
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
2023
Journal Article
How to fuel an energy transition with ecologically responsible mining
Sonter, Laura J., Maron, Martine, Bull, Joseph W., Giljum, Stefan, Luckeneder, Sebastian, Maus, Victor, McDonald-Madden, Eve, Northey, Stephen A., Sánchez, Luis E., Valenta, Rick, Visconti, Piero, Werner, Tim T. and Watson, James E. M. (2023). How to fuel an energy transition with ecologically responsible mining. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (35) e2307006120, 1-3. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2307006120
2023
Journal Article
Establishing effective conservation management strategies for a poorly known endangered species: a case study using Australia’s Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)
Leseberg, Nicholas P., Kutt, Alex, Evans, Megan C., Nou, Tida, Spillias, Scott, Stone, Zoe, Walsh, Jessica C., Murphy, Stephen A., Bamford, Mike, Burbidge, Allan H., Crossing, Kate, Davis, Robert A., Garnett, Stephen T., Kavanagh, Rodney P., Murphy, Robert, Read, John, Reid, Julian, van Leeuwen, Stephen, Watson, Alexander W. T., Watson, James E. M. and Maron, Martine (2023). Establishing effective conservation management strategies for a poorly known endangered species: a case study using Australia’s Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). Biodiversity and Conservation, 32 (8-9), 2869-2891. doi: 10.1007/s10531-023-02633-8
2023
Journal Article
Priorities for embedding ecological integrity in climate adaptation policy and practice
Elsen, Paul R., Oakes, Lauren E., Cross, Molly S., DeGemmis, Alfred, Watson, James E. M., Cooke, Hilary A., Darling, Emily S., Jones, Kendall R., Kretser, Heidi E., Mendez, Martin, Surya, Gautam, Tully, Elizabeth and Grantham, Hedley S. (2023). Priorities for embedding ecological integrity in climate adaptation policy and practice. One Earth, 6 (6), 632-644. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.05.014
2023
Journal Article
Retaining natural vegetation to safeguard biodiversity and humanity
Simmonds, Jeremy S., Suarez‐Castro, Andres Felipe, Reside, April E., Watson, James E.M., Allan, James R., Atkinson, Scott C., Borrelli, Pasquale, Dudley, Nigel, Edwards, Stephen, Fuller, Richard A., Game, Edward T., Linke, Simon, Maxwell, Sean L., Panagos, Panos, Puydarrieux, Philippe, Quétier, Fabien, Runting, Rebecca K., Santini, Talitha, Sonter, Laura J. and Maron, Martine (2023). Retaining natural vegetation to safeguard biodiversity and humanity. Conservation Biology, 37 (3) e14040, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14040
2023
Journal Article
Countries’ differentiated responsibilities to fulfill area-based conservation targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Shen, Xiaoli, Liu, Mingzhang, Hanson, Jeffrey O., Wang, Jiangyue, Locke, Harvey, Watson, James E.M., Ellis, Erle C., Li, Sheng and Ma, Keping (2023). Countries’ differentiated responsibilities to fulfill area-based conservation targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. One Earth, 6 (5), 548-559. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.04.007
2023
Journal Article
Evenness mediates the global relationship between forest productivity and richness
Hordijk, Iris, Maynard, Daniel S., Hart, Simon P., Lidong, Mo, ter Steege, Hans, Liang, Jingjing, de‐Miguel, Sergio, Nabuurs, Gert‐Jan, Reich, Peter B., Abegg, Meinrad, Adou Yao, C. Yves, Alberti, Giorgio, Almeyda Zambrano, Angelica M., Alvarado, Braulio V., Esteban, Alvarez‐Davila, Alvarez‐Loayza, Patricia, Alves, Luciana F., Ammer, Christian, Antón‐Fernández, Clara, Araujo‐Murakami, Alejandro, Arroyo, Luzmila, Avitabile, Valerio, Aymard C, Gerardo A., Baker, Timothy, Bałazy, Radomir, Banki, Olaf, Barroso, Jorcely, Bastian, Meredith L., Bastin, Jean‐Francois ... Crowther, Thomas W. (2023). Evenness mediates the global relationship between forest productivity and richness. Journal of Ecology, 111 (6), 1308-1326. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.14098
2023
Journal Article
Global assessment of the biodiversity safeguards of development banks that finance infrastructure
Narain, Divya, Sonter, Laura J., Lechner, Alex Mark, Watson, James E.M., Simmonds, Jeremy S. and Maron, Martine (2023). Global assessment of the biodiversity safeguards of development banks that finance infrastructure. Conservation Biology, 37 (4) e14095, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14095
2023
Journal Article
Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade
Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Lieberman, Susan, Dolšak, Nives, Prakash, Aseem, Labonté, Ronald, Biggs, Duan, Franklin, Christine, Morrison, Tiffany H., Viens, A. M., Fuller, Richard A., Aguiar, Raphael, Fidelman, Pedro, Watson, James E. M., Aenishaenslin, Cécile and Wiktorowicz, Mary (2023). Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade. The Lancet Planetary Health, 7 (4), e336-e345. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00029-3
2023
Journal Article
The costs of managing key threats to Australia's biodiversity
Yong, Chuanji, Ward, Michelle, Watson, James E. M., Reside, April E., van Leeuwen, Stephen, Legge, Sarah, Geary, William L., Lintermans, Mark, Kennard, Mark J., Stuart, Stephanie and Carwardine, Josie (2023). The costs of managing key threats to Australia's biodiversity. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60 (5), 898-910. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.14377
2023
Journal Article
Over half of threatened species require targeted recovery actions to avert human-induced extinction
Bolam, Friederike C., Ahumada, Jorge, Akçakaya, H. Reşit, Brooks, Thomas M., Elliott, Wendy, Hoban, Sean, Mair, Louise, Mallon, David, McGowan, Philip J.K., Raimondo, Domitilla, Rodríguez, Jon Paul, Roe, Dilys, Seddon, Mary B., Shen, Xiaoli, Stuart, Simon N., Watson, James E.M. and Butchart, Stuart H.M. (2023). Over half of threatened species require targeted recovery actions to avert human-induced extinction. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 21 (2), 64-70. doi: 10.1002/fee.2537
2023
