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
2018
Journal Article
Trade-offs in triple-bottom-line outcomes when recovering fisheries
Brown, Christopher J., Althor, Glenn, Halpern, Benjamin S., Iftekhar, Md Sayed, Klein, Carissa J., Linke, Simon, Pryde, Elizabeth C., Schilizzi, Steven, Watson, James E M., Twohey, Becky and Possingham, Hugh P. (2018). Trade-offs in triple-bottom-line outcomes when recovering fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 19 (1), 107-116. doi: 10.1111/faf.12240
2018
Journal Article
The threats to Australia's imperilled species and implications for a national conservation response
Kearney, Stephen G., Cawardine, Josie, Reside, April E., Fisher, Diana O., Maron, Martine, Doherty, Tim S., Legge, Sarah, Silcock, Jennifer, Woinarski, John C. Z., Garnett, Stephen T., Wintle, Brendan A. and Watson, James E. M. (2018). The threats to Australia's imperilled species and implications for a national conservation response. Pacific Conservation Biology, 25 (3), 231-244. doi: 10.1071/PC18024
2018
Other Outputs
Ecology and Conservation Biogeography of the Night Parrot
Watson, James (2018). Ecology and Conservation Biogeography of the Night Parrot. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/e6dad86
2018
Book Chapter
Replacing underperforming nature reserves
Fuller, Richard A. and Watson, James E. M. (2018). Replacing underperforming nature reserves. Effective conservation science: data not dogma. (pp. 147-151) edited by Peter Kareiva, Michelle Marvier and Brian Silliman. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780198808978.003.0023
2017
Journal Article
Temporally inter-comparable maps of terrestrial wilderness and the Last of the Wild
Allan, James R., Venter, Oscar and Watson, James E. M. (2017). Temporally inter-comparable maps of terrestrial wilderness and the Last of the Wild. Scientific Data, 4 (1) 170187, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/sdata.2017.187
2017
Other Outputs
Climate change in the Pacific: are community-based adaptation efforts working?
McNamara, Karen and Watson, James (2017, 12 07). Climate change in the Pacific: are community-based adaptation efforts working? IAPS Dialogue: The online magazine of the Institute of Asia and Pacific Studies, University of Nottingham, UK
2017
Journal Article
Patterns of forest loss in one of Africa’s last remaining wilderness areas: Niassa National Reserve (Northern Mozambique)
Allan, James, Grossmann, Falk, Craig, Rob, Nelson, Alastair, Maina, Joseph, Flower, Kathleen, Bampton, James, Deffontaines, Jean-Baptiste, Miguel, Cornelio, Araquechande, Baldeu and Watson, James (2017). Patterns of forest loss in one of Africa’s last remaining wilderness areas: Niassa National Reserve (Northern Mozambique). Parks, 23 (2), 39-50. doi: 10.2305/iucn.ch.2017.parks-23-2jra.en
2017
Other Outputs
Australia’s species need an independent champion
Ritchie, Euan, Nimmo, Dale, Driscoll, Don, Heard, Geoffrey, Watson, James, Evans, Megan C. and Doherty, Tim (2017, 10 12). Australia’s species need an independent champion The Conversation
2017
Journal Article
Ecology: A global plan for nature conservation
Watson, James E. M. and Venter, Oscar (2017). Ecology: A global plan for nature conservation. Nature, 550 (7674), 48-49. doi: 10.1038/nature24144
2017
Other Outputs
Just ten MPs represent more than 600 threatened species in their electorates
Watson, James, Reside, April, Williams, Brooke, Possingham, Hugh, Maron, Martine, Ward, Michelle, Fuller, Richard, Atkinson, Scott Consaul and Kearney, Stephen (2017, 09 07). Just ten MPs represent more than 600 threatened species in their electorates The Conversation
2017
Journal Article
Opportunities and constraints for implementing integrated land–sea management on islands
Jupiter, Stacy D., Wenger, Amelia, Klein, Carissa J., Albert, Simon, Mangubhai, Sangeeta, Nelson, Joanna, Teneva, Lida, Tulloch, Vivitskaia J., White, Alan T. and Watson, James E. M. (2017). Opportunities and constraints for implementing integrated land–sea management on islands. Environmental Conservation, 44 (3), 254-266. doi: 10.1017/S0376892917000091
2017
Journal Article
Renewal ecology: conservation for the Anthropocene
Bowman, David M. J. S., Garnett, Stephen T., Barlow, Snow, Bekessy, Sarah A., Bellairs, Sean M., Bishop, Melanie J., Bradstock, Ross A., Jones, Darryl N., Maxwell, Sean L., Pittock, Jamie, Toral-Granda, Maria V., Watson, James E. M., Wilson, Tom, Zander, Kerstin K. and Hughes, Lesley (2017). Renewal ecology: conservation for the Anthropocene. Restoration Ecology, 25 (5), 674-680. doi: 10.1111/rec.12560
2017
Journal Article
The impact of urbanization and climate change on urban temperatures: a systematic review
Chapman, Sarah, Watson, James E. M., Salazar, Alvaro, Thatcher, Marcus and McAlpine, Clive A. (2017). The impact of urbanization and climate change on urban temperatures: a systematic review. Landscape Ecology, 32 (10), 1921-1935. doi: 10.1007/s10980-017-0561-4
2017
Other Outputs
Scientific integrity must be defended, our planet depends on it
Ritchie, Euan, Watson, James, Kerr, Jeremy and Maron, Martine (2017, 07 26). Scientific integrity must be defended, our planet depends on it The Conversation
2017
Journal Article
Defending the scientific integrity of conservation-policy processes
Carroll, Carlos, Hartl, Brett, Goldman, Gretchen T., Rohlf, Daniel J., Treves, Adrian, Kerr, Jeremy T., Ritchie, Euan G., Kingsford, Richard T., Gibbs, Katherine E., Maron, Martine and Watson, James E. M. (2017). Defending the scientific integrity of conservation-policy processes. Conservation Biology, 31 (5), 967-975. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12958
2017
Other Outputs
The Great Barrier Reef isn’t listed as ‘in danger’ - but it’s still in big trouble
Watson, James and Maron, Martine (2017, 07 07). The Great Barrier Reef isn’t listed as ‘in danger’ - but it’s still in big trouble The Conversation
2017
Other Outputs
Earth’s wildernesses are disappearing, and not enough of them are World Heritage-listed
Allan, James and Watson, James (2017, 07 03). Earth’s wildernesses are disappearing, and not enough of them are World Heritage-listed The Conversation
2017
Journal Article
It’s time for the World Heritage Convention to step up protection of globally significant wilderness areas
Allan, James, Watson, James, Bertzky, Bastian and Jaeger, Tilman (2017). It’s time for the World Heritage Convention to step up protection of globally significant wilderness areas. National Geographic Blog
2017
Journal Article
Need for conservation planning in postconflict Colombia
Negret, Pablo Jose, Allan, James, Braczkowski, Alexander, Maron, Martine and Watson, James E. M. (2017). Need for conservation planning in postconflict Colombia. Conservation Biology, 31 (3), 499-500. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12935
2017
Journal Article
Towards reassessing data-deficient species
Bland, Lucie M., Bielby, Jon, Kearney, Stephen, Orme, C. David L., Watson, James E. M. and Collen, Ben (2017). Towards reassessing data-deficient species. Conservation Biology, 31 (3), 531-539. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12850
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
Biogeography and conservation assessment of the endangered Northern Masked Owl
Principal Advisor
-
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
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
-
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
-
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
-
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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