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
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
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
2019
Journal Article
Retention and restoration priorities for climate adaptation in a multi-use landscape
Maxwell, Sean L., Reside, April, Trezise, James, McAlpine, Clive A. and Watson, James EM. (2019). Retention and restoration priorities for climate adaptation in a multi-use landscape. Global Ecology and Conservation, 18 e00649, e00649. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00649
2019
Journal Article
How to send a finch extinct
Reside, April E., Cosgrove, Anita J., Pointon, Revel, Trezise, James, Watson, James E.M. and Maron, Martine (2019). How to send a finch extinct. Environmental Science and Policy, 94, 163-173. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.01.005
2019
Journal Article
Identifying global centers of unsustainable commercial harvesting of species
Di Minin, Enrico, Brooks, Thomas M., Toivonen, Tuuli, Butchart, Stuart H. M., Heikinheimo, Vuokko, Watson, James E. M., Burgess, Neil D., Challender, Daniel W. S., Goettsch, Bárbara, Jenkins, Richard and Moilanen, Atte (2019). Identifying global centers of unsustainable commercial harvesting of species. Science Advances, 5 (4) eaau2879, eaau2879. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau2879
2019
Journal Article
Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian birds: metrics of progress
Garnett, S. T., Butchart, S. H. M., Baker, G. B., Bayraktarov, E., Buchanan, K. L., Burbidge, A. A., Chauvenet, A. L. M., Christidis, L., Ehmke, G., Grace, M., Hoccom, D. G., Legge, S. M., Leiper, I., Lindenmayer, D. B., Loyn, R. H., Maron, M., McDonald, P., Menkhorst, P., Possingham, H. P., Radford, J., Reside, A. E., Watson, D. M., Watson, J. E. M., Wintle, B., Woinarski, J. C. Z. and Geyle, H. M. (2019). Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian birds: metrics of progress. Conservation Biology, 33 (2), 456-468. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13220
2019
Journal Article
Forests are still key to climate action
Watson, James E. M. (2019). Forests are still key to climate action. Nature, 567 (7748), 311-311. doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-00869-5
2019
Journal Article
Hotspots of human impact on threatened terrestrial vertebrates
Allan, James R., Watson, James E. M., Di Marco, Moreno, O’Bryan, Christopher J., Possingham, Hugh P., Atkinson, Scott C. and Venter, Oscar (2019). Hotspots of human impact on threatened terrestrial vertebrates. PLOS Biology, 17 (3) e3000158, e3000158. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000158
2019
Journal Article
Brokering trust in citizen science
Gilfedder, Mat, Robinson, Cathy J., Watson, James E. M., Campbell, Thomas G., Sullivan, Brian L. and Possingham, Hugh P. (2019). Brokering trust in citizen science. Society and Natural Resources, 32 (3), 292-302. doi: 10.1080/08941920.2018.1518507
2019
Journal Article
Madagascar: crime threatens 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). Madagascar: crime threatens biodiversity. Science, 363 (6429), 825-825. doi: 10.1126/science.aaw6402
2019
Journal Article
What are the barriers to successful community-based climate change adaptation? A review of grey literature
Piggott-McKellar, Annah E., McNamara, Karen E., Nunn, Patrick D. and Watson, James E. M. (2019). What are the barriers to successful community-based climate change adaptation? A review of grey literature. Local Environment, 24 (4), 374-390. doi: 10.1080/13549839.2019.1580688
2019
Other Outputs
Death by 775 cuts: how conservation law is failing the black-throated finch
Reside, April and Watson, James (2019, 01 30). Death by 775 cuts: how conservation law is failing the black-throated finch The Conversation
2019
Journal Article
Larger gains from improved management over sparing–sharing for tropical forests
Runting, Rebecca K., Ruslandi, Griscom, Bronson W., Struebig, Matthew J., Satar, Musnanda, Meijaard, Erik, Burivalova, Zuzana, Cheyne, Susan M., Deere, Nicolas J., Game, Edward T., Putz, F. E., Wells, Jessie A., Wilting, Andreas, Ancrenaz, Marc, Ellis, Peter, Khan, Faisal A. A., Leavitt, Sara M., Marshall, Andrew J., Possingham, Hugh P., Watson, James E. M. and Venter, Oscar (2019). Larger gains from improved management over sparing–sharing for tropical forests. Nature Sustainability, 2 (1), 53-61. doi: 10.1038/s41893-018-0203-0
2019
Journal Article
Descriptions of known vocalisations of the Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis
Leseberg, Nicholas, Murphy, Stephen, Jackett, Nigel, Greatwich, Bruce, Brown, Jamie, Hamilton, Neil, Joseph, Leo and Watson, James (2019). Descriptions of known vocalisations of the Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis. Australian Field Ornithology, 36, 79-88. doi: 10.20938/afo36079088
2019
Journal Article
Open access solutions for biodiversity journals: do not replace one problem with another
Peterson, A. Townsend, Anderson, Robert P., Beger, Maria, Bolliger, Janine, Brotons, Lluís, Burridge, Christopher P., Cobos, Marlon E., Cuervo-Robayo, Angela P., Di Minin, Enrico, Diez, Jeffrey, Elith, Jane, Embling, Clare B., Escobar, Luis E., Essl, Franz, Feeley, Kenneth J., Hawkes, Lucy, Jiménez-García, Daniel, Jimenez, Laura, Green, David M., Knop, Eva, Kühn, Ingolf, Lahoz-Monfort, José J., Lira-Noriega, Andres, Lobo, Jorge M., Loyola, Rafael, Mac Nally, Ralph, Machado-Stredel, Fernando, Martínez-Meyer, Enrique, McCarthy, Michael ... Zurell, Damaris (2019). Open access solutions for biodiversity journals: do not replace one problem with another. Diversity and Distributions, 25 (1), 5-8. doi: 10.1111/ddi.12885
2019
Journal Article
Use of surrogate species to cost-effectively prioritize conservation actions
Ward, Michelle, Rhodes, Jonathan R., Watson, James E.M., Lefevre, James, Atkinson, Scott and Possingham, Hugh P. (2019). Use of surrogate species to cost-effectively prioritize conservation actions. Conservation Biology, 34 (3) cobi.13430, 600-610. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13430
2019
Other Outputs
Global assessment of ecoregion intactness
Beyer, Hawthorne, Venter, Oscar, Grantham, Hedley and Watson, James (2019). Global assessment of ecoregion intactness. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2019.773
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor James Watson is:
- Available for supervision
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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
-
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
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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
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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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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Megafauna losses and predatory interactions in tropical forests
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Luskin
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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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