Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford
Research interests
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Conservation policy and practice
Works
Search Professor James Watson’s works on UQ eSpace
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. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52693-9
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. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14381
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
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). doi: 10.1111/csp2.13206
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. doi: 10.1111/conl.13045
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
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
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
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
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
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
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) ARTN 216, 216. doi: 10.3390/d16040216
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, 106016. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106016
2024
Journal Article
A report card to effectively communicate threatened species recovery
Ward, Michelle, Rout, Tracy M., Possingham, Hugh P., Stewart, Romola, McDonald-Madden, Eve, Clark, Thomas G., Kindler, Gareth S., Valentine, Leonie E., Macmillan, Ellen, Maitz, Natalya, Haskin, Elouise and Watson, James E. M. (2024). A report card to effectively communicate threatened species recovery. One Earth, 7 (2), 186-198. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.12.009
2024
Journal Article
Assessing adequacy of citizen science datasets for biodiversity monitoring
Backstrom, Louis J., Callaghan, Corey T., Leseberg, Nicholas P., Sanderson, Chris, Fuller, Richard A. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Assessing adequacy of citizen science datasets for biodiversity monitoring. Ecology and Evolution, 14 (2) e10857, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/ece3.10857
2024
Journal Article
Developing national complementary indicators of SDG15 that consider forest quality: Applications in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
Hansen, Andrew J., Aragon-Osejo, Jose, González, Iván, Veneros, Jaris, Virnig, Anne Lucy Stilger, Jantz, Patrick, Venter, Oscar, Goetz, Scott, Watson, James E.M., Cordoba, Natalia, Rodriguez, Susana, Monroy, Luisa, Iglesias, Juan, Beltrán, Lenin, Borja, Daniel, Ureta, Diego, Tingo, Jossie, Oñate, Carlos, Valencia, Freddy, Zambrano, Holger, Pequeño, Tatiana, Llactayo, William, Huamani, Walter, Duran, Patricia, Arana, Alexs, Arenas, Marco, Pasquel, Claudia, Tovar, Antonio and Huerta, Patricia (2024). Developing national complementary indicators of SDG15 that consider forest quality: Applications in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Ecological Indicators, 159 111654, 111654. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111654
2024
Journal Article
Monitoring threats to Australian threatened birds: climate change was the biggest threat in 2020 with minimal progress on its management
Garnett, Stephen T., Woinarski, John C. Z., Barry Baker, G., Berryman, Alex J., Crates, Ross, Legge, Sarah M., Lilleyman, Amanda, Luck, Linda, Tulloch, Ayesha I. T., Verdon, Simon J., Ward, Michelle, Watson, James E. M., Zander, Kerstin K. and Geyle, Hayley M. (2024). Monitoring threats to Australian threatened birds: climate change was the biggest threat in 2020 with minimal progress on its management. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 124 (1), 37-54. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2291144
2024
Journal Article
The feasibility of implementing management for threatened birds in Australia
Crates, Ross, Barry Baker, G., Legge, Sarah M., Menkhorst, Peter W., Murphy, Steve, Watson, James E.M., Woinarski, John C. Z. and Garnett, Stephen T. (2024). The feasibility of implementing management for threatened birds in Australia. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 124 (1), 93-107. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2295355
2024
Journal Article
Using citizen science to identify Australia’s least known birds and inform conservation action
Backstrom, Louis J., Leseberg, Nicholas P., Callaghan, Corey T., Sanderson, Chris, Fuller, Richard. A. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Using citizen science to identify Australia’s least known birds and inform conservation action. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 124 (2), 199-205. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2283443
2024
Journal Article
A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2024
Sutherland, William J., Bennett, Craig, Brotherton, Peter N.M., Butchart, Stuart H.M., Butterworth, Holly M., Clarke, Stewart J., Esmail, Nafeesa, Fleishman, Erica, Gaston, Kevin J., Herbert-Read, James E., Hughes, Alice C., James, Jennifer, Kaartokallio, Hermanni, Le Roux, Xavier, Lickorish, Fiona A., Newport, Sarah, Palardy, James E., Pearce-Higgins, James W., Peck, Lloyd S., Pettorelli, Nathalie, Primack, Richard B., Primack, Willow E., Schloss, Irene R., Spalding, Mark D., ten Brink, Dirk, Tew, Eleanor, Timoshyna, Anastasiya, Tubbs, Nicolas, Watson, James E.M. ... Thornton, Ann (2024). A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2024. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 39 (1), 89-100. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.11.001
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor James Watson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Ecology and conservation of the Buff-breasted Button-quail (Turnix olivii)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron
-
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
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Master Philosophy
Engaging elected representatives and constituencies for biodiversity conservation success
Principal Advisor
-
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: Dr Matthew Luskin
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the state and planning for the conservation of intact ecosystems
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Conservation Biogeography of the Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Fuller
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Improving Australia's response to the biodiversity crisis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr April Reside
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental implications of meeting future demand for sugarcane-based ethanol in Brazil.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anthony Halog
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Improving Marine Conservation Planning in a Time of Global Change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham, Associate Professor Carissa Klein
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Wilderness Conservation in the Anthropocene
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment and planning for emerging impacts of climate change on species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eve McDonald-Madden
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Ecological restoration planning for effective conservation of terrestrial biodiversity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Biodiversity Risks and Safeguards of Global Infrastructure Finance: The Case of China's Belt and Road Initiative
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing fishing impacts on species of conservation concern at multiple scales
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Salit Kark, Associate Professor Carissa Klein
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Planning for Australian threatened species' recovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the effectiveness of planned adaptation in rural Pacific Island communities: case studies from Fiji and Kiribati
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen McNamara
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Impact mitigation in marine and coastal environments: policy challenges and shortfalls
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The exposure and contribution of predators and scavengers to humans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Matthew Holden, Professor Eve McDonald-Madden
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development, armed conflict and conservation: improving the effectiveness of conservation decisions in conflict hotspots using Colombia as a case study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham, Associate Professor Laura Sonter, Professor Martine Maron
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Natural capital and distributive justice; a multidisciplinary, multi-scalar assessment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bradd Witt
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of urban growth and climate change on heat stress in a sub-tropical Australian city
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Using fine and coarse conservation targets to maximize cost-effectiveness of road mitigation and protected areas
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
Media
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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