Critical monitoring work undertaken by the ECU's Conversation and Biodiversity Research Centre (CBRC).
New methods, strategies and opportunities for monitoring urban biodiversity are a main focus of Edith Cowan University (ECU)'s Conservation and Biodiversity Research Centre (CBRC).
The CBRC, as part of ECU's School of Science, delivered a stakeholder workshop in November that offered a day of discussions and ideas for professionals working in the field of urban biodiversity monitoring and management.
Broadly looking at urban ecology, the CBRC conducts practical and applied research into the ecosystems where we live and work, contributing to the aim of safeguarding biodiversity. The wetlands, bush remnants and modified environments that form our large urban parks are of specific interest.
The workshop engaged experts from a range of organisations working in urban biodiversity.
The full-day event, titled Urban Biodiversity Monitoring Workshop, engaged participants in knowledge sharing and in-depth discussion. The event was attended by over 150 land managers, practitioners, government representatives, researchers, and other experts across 55 organisations working in the field of urban biodiversity.
The event engaged attendees with panel discussions covering best practice monitoring methods, innovative and emerging practices, local case studies from WA organisations undertaking biodiversity monitoring activities and ideas to tackle current challenges.
The workshop attendees also participated in a World Café Discussion, an interactive session where key points related to how to work together to improve biodiversity monitoring were discussed between rotating participants. By swapping tables each round, the format encouraged collaborative problem-solving and knowledge sharing among the diverse organisations who attended.
The excellent lineup of panellists and speakers included experts from ECU as well as the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association, CSIRO, WABSI, NatureLink Perth, RMIT and City of Cockburn.
Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow, Dr Lizzy Lowe from ECU's School of Science, the lead organiser of the workshop, said that it was exciting to hear what opportunities there are for monitoring biodiversity.
"It was wonderful to hear so many different perspectives and talk about how we can all work together, the workshop was full of questions, ideas and shared enthusiasm," Dr Lowe said.
"The highlight of the day was seeing all the connections made between different organisations, and we're looking forward to growing these partnerships and continuing these conversations in the future."
Find out more about ECU's Conservation and Biodiversity Research Centre (CBRC).
