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WABSI

Research priorities

Globally informed, locally relevant and driven by end user knowledge needs.

At a glance

Set by consultation, led by WABSI.

WABSI regularly consults with the people who use biodiversity science. These include government, regulators, industry, researchers and the community, to understand the challenges they face and where critical knowledge gaps remain.

We bring diverse perspectives together to identify shared knowledge priorities to develop research programs that address the issues that matter most.

This end user-led approach helps focus research effort, reduce duplication and build knowledge that can be applied to real-world decisions.

WABSI’s 10-year vision, as set out in the WABSI Strategic Plan 2022-2032, demonstrates our commitment to being end user led, and to respond to emerging issues and key biodiversity science questions.

Current priorities

What end users told us
matters most right now.

Current priorities reflect the biodiversity challenges and opportunities identified through WABSI’s latest end user consultation and collaboration spanning sectors and landscapes. Priorities evolve as new challenges, opportunities and evidence emerge.

  • Strategic and long-term bioregional planning

    Building the knowledge needed to support strategic planning, improve conservation outcomes and understand biodiversity at the scale at which decisions are made.

  • Food security and sustainability

    Understanding how biodiversity, agricultural production and changing environmental conditions interact, and how we can support productive and sustainable landscapes.

  • Renewable energy transition

    Building the evidence needed to understand and manage biodiversity impacts as Western Australia transitions to renewable energy and new infrastructure.

  • Information for decision-making

    Improving access to reliable, consistent and usable biodiversity information so decisions can be based on the best available evidence.

  • Climate-resilient ecosystems

    Understanding how ecosystems and biodiversity are responding to a changing climate, and what can be done to strengthen resilience and support adaptation.

  • Valuing biodiversity and impacts

    Developing better ways to understand, measure and account for the value of biodiversity and the impacts of decisions and activities on nature.

Featured publication

From knowledge to action:
Western Australia’s biodiversity knowledge priorities

Findings from the latest consultation. A critical resource if you are shaping a research proposal, or undertaking a funding or policy decision around biodiversity science.

Read the publication See all publications
From priorities to programs

Priorities don't stop
at a report.

The end user priorities which are identified drive the development of WABSI research programs. Research programs tackle complex problems at scale to produce the knowledge that end users need most.

  • Biodiversity information management

    Improving how biodiversity information is connected, accessed and applied so end users can use trusted evidence to make better decisions.

    4  Projects 7  Publications

  • Subterranean fauna

    Addressing critical knowledge gaps in Western Australia’s unique subterranean ecosystems to improve environmental assessment, conservation and sustainable development decisions.

    7  Projects 4  Publications

  • Restoration

    Developing knowledge to scale ecological restoration, guide investment and build a restoration economy that delivers environmental, economic and social value.

    3  Projects 11  Publications

  • Biodiversity economics & finance

    Building knowledge to help decision-makers understand biodiversity’s economic value, manage nature-related risks and identify opportunities for sustainable investment and growth.

    2  Publications

  • Inland waters

    Identifying and addressing priority knowledge gaps affecting Western Australia’s inland waters, supporting biodiversity, water security and better decisions in a changing climate.

    1  Publication

  • Mine rehabilitation & closure

    Building evidence to improve rehabilitation and closure outcomes, reduce uncertainty and support responsible resource development across Western Australia.

    3  Projects 7  Publications

  • Mitigating cat impacts on biodiversity

    Coordinating targeted research to address critical knowledge gaps around feral cat impacts, management effectiveness and threatened species outcomes.

    1  Publication

  • Addressing weed threats to biodiversity

    Developing knowledge to understand, prioritise and manage weed impacts, helping decision-makers target effort where it can deliver the greatest biodiversity benefit.

    1  Publication
Previous consultations

See what previous end user consultations found.

Read the previous report
WABSI research priorities consultation
Get involved

Want to know what to focus your research on?

Align research to meet real world needs and maximise impact.