Journal Article
Human responses to climate change will likely determine the fate of biodiversity
Watson, James E.M. and Brodie, Jedediah F. (2023). Human responses to climate change will likely determine the fate of biodiversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 120 (8) e2205512120, e2205512120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2205512120
2023
Journal Article
Rapid and recent range collapse of Australia’s Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
MacColl, Christopher, Leseberg, Nicholas P., Seaton, Richard, Murphy, Stephen A. and Watson, James E.M. (2023). Rapid and recent range collapse of Australia’s Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 124 (2), 93-104. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2172735
2023
Journal Article
Implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the governance of biodiversity conservation
Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Dolšak, Nives, Prakash, Aseem, Mundkur, Taej, Harris, Paul G., Mitchell, Ronald B., Davidson, Nick, Hansen, Birgita, Woodworth, Bradley K., Fuller, Richard A., Price, Melissa, Petkov, Nicky, Mauerhofer, Volker, Morrison, Tiffany H., Watson, James E. M., Chowdhury, Sayam U., Zöckler, Christoph, Widerberg, Oscar, Yong, Ding Li, Klich, Daniel, Smagol, Vitaliy, Piccolo, John and Biggs, Duan (2023). Implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the governance of biodiversity conservation. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 4 989019, 1-8. doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.989019
2023
Journal Article
Three-quarters of insect species are insufficiently represented by protected areas
Chowdhury, Shawan, Zalucki, Myron P., Hanson, Jeffrey O., Tiatragul, Sarin, Green, David, Watson, James E.M. and Fuller, Richard A. (2023). Three-quarters of insect species are insufficiently represented by protected areas. One Earth, 6 (2), 139-146. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2022.12.003
2023
Journal Article
Protected areas and the future of insect conservation
Chowdhury, Shawan, Jennions, Michael D., Zalucki, Myron P., Maron, Martine, Watson, James E.M. and Fuller, Richard A. (2023). Protected areas and the future of insect conservation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 38 (1), 85-95. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.004
2023
Journal Article
Descriptions of the vocalisations of the Painted Button-quail Turnix varius in North Queensland
Webster, Patrick, Research and Recovery of Endangered Species Group, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia, Leseberg, Nicholas, Murphy, Stephen, Watson, James, Research and Recovery of Endangered Species Group, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia, Research and Recovery of Endangered Species Group, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia and Research and Recovery of Endangered Species Group, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia (2023). Descriptions of the vocalisations of the Painted Button-quail Turnix varius in North Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology, 40, 111-119. doi: 10.20938/afo40111119
2023
Journal Article
Feral cat GPS tracking and simulation models to improve the conservation management of night parrots
Murphy, Stephen A., McGregor, Hugh, Leseberg, Nicholas P., Watson, James and Kutt, Alex S. (2023). Feral cat GPS tracking and simulation models to improve the conservation management of night parrots. Wildlife Research, 50 (5), 325-334. doi: 10.1071/WR21123
2023
Journal Article
Threat-abatement framework confirms habitat retention and invasive species management are critical to conserve Australia's threatened species
Kearney, Stephen G., Watson, James E. M., Reside, April E., Fisher, Diana O., Maron, Martine, Doherty, Tim S., Legge, Sarah M., Woinarski, John C. Z., Garnett, Stephen T., Wintle, Brendan A., Ritchie, Euan G., Driscoll, Don A., Lindenmayer, David, Adams, Vanessa M., Ward, Michelle S. and Carwardine, Josie (2023). Threat-abatement framework confirms habitat retention and invasive species management are critical to conserve Australia's threatened species. Biological Conservation, 277 109833, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109833
2023
Journal Article
Erratum: Protected areas and the future of insect conservation: (Trends in Ecology & Evolution 38(1), p:85–95; 2023) (Trends in Ecology & Evolution (2023) 38(1) (85–95), (S0169534722002245), (10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.004))
Chowdhury, Shawan, Jennions, Michael D., Zalucki, Myron P., Maron, Martine, Watson, James E.M. and Fuller, Richard A. (2023). Erratum: Protected areas and the future of insect conservation: (Trends in Ecology & Evolution 38(1), p:85–95; 2023) (Trends in Ecology & Evolution (2023) 38(1) (85–95), (S0169534722002245), (10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.004)). Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 38 (7), 681-681. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.04.006
2023
Journal Article
A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023
Sutherland, William J., Bennett, Craig, Brotherton, Peter N.M., Butterworth, Holly M., Clout, Mick N., Côté, Isabelle M., Dinsdale, Jason, Esmail, Nafeesa, Fleishman, Erica, Gaston, Kevin J., Herbert-Read, James E., Hughes, Alice, Kaartokallio, Hermanni, Le Roux, Xavier, Lickorish, Fiona A., Matcham, Wendy, Noor, Noor, Palardy, James E., Pearce-Higgins, James W., Peck, Lloyd S., Pettorelli, Nathalie, Pretty, Jules, Scobey, Richard, Spalding, Mark D., Tonneijck, Femke H., Tubbs, Nicolas, Watson, James E.M., Wentworth, Jonathan E., Wilson, Jeremy D. and Thornton, Ann (2023). A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 38 (1), 96-107. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.10.005
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
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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
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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