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
2019
Journal Article
Identifying technology solutions to bring conservation into the innovation era
Iacona, Gwenllian, Ramachandra, Anurag, McGowan, Jennifer, Davies, Alasdair, Joppa, Lucas, Koh, Lian Pin, Fegraus, Eric, Game, Edward, Guillera-Arroita, Gurutzeta, Harcourt, Rob, Indraswari, Karlina, Lahoz-Monfort, Jose J., Oliver, Jessica L., Possingham, Hugh P., Ward, Adrian, Watson, David W., Watson, James E. M., Wintle, Brendan A. and Chades, Iadine (2019). Identifying technology solutions to bring conservation into the innovation era. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 17 (10), 591-598. doi: 10.1002/fee.2111
2019
Journal Article
A call for international leadership and coordination to realize the potential of conservation technology
Lahoz-Monfort, José J., Chadès, Iadine, Davies, Alasdair, Fegraus, Eric, Game, Edward, Guillera-Arroita, Gurutzeta, Harcourt, Robert, Indraswari, Karlina, McGowan, Jennifer, Oliver, Jessica L., Refisch, Johannes, Rhodes, Jonathan, Roe, Paul, Rogers, Alex, Ward, Adrian, Watson, David M., Watson, James E. M., Wintle, Brendan A. and Joppa, Lucas (2019). A call for international leadership and coordination to realize the potential of conservation technology. BioScience, 69 (10), 823-832. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biz090
2019
Journal Article
Wilderness areas halve the extinction risk of terrestrial biodiversity
Di Marco, Moreno, Ferrier, Simon, Harwood, Tom D., Hoskins, Andrew J. and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Wilderness areas halve the extinction risk of terrestrial biodiversity. Nature, 573 (7775), 582-585. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1567-7
2019
Journal Article
Nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and the costs of delayed action
Winning, Matthew, Price, James, Ekins, Paul, Pye, Steve, Glynn, James, Watson, Jim and McGlade, Christophe (2019). Nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and the costs of delayed action. Climate Policy, 19 (8), 947-958. doi: 10.1080/14693062.2019.1615858
2019
Journal Article
Three Global Conditions for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use: an implementation framework
Locke, Harvey, Ellis, Erle C., Venter, Oscar, Schuster, Richard, Ma, Keping, Shen, Xiaoli, Woodley, Stephen, Kingston, Naomi, Bhola, Nina, Strassburg, Bernardo B. N., Paulsch, Axel, Williams, Brooke and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Three Global Conditions for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use: an implementation framework. National Science Review, 6 (6), 1080-1082. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwz136
2019
Other Outputs
Environment laws have failed to tackle the extinction emergency. Here's the proof
Ward, Michelle, Reside, April, Possingham, Hugh, Watson, James, Simmonds, Jeremy, Rhodes, Jonathan and Taylor, Martin (2019, 09 09). Environment laws have failed to tackle the extinction emergency. Here's the proof The Conversation
2019
Journal Article
Lots of loss with little scrutiny: the attrition of habitat critical for threatened species in Australia
Ward, Michelle S., Simmonds, Jeremy S., Reside, April E., Watson, James E. M., Rhodes, Jonathan R., Possingham, Hugh P., Trezise, James, Fletcher, Rachel, File, Lindsey and Taylor, Martin (2019). Lots of loss with little scrutiny: the attrition of habitat critical for threatened species in Australia. Conservation Science and Practice, 1 (11) e117. doi: 10.1111/csp2.117
2019
Journal Article
A manifesto for predictive conservation
Travers, Henry, Selinske, Matthew, Nuno, Ana, Serban, Anca, Mancini, Francesca, Barychka, Tatsiana, Bush, Emma, Rasolofoson, Ranaivo A., Watson, James E.M. and Milner-Gulland, E. J. (2019). A manifesto for predictive conservation. Biological Conservation, 237, 12-18. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.059
2019
Journal Article
A bold successor to Aichi Target 11−−Response
Visconti, Piero, Butchart, Stuart H.M., Brooks, Thomas M., Langhammer, Penny F., Marnewick, Daniel, Vergara, Sheila, Yanosky, Alberto, Crowe, Olivia and Watson, James E.M. (2019). A bold successor to Aichi Target 11−−Response. Science, 365 (6454), 650-651. doi: 10.1126/science.aay2768
2019
Journal Article
Diverse contributions benefit people and nature
Watson, James E. M. and Jones, Julia P. G. (2019). Diverse contributions benefit people and nature. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 3 (8), 1140-1141. doi: 10.1038/s41559-019-0936-9
2019
Journal Article
Emerging evidence that armed conflict and coca cultivation influence deforestation patterns
Negret, Pablo Jose, Sonter, Laura, Watson, James E.M., Possingham, Hugh P., Jones, Kendall R., Suarez, Cesar, Ochoa-Quintero, Jose Manuel and Maron, Martine (2019). Emerging evidence that armed conflict and coca cultivation influence deforestation patterns. Biological Conservation, 239 108176, 108176. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.07.021
2019
Journal Article
Need to address gaps in global fisheries observation
Roberson, Leslie A., Kiszka, Jeremy J. and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Need to address gaps in global fisheries observation. Conservation Biology, 33 (4) cobi.13265, 966-968. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13265
2019
Journal Article
All threatened species habitat is important
Simmonds, J. S. and Watson, J. E. M. (2019). All threatened species habitat is important. Animal Conservation, 22 (4), 324-325. doi: 10.1111/acv.12518
2019
Journal Article
Widespread shortfalls in protected area resourcing undermine efforts to conserve biodiversity
