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
2020
Journal Article
Set a global target for ecosystems
Watson, James E. M., Keith, David A., Strassburg, Bernardo B. N., Venter, Oscar, Williams, Brooke and Nicholson, Emily (2020). Set a global target for ecosystems. Nature, 578 (7795), 360-362. doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-00446-1
2020
Other Outputs
Only ten percent of the global terrestrial protected area network is connected via intact land
Ward, Michelle, Saura, Santiago, Williams, Brooke, Ramírez-Delgado, Juan Pablo, Arafeh-Dalmau, Nur, Allan, James R., Venter, Oscar, Dubois, Grégoire and Watson, James E.M. (2020). Only ten percent of the global terrestrial protected area network is connected via intact land. doi: 10.1101/2020.01.28.920488
2020
Journal Article
Severe human pressures in the Sundaland biodiversity hotspot
Verma, Megha, Symes, William S., Watson, James E. M., Jones, Kendall R., Allan, James R., Venter, Oscar, Rheindt, Frank E., Edwards, David P. and Carrasco, Luis R. (2020). Severe human pressures in the Sundaland biodiversity hotspot. Conservation Science and Practice, 2 (3) e169. doi: 10.1111/csp2.169
2020
Other Outputs
Six million hectares of threatened species habitat up in smoke
Ward, Michelle, Greenville, Aaron, Reside, April, Tulloch, Ayesha, Williams, Brooke, Massingham, Emily, Mayfield, Helen, Possingham, Hugh, Watson, James, Radford, Jim and Sonter, Laura (2020, 01 19). Six million hectares of threatened species habitat up in smoke The Conversation
2020
Journal Article
Minimising the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in an intact landscape under risk of rapid agricultural development
Williams, Brooke Anne, Grantham, Hedley S., Watson, James E. M., Alvarez, Silvia J., Simmonds, Jeremy S., Rogeliz, Carlos A., Da Silva, Mayesse A., Forero-Medina, German, Etter, Andres, Nogales, Jonathan, Walschburger, Thomas, Hyman, Glenn and Beyer, Hawthorne L. (2020). Minimising the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in an intact landscape under risk of rapid agricultural development. Environmental Research Letters, 15 (1) 014001, 014001. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab5ff7
2020
Journal Article
Importance of Indigenous peoples' lands for the conservation of intact forest landscapes
Fa, John E., Watson, James E. M., Leiper, Ian, Potapov, Peter, Evans, Tom D., Burgess, Neil D., Molnar, Zsolt, Fernandez-Llamazares, Alvaro, Duncan, Tom, Wang, Stephanie, Austin, Beau J., Jonas, Harry, Robinson, Cathy J., Malmer, Pernilla, Zander, Kerstin K., Jackson, Micha, Ellis, Erle, Brondizio, Eduardo S. and Garnett, Stephen T. (2020). Importance of Indigenous peoples' lands for the conservation of intact forest landscapes. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18 (3) fee.2148, 135-140. doi: 10.1002/fee.2148
2020
Journal Article
Global human influence maps reveal clear opportunities in conserving Earth’s remaining intact terrestrial ecosystems
Riggio, Jason, Baillie, Jonathan E. M., Brumby, Steven, Ellis, Erle, Kennedy, Christina M., Oakleaf, James R., Tait, Alex, Tepe, Therese, Theobald, David M., Venter, Oscar, Watson, James E. M. and Jacobson, Andrew P. (2020). Global human influence maps reveal clear opportunities in conserving Earth’s remaining intact terrestrial ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 26 (8), 4344-4356. doi: 10.1111/gcb.15109
2020
Book Chapter
The Extraordinary Value of Wilderness Areas in the Anthropocene
Allan, James R., Possingham, Hugh P., Venter, Oscar, Biggs, Duan and Watson, James E.M. (2020). The Extraordinary Value of Wilderness Areas in the Anthropocene. Encyclopedia of the World's Biomes: Volumes 1-5. (pp. 158-168) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12427-3
2019
Journal Article
Growth-inducing infrastructure represents transformative yet ignored keystone environmental decisions
Johnson, Chris J., Venter, Oscar, Ray, Justina C. and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Growth-inducing infrastructure represents transformative yet ignored keystone environmental decisions. Conservation Letters, 13 (2) e12696. doi: 10.1111/conl.12696
2019
Journal Article
Global no net loss of natural ecosystems
Maron, Martine, Simmonds, Jeremy S., Watson, James E. M., Sonter, Laura J., Bennun, Leon, Griffiths, Victoria F., Quétier, Fabien, von Hase, Amrei, Edwards, Stephen, Rainey, Hugo, Bull, Joseph W., Savy, Conrad E., Victurine, Ray, Kiesecker, Joseph, Puydarrieux, Philippe, Stevens, Todd, Cozannet, Naïg and Jones, Julia P. G. (2019). Global no net loss of natural ecosystems. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 4 (1), 46-49. doi: 10.1038/s41559-019-1067-z
2019
