Professor James Watson
Professor

James Watson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 61645

Background

James is an applied conservation scientist and bioegeographer working at the interface between ecology, policy and management to improve outcomes for biodiversity. He has a particular interest in understanding how humanity influences landscape and the climate, and what this means for biodiversity and ecosystem service outcomes, and the implications of this for environmental policy setting and management.

As a Professor of Conservation Science at The University of Queensland, he leads two research groups. The Green Fire Science research group (www.greenfirescience.com) mission is to do applied research that is linked directly to the practice of large-scale conservation and the Research and Recovery of Endangered Species (https://raresgroup.com.au) mission is to focus on Australia's rarest, least studied species to try and work out their needs and work with those on-ground practioners to try and save them.

James has been passionate conservation for decades. As a Rhodes Scholar, James undertook his PhD research studying in Madagascar, trying to come up with conservation plans to save endemic bird species inhabiting the country’s remaining littoral forest. Since then he has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and reports on conservation related matters, ranging from assessing the impacts of climate change on species to mapping the effectiveness of protected areas on biodiversity conservation outcomes globally. He has served on the International Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Data and Knowledge Task Force, and is a Research Fellow for the United Nation’s Environment Program, a Senior Technical expert for the United Nations Development Program’s Global Programme on Nature for Development, and was the founding chair of the International Union for Nature Conservation Climate Change Specialist Group. James sits on the scientific committees of BirdLife Australia and SUBAC. James was global president of the Society for Conservation Biology in 2015-17.

I am also an affiliated researcher at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science.

Availability

Professor James Watson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Ecology Environmental Sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford

Research interests

  • Conservation policy and practice

Search Professor James Watson’s works on UQ eSpace

477 works between 2001 and 2025
All (477) Journal Article (411) Book Chapter (20) Conference Publication (6) Book (2) Other Outputs (38)

1 - 20 of 477 works

2025

Journal Article

A horizon scan of biological conservation issues for 2025

Sutherland, William J., Brotherton, Peter N.M., Butterworth, Holly M., Clarke, Stewart J., Davies, Tammy E., Doar, Nigel, Esmail, Nafeesa, Fleishman, Erica, Gaston, Kevin J., Herbert-Read, James E., Hughes, Alice C., Hughes, Jonathan, Kaartokallio, Hermanni, Koh, Lian Pin, Kumar, Ritesh, Lickorish, Fiona A., Littler, Hannah, Palardy, James E., Pearce-Higgins, James W., Peck, Lloyd S., Pettorelli, Nathalie, Pretty, Jules, Schloss, Irene R., Spalding, Mark D., ten Brink, Dirk, Tew, Eleanor R., Timoshyna, Anastasiya, Tubbs, Nicolas, Watson, James E.M. ... Thornton, Ann (2025). A horizon scan of biological conservation issues for 2025. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 40 (1), 80-89. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.11.002

A horizon scan of biological conservation issues for 2025

2024

Journal Article

The cost of recovering Australia’s threatened species

Reside, April E., Carwardine, Josie, Ward, Michelle, Yong, Chuanji, Venegas Li, Ruben, Rogers, Andrew, Wintle, Brendan A., Silcock, Jennifer, Woinarski, John, Lintermans, Mark, Taylor, Gary, Pintor, Anna F. V. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). The cost of recovering Australia’s threatened species. Nature Ecology & Evolution e12682. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02617-z

The cost of recovering Australia’s threatened species

2024

Journal Article

Global rarity of high-integrity tropical rainforests for threatened and declining terrestrial vertebrates

Pillay, Rajeev, Watson, James E.M., Hansen, Andrew J., Burns, Patrick, Virnig, Anne Lucy Stilger, Supples, Christina, Armenteras, Dolors, González-del-Pliego, Pamela, Aragon-Osejo, Jose, A. Jantz, Patrick, Ervin, Jamison, Goetz, Scott J. and Venter, Oscar (2024). Global rarity of high-integrity tropical rainforests for threatened and declining terrestrial vertebrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (51) e2413325121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413325121

Global rarity of high-integrity tropical rainforests for threatened and declining terrestrial vertebrates

2024

Journal Article

Author Correction: Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions

Williams, Brooke A., Beyer, Hawthorne L., Fagan, Matthew E., Chazdon, Robin L., Schmoeller, Marina, Sprenkle-Hyppolite, Starry, Griscom, Bronson W., Watson, James E. M., Tedesco, Anazélia M., Gonzalez-Roglich, Mariano, Daldegan, Gabriel A., Bodin, Blaise, Celentano, Danielle, Wilson, Sarah Jane, Rhodes, Jonathan R., Alexandre, Nikola S., Kim, Do-Hyung, Bastos, Diego and Crouzeilles, Renato (2024). Author Correction: Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions. Nature, 637 (8044), E9-E9. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08481-y

