Professor James Watson
Professor

James Watson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 61645

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

Ecology Environmental Sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford

Research interests

  • Conservation policy and practice

Search Professor James Watson’s works on UQ eSpace

465 works between 2001 and 2024
All (465) Journal Article (400) Book Chapter (19) Conference Publication (6) Book (2) Other Outputs (38)

441 - 460 of 465 works

2009

Other Outputs

Achieving the Green Suriname vision. A report to Conservation International and the government of Suriname

Watson, J.E.M., Carwardine, J. and Joseph, L. (2009). Achieving the Green Suriname vision. A report to Conservation International and the government of Suriname. Lismore, NSW, Australia: Carbon Conservation.

Achieving the Green Suriname vision. A report to Conservation International and the government of Suriname

2009

Other Outputs

Priorities for ecological restoration in the Western Woodlands Way

Fuller, Richard A., Drielsma, Michael J., Watson, James E.M., Taylor, Robert, Sushinsky, Jessica, Smith, Jill and Possingham, Hugh P. (2009). Priorities for ecological restoration in the Western Woodlands Way. Brisbane, Australia; Armidale, NSW, Australia: Spatial Ecology Laboratory, University of Queensland; GIS Research and Development Unit, New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Priorities for ecological restoration in the Western Woodlands Way

2009

Conference Publication

REDD and PINC: a new policy framework to fund tropical forests as global 'eco-utilities'

Trivedi, M. R., Mitchell, A. W., Mardas, N., Parker, C., Watson, J. E. and Nobre, A. D. (2009). REDD and PINC: a new policy framework to fund tropical forests as global 'eco-utilities'. Conference on Beyond Kyoto: Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change Science Meets Industry, Policy and Public, Aarhus, Denmark, 5-7 March 2009. Bristol, United Kingdom: Institute of Physics Publishing. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/8/1/012005

REDD and PINC: a new policy framework to fund tropical forests as global 'eco-utilities'

2009

Journal Article

Developing a national framework for dingo trophic regulation research in Australia: Outcomes of a national workshop

Visser, Renee L., Watson, James E. M., Dickman, Chris R., Southgate, Rick, Jenkins, David and Johnson, Christopher N. (2009). Developing a national framework for dingo trophic regulation research in Australia: Outcomes of a national workshop. Ecological Management and Restoration, 10 (2), 168-170. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-8903.2009.00482.x

Developing a national framework for dingo trophic regulation research in Australia: Outcomes of a national workshop

2008

Journal Article

Climate change, biodiversity conservation, and the role of protected areas: An Australian perspective

Mackey, B.G., Watson,J.E.M., Hope, G. and Gilmore, S. (2008). Climate change, biodiversity conservation, and the role of protected areas: An Australian perspective. Biodiversity, 9 (3 & 4), 11-18. doi: 10.1080/14888386.2008.9712902

Climate change, biodiversity conservation, and the role of protected areas: An Australian perspective

2008

Journal Article

The cost of conservation

Bode, Michael, Watson, James, Iwamura, Takuya and Possingham, Hugh P. (2008). The cost of conservation. Science, 321 (5887), 340-340. doi: 10.1126/science.321.5887.340a

The cost of conservation

2008

Journal Article

A walk on the wild side

Watson, J.E.M. (2008). A walk on the wild side. Decision Point (20), 8-9.

A walk on the wild side

2008

Journal Article

Ecological correlates and conservation implications of overestimating species geographic ranges

Jetz, Walter, Sekercioglu, Cagan H. and Watson, James E. M. (2008). Ecological correlates and conservation implications of overestimating species geographic ranges. Conservation Biology, 22 (1), 110-119. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00847.x

Ecological correlates and conservation implications of overestimating species geographic ranges

2008

Journal Article

Conservation inverted: birds in the Great Western Woodlands

Recher, H. F., Davis, W. E. Jr., Berry, S., Mackey, B., Nix, H., Watson, A. W. T and Watston, J. E. M. (2008). Conservation inverted: birds in the Great Western Woodlands. Wingspan, 17, 16-19.

