WildCountry Science

WildCountry Science Council

The WildCountry Science Council is a group of ecological scientists, including some of the most eminent and active in the science community both in Australia and internationally. The group was originally established to provide a space for discussion on the critical factors for protecting and restoring biodiversity in Australia. This group has created the WildCountry Vision and applied it to various conservation research questions.

The approach taken has been to focus on ecological processes and their operation at various scales.  Their work has helped develop a greater understanding of Australian ecology and provided scientific support to conservation efforts. Some of the group’s seminal publications [link to new page: publication_list] have substantially influenced conservation policy and action both by Government and other organizations. While the Wilderness Society has undertaken to provide logistical support for the Science Council, they remain scientifically independent.

For a background on WildCountry science, read this article by Emeritus Professor Harry Recher.

Current members of the WildCountry Science Council are: 

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  WildCountry Science Council members Joern Fischer, Hugh Possingham, Henry Nix, Brendan Mackey and Janette Norman with the Wilderness Society's Strategic Coordinator Virginia Young at a WildCountry Science Council meeting in August 2009. Photo: The Wilderness Society Collection

  Emeritus Professor Henry Nix (Chair)
• Dr Joern Fischer
• Professor Richard Hobbs
• Dr Sarah Legge
• Professor Brendan Mackey
• Dr Janette Norman
• Professor Hugh Possingham
• Emeritus Professor Michael Soulé

The Science Council has published a framework paper on WildCountry terrestrial (land-based) scientific principles, and is currently leading a new discussion on marine scientific processes and their role in conservation planning.  See WildCountry Resources for a list of scientific publications.

WildCountry Science: a new picture of the continent

WildCountry is driven by new, cutting-edge science, based on understanding the large-scale and long-term connections in nature. It aims to solve environmental problems before they occur, and restore the ecological processes and environmental flows which sustain the long-term health of nature.
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WildCountry Research Projects

The Wilderness Society has secured funding to enable foundational scientific work to be undertaken over the years 2004-2007.
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