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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
2004
Journal Article
Rapid assessment in conservation research: a critique of avifaunal assessment techniques illustrated by Ecuadorian and Madagascan case study data
O'Dea, Niall, Watson, James E. M. and Whittaker, Robert J. (2004). Rapid assessment in conservation research: a critique of avifaunal assessment techniques illustrated by Ecuadorian and Madagascan case study data. Diversity and Distributions, 10 (1), 55-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2004.00050.x
2004
Journal Article
Habitat structure and proximity to forest edge affect the abundance and distribution of forest-dependent birds in tropical coastal forests of southeastern Madagascar
Watson, JEM, Whittaker, RJ and Dawson, TP (2004). Habitat structure and proximity to forest edge affect the abundance and distribution of forest-dependent birds in tropical coastal forests of southeastern Madagascar. Biological Conservation, 120 (3), 315-331. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2004.03.004
2003
Journal Article
Woodland fragmentation is causing the decline of species and functional groups of birds in southeastern Australia
Watson, James, Watson, Alexander, Paull, David and Freudenberger, David (2003). Woodland fragmentation is causing the decline of species and functional groups of birds in southeastern Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology, 8 (4), 261-270. doi: 10.1071/PC030261
2003
Book
Finding birds in Darwin, Kakadu and the Top End, Northern Territory, Australia
McCrie, Niven and Watson, James (2003). Finding birds in Darwin, Kakadu and the Top End, Northern Territory, Australia. Casuarina, N.T.: N. McCrie.
2001
Journal Article
An assessment of the focal-species approach for conserving birds in variegated landscapes in southeastern Australia
Watson, James, Freudenberger, David and Paull, David (2001). An assessment of the focal-species approach for conserving birds in variegated landscapes in southeastern Australia. Conservation Biology, 15 (5), 1364-1373. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.00166.x
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
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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
Wilderness Conservation in the Anthropocene
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
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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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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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