Conservation inverted: birds in the Great Western Woodlands

2008

Other Outputs

The extraordinary nature of the Great Western Woodlands

Watson, Alexander, Judd, Simon, Watson, James., Lam, Anya and Mackenzie, David (2008). The extraordinary nature of the Great Western Woodlands. Perth, Australia: The Wilderness Society of WA.

The extraordinary nature of the Great Western Woodlands

2008

Conference Publication

Flowering plant and vertebrate diversity of the Great Western Woodlands in the Southern Goldfields

Watson, Alexander W. T., Judd, Simon and Watson, James E. M. (2008). Flowering plant and vertebrate diversity of the Great Western Woodlands in the Southern Goldfields. Goldfield Environmental Management Workshop, Perth, WA, Australia, 2008. Perth, WA, Australia: Australian Centre for Geomechanics, The University of Western Australia.

Flowering plant and vertebrate diversity of the Great Western Woodlands in the Southern Goldfields

2008

Journal Article

Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation

Watson, J. E. M. (2008). Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation. Austral Ecology, 33 (2), 241-241. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2007.01837.x

Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation

2008

Journal Article

Why are we still using a 'One size fits all' philosophy for systematic reserve planning in Australia?

Watson, James, Fuller, Richard A. and Barr, Lissa (2008). Why are we still using a 'One size fits all' philosophy for systematic reserve planning in Australia?. Pacific Conservation Biology, 14 (4), 233-235. doi: 10.1071/PC080233

Why are we still using a 'One size fits all' philosophy for systematic reserve planning in Australia?

2008

Journal Article

Diversity of a semi-arid, intact Mediterranean ecosystem in southwest Australia

Judd, Simon, Watson, Jame E. M. and Watson, Alexander W. T. (2008). Diversity of a semi-arid, intact Mediterranean ecosystem in southwest Australia. Web Ecology, 8 (1), 84-93. doi: 10.5194/we-8-84-2008

Diversity of a semi-arid, intact Mediterranean ecosystem in southwest Australia

2007

Book Chapter

Conservation of bird diversity in Madagascar’s southeastern littoral forests

Watson, James E. M. (2007). Conservation of bird diversity in Madagascar’s southeastern littoral forests. Biodiversity conservation and mining in southeast Madagascar. (pp. 253-260) edited by J. U. Ganzhorn, S. M. Goodman, J. B. Ramanamanjato and M. Vincelette. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Conservation of bird diversity in Madagascar’s southeastern littoral forests

2005

Conference Publication

Avifaunal responses to landscape-scale habitat fragmentation in the littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar

Watson, JEM (2005). Avifaunal responses to landscape-scale habitat fragmentation in the littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar. 5th International Symposium on Tropical Biology, Bonn Germany, May, 2004. NEW YORK: SPRINGER. doi: 10.1007/0-387-24320-8_24

Avifaunal responses to landscape-scale habitat fragmentation in the littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar

2005

Journal Article

Bird community responses to fragmentation: how consistent are they across landscapes?

Watson, James E. M., Whittaker, Robert J. and Freudenberger, David (2005). Bird community responses to fragmentation: how consistent are they across landscapes?. Journal of Biogeography, 32 (8), 1353-1370. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01256.x

Bird community responses to fragmentation: how consistent are they across landscapes?

