Latest Research

Updates February 3, 2020

Mine closure rehabilitation conditions: a review

A new report published today by The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI) reveals that mine closure “rehabilitation conditions are often seen as aspirational objectives or performance management tools rather than achievable targets.” The report, “A review of mine rehabilitation condition setting in Western Australia” is the culmination of a research project that collected and…

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Reports

Report: A review of mine rehabilitation condition setting in Western Australia

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Projects July 10, 2019

Can our urban areas be a haven for native wildlife?

Bronte Van Helden from UWA was awarded the WABSI PhD top up scholarship in 2018 and has been looking at how different types of urban areas differ in their ability to support animal biodiversity. Bronte’s research to date highlights that residential gardens can play a significant role in biodiversity conservation and should not be overlooked…

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Projects March 25, 2019

A framework for developing completion criteria

A new report soon to be released by The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute will provide a framework for developing site-specific, risk-based completion criteria and associated monitoring.  Whilst it is aimed primarily at the resources sector, the framework will guide industries that are developing new criteria or wish to improve existing systems such as in…

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Projects

Mitigating feral cat impacts on biodiversity

The widespread impacts by feral cats on biodiversity are well recognised. The need to address knowledge gaps is a critical component in an attempt to mitigate the impacts. WABSI led a series of workshops this month, bringing together regulators, researchers, industry and NGOs. Over two days, they discussed their interests, management challenges and shared the…

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Updates December 10, 2018

Research reveals Albany’s diversity

Bronte Van Helden, a UWA student and recipient of the 2018 WABSI scholarship, is based in Albany at UWA’s Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management and is researching how different types of urban areas differ in their ability to support animal biodiversity. Bronte has set up a seasonal trapping regime and has to date…

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Updates

Final phase of Completion Criteria project

The Completion Criteria & Monitoring Framework received broad support and valuable feedback from stakeholders at a forum last month, with strong interest being received from users in WA and other states. The final report is scheduled for release in early 2019 and will present the framework and foundational work including a review of relevant literature…

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Projects

Program steering subterranean fauna research

With a Steering Committee chaired by Dr Lesley Gibson now in place, WABSI’s Subterranean Fauna program of work is underway and addresses key focus areas that were identified by end-users. The program encourages complementarity and collaboration, rather than duplication of research effort, with expertise and contribution from multiple disciplines. Since the knowledge gaps and issues…

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Updates May 12, 2018

Helping resource sector meet regulator and community expectations

The CRC for Resource Sector Environmental Management is an initiative designed to help the resources sector meet regulator and community expectations for better environmental management with a focus on mine site closures, rehabilitation and relinquishment. Some of the challenges the CRC would address include high cost and policy uncertainty relating to mine site closure, inconsistent…

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News

Embarking on a subterranean fauna research program

Following several months of extensive consultation with end-users and the research community, WABSI has identified key knowledge gaps that hinder informed decisions regarding subterranean fauna. This little-known group of mainly invertebrates has been considered in many environmental impact assessments since the mid-1990s. A research program and prospectus that articulates a clear value proposition to potential…

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