The vast majority of Melburnians want more nature in their city, despite a puzzling north-south divide
When we were asked to survey people in Melbourne about their relationship with nature, little did we know our findings would reinforce a well-known cultural divide between those living north and south of the Yarra River. Residents of neighbourhoods to the south were overall less connected to nature. But perhaps a more important finding was that people in Melbourne […]
How Alone Australia can help us understand and appreciate our place in nature
More than a million Australians have tuned in to Alone Australia, SBS’s highest-rating series for 2023 to date. What is it about this program that’s got us so hooked? And what can it tell us about our own relationships with nature? The series started with ten contestants dropped off in a remote area of lutruwita/Tasmania. The aim is […]
If the budget ditched the Stage 3 tax cuts, Australia could save every threatened species – and lots more
The Albanese government has made bold environmental promises over the last year. Given the parlous state of nature in Australia, these commitments are important. The promises include ending new extinctions, fixing national nature laws and protecting 30% of our land and waters. Achieving these goals requires a lot of money. So how does last night’s federal budget stack up? […]
Outreach: Nature is in crisis. Here are 10 easy ways you can make a difference
Australia’s rarest butterfly, the Australian fritillary. Garry Sankowsky, Author provided Last month, Sir David Attenborough called on United Kingdom residents to “go wild once per week”. By this, he meant taking actions which help rather than harm the natural world, such as planting wildflowers for bees and eating more plant-based foods. Australia should follow suit. We love our […]
Outreach: Why we should shatter Melbourne’s concrete creeks
Cities like Melbourne are increasingly looking to tear up their concrete drains and restore natural waterways. Why is this and how can it best be done to create more natural, healthy and biodiverse cities? Click here
Outreach: I want my vote to count for nature: how do the major parties stack up?
Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University and Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne The animals and plants at risk of extinction finally made it onto the political agenda last week, as Labor and the Greens launched biodiversity policies ahead of the federal election. Labor’s policies included new funding for the Great Barrier Reef and long-term commitments for […]
Outreach: Fail: our report card on the government’s handling of Australia’s extinction crisis
Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University and Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne Australia is losing more biodiversity than any other developed nation. Already this year the charismatic and once abundant gang gang cockatoo has been added to our national threatened species list, the koala has been listed as endangered and the Great Barrier Reef suffered another […]
Outreach: Imagining Lonsdale Park: turning roads into parks could be the renewal our city needs
The pandemic has underlined an important truth of city life: urban nature is essential infrastructure. Life in lockdown reminded us that urban parks don’t just look nice – they also provide valuable social space, and are a key support to our physical and mental health… Read more
Outreach: A Victorian logging company just won a controversial court appeal. Here’s what it means for forest wildlife
Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne; Laura Schuijers, The University of Melbourne, and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University Australia’s forest-dwelling wildlife is in greater peril after last week’s court ruling that logging — even if it breaches state requirements — is exempt from the federal law that protects threatened species. The Federal Court upheld an appeal […]
Outreach: Moving cars key to revival
Bringing life back to our gritty, windswept CBD is a daunting task, but we’re starting to see what works… Read more