2005

Journal Article

Conservation biogeography: assessment and prospect

Whittaker, Robert J., Araujo, Miguel B., Jepson, Paul, Ladle, Richard J., Watson, James E. M. and Willis, Katherine J. (2005). Conservation biogeography: assessment and prospect. Diversity and Distributions, 11 (1), 3-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1366-9516.2005.00143.x

Conservation biogeography: assessment and prospect

2005

Journal Article

The importance of littoral forest remnants for indigenous bird conservation in southeastern Madagascar

Watson, James E. M., Whittaker, Robert J. and Dawson, Terence P. (2005). The importance of littoral forest remnants for indigenous bird conservation in southeastern Madagascar. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14 (3), 523-545. doi: 10.1007/s10531-004-3913-8

The importance of littoral forest remnants for indigenous bird conservation in southeastern Madagascar

2004

Journal Article

Avifaunal responses to habitat fragmentation in the threatened littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar

Watson, James E. M., Whittaker, Robert J. and Dawson, Terence P. (2004). Avifaunal responses to habitat fragmentation in the threatened littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar. Journal of Biogeography, 31 (11), 1791-1807. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2004.01142.x

Avifaunal responses to habitat fragmentation in the threatened littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Queensland regional planning assessments
    Queensland Conservation Council
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    A critical pathway for Australia's Conservation Future (Ian Potter Foundation grant administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Linking assessment of global goals for ecosystems and species by coupling WCS and CSIRO capabilities in landscape integrity mapping and biodiversity modelling
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    A conservation metric for business to measure biodiversity
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Assessing the biotic response to intact forest metrics
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Wilderness Inventory Data Review
    Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (South Australia)
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Mapping threatened species recovery across Federal electorates
    World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Threatened Species: pilot project
    Australian Capital Territory - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Conservation Research Branch
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Apply Key Biodiversity Criteria to Bush Heritage Priority Landscapes to determine intactness and land condition
    Bush Heritage Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Vibrant Oceans: Applied Coral Reef Conservation
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    KBA mapping for Australia
    Birdlife Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    The ecology and conservation biogeography of the buff-breasted button-quail
    Birds Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    ACF Key Biodiversity Areas Mapping Project
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Ecosystem risk assessment (ARC Linkage Project administered by The University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Global priorities for terrestrial biodiversity
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Land clearing assessment on species
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Identifying Nature's Strongholds
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Conservation Priority Setting
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Africa Climate Change and Biodiversity - ABCG II
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Identifying the most important terrestrial wilderness areas on the planet
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Australia wide analysis for threatened species
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Intact Forests - Framework Metric
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    SNAPP Compensatory Conservation Working Group
    The Nature Conservancy
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Macarthur Intact Forests
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Rapid response to significant unanticipated threat - testing novel feral cat control strategies to support conservation of the endangered alwal/golden-shouldered parrot [...]
    Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Night Parrot Research, Pullen Pullen Reserve, Qld
    Bush Heritage Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Africa Spatial Planning - ABCG II
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    GIS support to WCS Indonesia Program's Sulawesi project
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Intact forests values assessment
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Provide MARXAN analysis of WCS Papua New Guinea program
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2022
    The capacity of forests to protect regional climate under global warming
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Assessing biodiversity priorities and carbon values across the Great Eastern Ranges
    Australian Conservation Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Africa Biodiversity Consultative Group II
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    Support for Research Assistants
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    The Luc Hoffman Institute Fellow - Pathways for Drivers of Positive Change
    WWF International
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Planning for the impacts of land-uses on coral reef fisheries
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Analysis of the public protected area framework in NSW and future opportunities
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Assimilating development objectives in conservation planning
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    ECO-SMarT
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Integrating human response to climate change into conservation planning: developing an integrated decision framework
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    MacArthur Foundation - Lower Mekong
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    `MacArthur Foundation - Portfolio Approach
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    MacArthur Foundation - Tanzania - Green Economies
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub
    National Environmental Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Africa Biodiversity Consultative Group
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Conservation strategy fund - Uganda
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    MacArthur Foundation - Birdlife subgrant - Support WCS's East Africa climate assessment work for Rwanda and Tanzania
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    MacArthur Foundation - West Indian Ocean spatial planning assessment
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Eastern DRC spatial planning
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Climate adaptation on coral reefs
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor James Watson is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

    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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Megafauna losses and predatory interactions in tropical forests

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Matthew Luskin

Completed supervision

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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