Australian perspectives on #rewilding at #UNSW

Australia has 100 known extinctions since 1788, dozens of species critically #endangered

LOCAL CONTEXT

A/Prof Katherine Moseby notes that leaving nature alone isn’t enough to rewild Australia due to the extent of the damage. Also this continent has a long history of First Nations management, as opposed to being "left alone".

INTRODUCED PREDATORS

Rewilding is also more than reintroducing species to areas. E.g. where introduced predators are part of the problem, reintroducing a prey species is just shoving them into the meat grinder.

On the other hand, species raised in predator-free reserves can lose their evasive skills.

How can introduced predators be controlled? 1080 poison is controversial, but used because native animals have a tolerance to it. There are so many that shooting (cats and foxes) cannot be effective. No mention of species-specific sterilisation technology.

(Gene drive technology is probably not suitable for controlling introduced predators. This involves releasing populations of the target animal that can only father male offspring.)

REWILDING / AGRICULTURE

Great audience questions about balancing farming with restoring ecosystems.

Prof Richard Kingsford notes a lack of ready solutions, but it seems the answer must include producing more food in cities.

Enter #PrecisionFermentation!
#RebootFood
@letsreplanet @[email protected]
@replanet

BAD METRICS

Reintroduction into fenced reserves is not a substitute for rewilding. Australia has met the criteria for delisting some endangered species due to healthy populations in fenced areas… but wild populations are still in decline.

CLIMATE EFFECTS

More frequent, more intense heatwaves will affect rewilding efforts as you might expect (animals will die).

Many of our threatened species live underground, which protects them… but are also nocturnal, and more badly affected by rising overnight temperatures.

#ClimateChange
#ClimateCrisis #ElimateEmergency

Big thanks to the hosts and speakers.