation for Australian Agricultural
Women. ($50,000) Pof. Marg Alston in
conjunction with Chris Capel from
Longreach, board member of FAAW.
INTERNAL GRANTS
RIFLE (Resources in Fragmented
Landscapes Experiment): from
mistletoe in woodlands to resources in
remnants. CSU competitive grant.
($20,993) Dr David Watson
AWARDS AND
APPOINTMENTS
Welcome to Dr Rachel O’Brien, who
joined the School of Environmental and
Information Sciences last November as a
lecturer in IT/GIS. Previously Rachel was
in Northern California as a postdoc at he
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the
University of California, Berkeley in
conjunction with the International Center
for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia. Her
main research interests are GIS
modelling, species distribution modelling,
spatial decision support systems and
spatial algorithms and programming.
Dr Peter Spooner from SEIS has been
appointed to an expert advisory board –
NSW NPWS Southern Research and
Survey Steering Group.
Dr Skye Wassens has been appointed as
a lecturer in Ecology at School of Science
and Technology.
Prof Marg Alston, the Director of the
Centre for Rural Social Research, has
been appointed the President of the
Foundation for Australian Agricultural
Women, a community group.
After 16 years with Charles Sturt
University, Dr Rob Stocker from SEIS
has resigned to join former CSU colleague
Dr David Cornforth at the School of
Information Technology and Electrical
Engineering, UNSW at Aust. Defence
Force Academy, in Canberra, as a senior
lecturer.
EDITOR’S CONTACT DETAILS
ALBURY –WODONGA (THURGOONA) CAMPUS Margrit Beemster
[email protected] tel : 02 6051 9653 fax : 02 6051 9797
www.csu.edu.au/research/ilws