Author Correction: Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions

2024

Journal Article

Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions

Williams, Brooke A., Beyer, Hawthorne L., Fagan, Matthew E., Chazdon, Robin L., Schmoeller, Marina, Sprenkle-Hyppolite, Starry, Griscom, Bronson W., Watson, James E. M., Tedesco, Anazélia M., Gonzalez-Roglich, Mariano, Daldegan, Gabriel A., Bodin, Blaise, Celentano, Danielle, Wilson, Sarah Jane, Rhodes, Jonathan R., Alexandre, Nikola S., Kim, Do-Hyung, Bastos, Diego and Crouzeilles, Renato (2024). Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions. Nature, 636 (8041) e1701345, 131-137. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08106-4

Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions

2024

Journal Article

Mixed effectiveness of global protected areas in resisting habitat loss

Li, Guangdong, Fang, Chuanglin, Watson, James E. M., Sun, Siao, Qi, Wei, Wang, Zhenbo and Liu, Jianguo (2024). Mixed effectiveness of global protected areas in resisting habitat loss. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 8389, 1-17. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52693-9

Mixed effectiveness of global protected areas in resisting habitat loss

2024

Journal Article

Ability of new protected areas to counteract losses from downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement

Yan, Yanyun, Tan, Song Ling, Webb, Edward L., Watson, James E. M. and Carrasco, L. Roman (2024). Ability of new protected areas to counteract losses from downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement. Conservation Biology, e14381. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14381

Ability of new protected areas to counteract losses from downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement

2024

Journal Article

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework needs headline indicators that can actually monitor forest integrity

Pillay, Rajeev, Watson, James E M, Goetz, Scott J, Hansen, Andrew J, Jantz, Patrick A, Ramírez-Delgado, Juan Pablo, Grantham, Hedley S, Ferrier, Simon and Venter, Oscar (2024). The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework needs headline indicators that can actually monitor forest integrity. Environmental Research: Ecology, 3 (4), 043001. doi: 10.1088/2752-664x/ad7961

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework needs headline indicators that can actually monitor forest integrity

2024

Journal Article

Author Correction: A policy-driven framework for conserving the best of Earth’s remaining moist tropical forests

Hansen, Andrew J., Burns, Patrick, Ervin, Jamison, Goetz, Scott J., Hansen, Matthew, Venter, Oscar, Watson, James E. M., Jantz, Patrick A., Virnig, Anne L. S., Barnett, Kevin, Pillay, Rajeev, Atkinson, Scott, Supples, Christina, Rodríguez-Buritica, Susana and Armenteras, Dolors (2024). Author Correction: A policy-driven framework for conserving the best of Earth’s remaining moist tropical forests. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 8 (12), 2336-2336. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02557-8

Author Correction: A policy-driven framework for conserving the best of Earth’s remaining moist tropical forests

2024

Journal Article

Breeding diet of the Australian Red Goshawk and its implications for understanding the species’ trophic niche and decline

MacColl, Christopher, Ward, Michael P., Seaton, Richard, Leseberg, Nicholas P., Murphy, Stephen A. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Breeding diet of the Australian Red Goshawk and its implications for understanding the species’ trophic niche and decline. Journal of Raptor Research, 58 (4), 411-425. doi: 10.3356/jrr2416

Breeding diet of the Australian Red Goshawk and its implications for understanding the species’ trophic niche and decline

2024

Journal Article

Motivating government on threatened species through electoral systems

Kindler, Gareth S., Kusmanoff, Alexander M., Kearney, Stephen, Ward, Michelle, Fuller, Richard A., Lloyd, Thomas J., Bekessy, Sarah A., Gregg, Emily A., Stewart, Romola and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Motivating government on threatened species through electoral systems. Conservation Science and Practice, 6 (9) e13206. doi: 10.1111/csp2.13206

Motivating government on threatened species through electoral systems

2024

Journal Article

Ecosystem extent is a necessary but not sufficient indicator of the state of global forest biodiversity

Ferrier, Simon, Ware, Chris, Austin, Jenet M., Grantham, Hedley S., Harwood, Thomas D. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Ecosystem extent is a necessary but not sufficient indicator of the state of global forest biodiversity. Conservation Letters, 17 (5) e13045. doi: 10.1111/conl.13045

Ecosystem extent is a necessary but not sufficient indicator of the state of global forest biodiversity

2024

Journal Article

Shifting baselines clarify the impact of contemporary logging on forest‐dependent threatened species