Coad, Lauren, Watson, James E. M., Geldmann, Jonas, Burgess, Neil D., Leverington, Fiona, Hockings, Marc, Knights, Kathryn and Di Marco, Moreno (2019). Widespread shortfalls in protected area resourcing undermine efforts to conserve biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 17 (5) fee.2042, 259-264. doi: 10.1002/fee.2042
2019
Journal Article
The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well‐being
O'Bryan, Christopher J., Holden, Matthew H. and Watson, James E.M. (2019). The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well‐being. Ecology Letters, 22 (9) ele.13288, 1340-1348. doi: 10.1111/ele.13288
2019
Journal Article
Quantifying biases in marine‐protected‐area placement relative to abatable threats
Kuempel, Caitlin D., Jones, Kendall R., Watson, James E.M. and Possingham, Hugh P. (2019). Quantifying biases in marine‐protected‐area placement relative to abatable threats. Conservation Biology, 33 (6) cobi.13340, 1350-1359. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13340
2019
Journal Article
The impact of climate change and urban growth on urban climate and heat stress in a subtropical city
Chapman, Sarah, Thatcher, Marcus, Salazar, Alvaro, Watson, James E.M. and McAlpine, Clive A. (2019). The impact of climate change and urban growth on urban climate and heat stress in a subtropical city. International Journal of Climatology, 39 (6), 3013-3030. doi: 10.1002/joc.5998
2019
Journal Article
Last chance for Madagascar’s biodiversity
Jones, Julia P. G., Ratsimbazafy, Jonah, Ratsifandrihamanana, Anitry N., Watson, James E. M., Andrianandrasana, Herizo T., Cabeza, Mar, Cinner, Joshua E., Goodman, Steven M., Hawkins, Frank, Mittermeier, Russell A., Rabearisoa, Ando L., Rakotonarivo, O. Sarobidy, Razafimanahaka, Julie H., Razafimpahanana, Andriamandimbisoa R., Wilmé, Lucienne and Wright, Patricia C. (2019). Last chance for Madagascar’s biodiversity. Nature Sustainability, 2 (5), 350-352. doi: 10.1038/s41893-019-0288-0
2019
Journal Article
Protected area targets post-2020
Visconti, Piero, Butchart, Stuart H. M., Brooks, Thomas M., Langhammer, Penny F., Marnewick, Daniel, Vergara, Sheila, Yanosky, Alberto and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Protected area targets post-2020. Science, 364 (6437), 239-241. doi: 10.1126/science.aav6886
2019
Journal Article
Restoration priorities to achieve the global protected area target
Mappin, Bonnie, Chauvenet, Alienor L.M., Adams, Vanessa M., Di Marco, Moreno, Beyer, Hawthorne L., Venter, Oscar, Halpern, Benjamin S., Possingham, Hugh P. and Watson, James E.M. (2019). Restoration priorities to achieve the global protected area target. Conservation Letters, 12 (4) e12646, e12646. doi: 10.1111/conl.12646
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
Biogeography and conservation assessment of the endangered Northern Masked Owl
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Autecology of an endangered Australian passerine: CarpentarianGrasswren (Amytornis dorotheae)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron
-
Doctor Philosophy
Managing grazing in the grasslands of Queenslands Channel Country: a critical refuge for the Critically Endangered Plains Wanderer
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Conservation Biogeography of the Red Goshawk
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
Using Barn Owls to detect Endangered or cryptic species in western Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher
-
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving migratory species
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham, Professor Richard Fuller
Completed supervision
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2024
Master Philosophy
Engaging elected representatives and constituencies for biodiversity conservation success
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Ecology and conservation of the Buff-breasted Button-quail (Turnix olivii)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron
-
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
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental implications of meeting future demand for sugarcane-based ethanol in Brazil.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anthony Halog
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Wilderness Conservation in the Anthropocene
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
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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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment and planning for emerging impacts of climate change on species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eve McDonald-Madden
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Megafauna losses and predatory interactions in tropical forests
Associate Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Ecological restoration planning for effective conservation of terrestrial biodiversity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
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
Planning for Australian threatened species' recovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
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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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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
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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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
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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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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