Australian and New Zealand ecological systems are unique, reflecting a diversity that has largely evolved in isolation from the rest of the world.  That uniqueness, and high degree of endemism, has been greatly influenced by human endeavours for thousands of years.  

Ecological research within the Australian and New Zealand is tending towards the conservation and management of communities, landscapes and ecosystems, systems that are inextricably linked to human activities.  How that big-picture research translates into effective policy and conservation is often blurred.

The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) has an Ecology Special Interest Section. Its aim is to develop and promote knowledge about ecology as an essential element of the environment, and to improve professional practice and recognition of ecological practitioners.

To further these aims, we are seeking to compile a special issue of the EIANZ journal, the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management (AJEM). The focus of the AJEM is on policy and practice, and we welcome submissions of abstracts on any aspect of these themes.

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

• Translating ecological knowledge into effective government policy - is government policy in Australia and New Zealand effectively protecting ecosystems?
• Ecological case studies of successful collaboration between industry, academic institutions, and regulators.
• Indigenous interests in ecology and ecosystem management.
• Humans as ecosystem components – looking beyond urban environments.
• Taxonomic challenges and data gaps – are ecological research and ecosystem conservation projects seeing the whole picture?
• Decision science that solves complex ecological problems to inform policy and improve nature conservation outcomes in Australia or New Zealand
• Ecological research that improves the management of Australia’s and New Zealand’s threatened species
• Scientific research that provides practical solutions to support natural ecosystems and at regional scale across Australian or New Zealand
• Research that provides consistent scientific information to support evidence-based decision making about marine species and ecosystems around Australia and New Zealand
• Landscape ecology – Research that provides new ways to conduct land management with the emphasis on landscape connectivity and building ecological resilience in the landscape

We aim for publication in late 2020.

Submission Process

• Papers will be reviewed following the AJEM double‐blind review process. Expressions of interest to publish, along with an abstract, should be submitted to the guest editor, Mervyn Mason CEnvP (Ecology Specialist) at mmason@golder.com.au by 30 September 2019.
• Following acceptance of the EOI and abstract, full papers should be submitted by 29 February 2020 online submission to the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Scholar One Manuscripts.

Papers should be prepared using the AJEM Guidelines, available here

The guest editors, Mervyn Mason and Ian Boothroyd, welcome informal enquiries related to the proposed topics.  Please contact Mervyn Mason at mmason@golder.com.au.