Ward, Michelle, Ashman, Kita, Lindenmayer, David B., Legge, Sarah, Kindler, Gareth, Cadman, Timothy, Fletcher, Rachel, Whiterod, Nick, Lintermans, Mark, Zylstra, Philip, Stewart, Romola, Thomas, Hannah, Blanch, Stuart and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Shifting baselines clarify the impact of contemporary logging on forest‐dependent threatened species. Conservation Science and Practice, 6 (9) e13185. doi: 10.1111/csp2.13185

Shifting baselines clarify the impact of contemporary logging on forest‐dependent threatened species

2024

Journal Article

Four years of targeted surveys across northern Queensland failed to detect any evidence of Buff-breasted Button-quail <i>Turnix olivii</i>

Webster, Patrick T. D., Leseberg, N. P., Murphy, S. A. and Watson, J. E. M. (2024). Four years of targeted surveys across northern Queensland failed to detect any evidence of Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix olivii. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 124 (3-4), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2024.2343680

Four years of targeted surveys across northern Queensland failed to detect any evidence of Buff-breasted Button-quail <i>Turnix olivii</i>

2024

Journal Article

Africa needs context-relevant evidence to shape its clean energy future (vol 7, pg 1015, 2022)

Mulugetta, Yacob, Sokona, Youba, Trotter, Philipp A., Fankhauser, Samuel, Omukuti, Jessica, Croxatto, Lucas Somavilla, Steffen, Bjarne, Tesfamichael, Meron, Abraham, Edo, Adam, Jean-Paul, Agbemabiese, Lawrence, Agutu, Churchill, Aklilu, Mekalia Paulos, Alao, Olakunle, Batidzirai, Bothwell, Bekele, Getachew, Dagnachew, Anteneh G., Davidson, Ogunlade, Denton, Fatima, Diemuodeke, E. Ogheneruona, Egli, Florian, Eshetu, Gebrekidan Gebresilassie, Gebreslassie, Mulualem, Goundiam, Mamadou, Gujba, Haruna Kachalla, Hailu, Yohannes, Hawkes, Adam D., Hirmer, Stephanie, Hoka, Helen ... Yussuff, Abdulmutalib (2024). Africa needs context-relevant evidence to shape its clean energy future (vol 7, pg 1015, 2022). Nature Energy, 9 (7), 907-907. doi: 10.1038/s41560-024-01552-4

Africa needs context-relevant evidence to shape its clean energy future (vol 7, pg 1015, 2022)

2024

Journal Article

Beak and feather disease virus detected in the endangered Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)

MacColl, Christopher, Watson, James E. M., Leseberg, Nicholas P., Seaton, Richard, Das, Tridip, Das, Shubhagata and Raidal, Shane R. (2024). Beak and feather disease virus detected in the endangered Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus). Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 10263, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60874-1

Beak and feather disease virus detected in the endangered Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)

2024

Journal Article

Scaling up area-based conservation to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30x30 target: The role of Nature’s Strongholds

Robinson, John G., LaBruna, Danielle, O’Brien, Tim, Clyne, Peter J., Dudley, Nigel, Andelman, Sandy J., Bennett, Elizabeth L., Chicchon, Avecita, Durigan, Carlos, Grantham, Hedley, Kinnaird, Margaret, Lieberman, Sue, Maisels, Fiona, Moreira, Adriana, Rao, Madhu, Stokes, Emma, Walston, Joe and Watson, James E.M. (2024). Scaling up area-based conservation to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30x30 target: The role of Nature’s Strongholds. PLoS Biology, 22 (5 May) e3002613, e3002613. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002613

Scaling up area-based conservation to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30x30 target: The role of Nature’s Strongholds

2024

Journal Article

Bringing the forest back: restoration priorities in Colombia

Williams, Brooke A., López‐Cubillos, Sofía, Ochoa‐Quintero, Jose Manuel, Crouzeilles, Renato, Villa‐Piñeros, Marcelo, Isaacs Cubides, Paola Johanna, Schmoeller, Marina, Marin, Wilmer, Tedesco, Anazelia, Bastos, Diego, Suárez‐Castro, Andrés Felipe, Romero Jiménez, Luis Hernando, Broadbent, Eben N., Almeyda Zambrano, Angelica M., Vincent, Jeffrey R., Yi, Yuanyuan, Chazdon, Robin L., Watson, James E. M., Urbano, Elkin Alexi Noguera, Rodriguez, Cristian Alexander Cruz and Beyer, Hawthorne L. (2024). Bringing the forest back: restoration priorities in Colombia. Diversity and Distributions, 30 (4) e13821, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13821

Bringing the forest back: restoration priorities in Colombia

2024

Journal Article

Effectively Incorporating Small Reserves into National Systems of Protected and Conserved Areas