Other Outputs
The importance of Indigenous Peoples’ lands for the conservation of terrestrial vertebrates
O’Bryan, Christopher J., Garnett, Stephen T., Fa, John E., Leiper, Ian, Rehbein, Jose, Fernández-Llamazares, Álvaro, Jackson, Micha V., Jonas, Harry D., Brondizio, Eduardo S., Burgess, Neil D., Robinson, Catherine J., Zander, Kerstin K., Venter, Oscar and Watson, James E.M. (2019). The importance of Indigenous Peoples’ lands for the conservation of terrestrial vertebrates. doi: 10.1101/2019.12.11.873695
2019
Journal Article
Moving from biodiversity offsets to a target-based approach for ecological compensation
Simmonds, Jeremy S., Sonter, Laura J., Watson, James E. M., Bennun, Leon, Costa, Hugo M., Dutson, Guy, Edwards, Stephen, Grantham, Hedley, Griffiths, Victoria F., Jones, Julia P. G., Kiesecker, Joseph, Possingham, Hugh P., Puydarrieux, Philippe, Quetier, Fabien, Rainer, Helga, Rainey, Hugo, Roe, Dilys, Savy, Conrad E., Souquet, Mathieu, ten Kate, Kerry, Victurine, Ray, von Hase, Amrei and Maron, Martine (2019). Moving from biodiversity offsets to a target-based approach for ecological compensation. Conservation Letters, 13 (2) e12695. doi: 10.1111/conl.12695
2019
Journal Article
Erratum: Correction: Hotspots of human impact on threatened terrestrial vertebrates (PLoS biology (2019) 17 3 (e3000158))
Allan, James R., Watson, James E M, Marco, Moreno Di, O'Bryan, Christopher J., Possingham, Hugh P., Atkinson, Scott C. and Venter, Oscar (2019). Erratum: Correction: Hotspots of human impact on threatened terrestrial vertebrates (PLoS biology (2019) 17 3 (e3000158)). PLoS Biology, 17 (12) e3000598. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000598
2019
Journal Article
A composite measure of habitat loss for entire assemblages of species
Simmonds, Jeremy S., Watson, James. E. M., Salazar, Alvaro and Maron, Martine (2019). A composite measure of habitat loss for entire assemblages of species. Conservation Biology, 33 (6) cobi.13331, 1438-1447. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13331
2019
Journal Article
Substantial losses in ecoregion intactness highlight urgency of globally coordinated action
Beyer, Hawthorne L., Venter, Oscar, Grantham, Hedley S. and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Substantial losses in ecoregion intactness highlight urgency of globally coordinated action. Conservation Letters, 13 (2) e12592, e12592. doi: 10.1111/conl.12692
2019
Other Outputs
Reconciling global priorities for conserving biodiversity habitat
Mokany, K., Ferrier, S., Harwood, T.D., Ware, C., Di Marco, M., Grantham, H.S., Venter, O., Hoskins, A.J. and Watson, J.E.M. (2019). Reconciling global priorities for conserving biodiversity habitat. doi: 10.1101/850537
2019
Other Outputs
The minimum land area requiring conservation attention to safeguard biodiversity
Allan, James R., Possingham, Hugh P., Atkinson, Scott C., Waldron, Anthony, Di Marco, Moreno, Adams, Vanessa M., Butchart, Stuart H. M., Kissling, W. Daniel, Worsdell, Thomas, Gibbon, Gwili, Kumar, Kundan, Mehta, Piyush, Maron, Martine, Williams, Brooke A., Jones, Kendall R., Wintle, Brendan A., Reside, April E. and Watson, James E.M. (2019). The minimum land area requiring conservation attention to safeguard biodiversity. doi: 10.1101/839977
2019
Journal Article
Spending to save: What will it cost to halt Australia's extinction crisis?
Wintle, Brendan A., Cadenhead, Natasha C. R., Morgain, Rachel A., Legge, Sarah M., Bekessy, Sarah A., Cantele, Matthew, Possingham, Hugh P., Watson, James E. M., Maron, Martine, Keith, David A., Garnett, Stephen T., Woinarski, John C. Z. and Lindenmayer, David B. (2019). Spending to save: What will it cost to halt Australia's extinction crisis?. Conservation Letters, 12 (6) e12682. doi: 10.1111/conl.12682
2019
Journal Article
Net positive outcomes for nature
Bull, Joseph W., Milner-Gulland, E. J., Addison, Prue F. E., Arlidge, William N. S., Baker, Julia, Brooks, Thomas M., Burgass, Michael J., Hinsley, Amy, Maron, Martine, Robinson, John G., Sekhran, Nik, Sinclair, Samuel P., Stuart, Simon N., zu Ermgassen, Sophus O. S. E. and Watson, James E. M. (2019). Net positive outcomes for nature. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 4 (1), 4-7. doi: 10.1038/s41559-019-1022-z
2019
Other Outputs
Most native bird species are losing their homes, even the ones you see every day
Simmonds, Jeremy, Salazar, Alvaro, Watson, James and Maron, Martine (2019, 10 29). Most native bird species are losing their homes, even the ones you see every day The Conversation
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
-
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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