Dudley, Nigel, Timmins, Hannah L., Stolton, Sue and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Effectively Incorporating Small Reserves into National Systems of Protected and Conserved Areas. Diversity, 16 (4) 216, 216. doi: 10.3390/d16040216

Effectively Incorporating Small Reserves into National Systems of Protected and Conserved Areas

2024

Journal Article

Global marine conservation priorities for sustaining marine productivity, preserving biodiversity and addressing climate change

Fermepin, Solange, Watson, James E.M., Grantham, Hedley S. and Mendez, Martin (2024). Global marine conservation priorities for sustaining marine productivity, preserving biodiversity and addressing climate change. Marine Policy, 161 106016. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106016

Global marine conservation priorities for sustaining marine productivity, preserving biodiversity and addressing climate change

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Queensland regional planning assessments
    Queensland Conservation Council
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    A critical pathway for Australia's Conservation Future (Ian Potter Foundation grant administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Wilderness Inventory Data Review
    Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (South Australia)
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Mapping threatened species recovery across Federal electorates
    World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Threatened Species: pilot project
    Australian Capital Territory - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Conservation Research Branch
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Apply Key Biodiversity Criteria to Bush Heritage Priority Landscapes to determine intactness and land condition
    Bush Heritage Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Linking assessment of global goals for ecosystems and species by coupling WCS and CSIRO capabilities in landscape integrity mapping and biodiversity modelling
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    A conservation metric for business to measure biodiversity
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Assessing the biotic response to intact forest metrics
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Vibrant Oceans: Applied Coral Reef Conservation
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    KBA mapping for Australia
    Birdlife Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    The ecology and conservation biogeography of the buff-breasted button-quail
    Birds Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    ACF Key Biodiversity Areas Mapping Project
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Ecosystem risk assessment (ARC Linkage Project administered by The University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Global priorities for terrestrial biodiversity
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Land clearing assessment on species
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Identifying Nature's Strongholds
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Conservation Priority Setting
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Africa Climate Change and Biodiversity - ABCG II
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Identifying the most important terrestrial wilderness areas on the planet
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Australia wide analysis for threatened species
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Intact Forests - Framework Metric
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    SNAPP Compensatory Conservation Working Group
    The Nature Conservancy
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Macarthur Intact Forests
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Rapid response to significant unanticipated threat - testing novel feral cat control strategies to support conservation of the endangered alwal/golden-shouldered parrot [...]
    Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Night Parrot Research, Pullen Pullen Reserve, Qld
    Bush Heritage Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Africa Spatial Planning - ABCG II
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    GIS support to WCS Indonesia Program's Sulawesi project
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Intact forests values assessment
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Provide MARXAN analysis of WCS Papua New Guinea program
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2022
    The capacity of forests to protect regional climate under global warming
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Assessing biodiversity priorities and carbon values across the Great Eastern Ranges
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Africa Biodiversity Consultative Group II
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    Support for Research Assistants
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    The Luc Hoffman Institute Fellow - Pathways for Drivers of Positive Change
    WWF International
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Planning for the impacts of land-uses on coral reef fisheries
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Analysis of the public protected area framework in NSW and future opportunities
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Assimilating development objectives in conservation planning
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    ECO-SMarT
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Integrating human response to climate change into conservation planning: developing an integrated decision framework
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    MacArthur Foundation - Lower Mekong
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    `MacArthur Foundation - Portfolio Approach
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    MacArthur Foundation - Tanzania - Green Economies
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub
    National Environmental Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Africa Biodiversity Consultative Group
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Conservation strategy fund - Uganda
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    MacArthur Foundation - Birdlife subgrant - Support WCS's East Africa climate assessment work for Rwanda and Tanzania
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    MacArthur Foundation - West Indian Ocean spatial planning assessment
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Eastern DRC spatial planning
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Climate adaptation on coral reefs
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor James Watson is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Ecology and conservation of the Buff-breasted Button-quail (Turnix olivii)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron

  • Master Philosophy

    Engaging elected representatives and constituencies for biodiversity conservation success

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Conservation Biogeography of the Red Goshawk

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Managing grazing in the grasslands of Queenslands Channel Country: a critical refuge for the Critically Endangered Plains Wanderer

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Autecology of an endangered Australian passerine: CarpentarianGrasswren (Amytornis dorotheae)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron

  • Master Philosophy

    Engaging elected representatives and constituencies for biodiversity conservation success

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Classifying and understanding the effectiveness of ecological corridors and their role in wider landscape and seascape integrity

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Carissa Klein

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biogeography and conservation assessment of the endangered Northern Masked Owl

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Megafauna losses and predatory interactions in tropical forests

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Luskin

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor James Watson directly for media enquiries about:

  • biodiversity
  • climate change
  • extinction
  • landclearing
  • landuse planning
  • logging
  • saving species
  • species loss

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