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Hugh Possingham

@hugepossum.bsky.social
3K followers 639 following 38 posts

Birdwatcher, conservation scientist and mathematician

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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
How do you know whether or not your conservation monitoring program is helping you to deliver outcomes? We have made a checklist of 15 distinct reasons - some more directly connected to outcomes than others.
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Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Our rapid assessment of the #EPBC Act reform package that's set to pass the senate theconversation.com/long-sought-... - Led by Justine Bell-James, with @drphilmccormack.bsky.social @yungenchee.bsky.social and me. #ESA2025 @aunz.theconversation.com @biodivcouncil.bsky.social @ecolsocaus.bsky.social
theconversation.com
Long-sought environmental law reform is finally here. But will the compromise deal actually protect nature?
After years of failed attempts, Australia’s environmental laws are finally getting an overhaul. But will they stop the damage done to nature?
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Holly Kirk @hollykirk.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Cane toads are advancing on WA's unique Pilbara region. @judydunlop.bsky.social and her team have a plan to stop them! @ecolsocaus.bsky.social #ESA2025 🌏 we're hearing about the Toad Containment Zone - creating a waterless barrier across the Pilbara to stop the invasion. 🐸
Judy has matched her dress colour to the mustard yellow cane toad on her title slideA once in a lifetime chance to stop the toad invasion. 'Working with Country to save Country' - Martin Bin Rashid, Karajarri
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Ecological Society of Australia @ecolsocaus.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Congratulations to the ESA Gold Medal Award winner Dr Suzanne Prober 👏 #ESA2025
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
“Bold actions for a resilient future” is the theme of the #ESA2025 conference @ecolsocaus.bsky.social . At 10:30am I will give my talk in the session on “extreme weather” and provide the answer to the question - it is 6, if you can’t get there or have better places to be.
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Bluesky Wagtail @angrywagtails.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Spider expert reaches milestone of naming 1000 species www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
abc.net.au
Naming species is crucial to conserving them according to spider expert - ABC listen
Living scientist Dr Mark Harvey reaches rare milestone of naming 1000 species of invertebrates.
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Megan Evans @megcevans.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Annual salary for a Professor at the ANU in 2025 is $227,921 services.anu.edu.au/human-resour... , yet Genevieve Bell will be getting over *double* that, plus a $400k golden handshake for VC, PLUS $200k in research funds. Yet apparently ANU is in a budget crisis? Absolute rot in uni governance
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Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Leading conservation, environmental, policy, economic, and legal experts speak up and out about the Group of Eight's position on #EPBC Act reforms. Thank you to all involved! Full statement www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... #ESA2025
linkedin.com
Independent statement of the Go8's EPBC Act stance | Justine Bell-James
This week is critical, make-or-break for environmental law reform. As 90 of Australia's leading biodiversity and climate researchers at Group of Eight (Go8) institutions, we publicly disagree with Go8...
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Judy Dunlop @judydunlop.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Fab talk from @megcevans.bsky.social about government trying to use capitalism (for profit model) to attempt to solve problems created by capitalism (environmental damage and biodiversity loss). But $2bn to solve biodiversity crisis isn't much compared to many other publicly funded things. #esa2025
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Do I see a tiny uptick in the TSX? Has the inexorable decline stopped, or is it just a wobble on the path to mass extinction? Www.tsx.org.au
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
And this morning there was Peregrine Falcon at uni footbridge, Black Cockies are about, two Night Heron behind zoo
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WA Orchids @wa-orchids.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
🌳🌿💚 Monday morning good news story! Following strong opposition from local councils & residents, Alcoa has shelved its plans to explore the Perth Hills #jarrah #forests for its #bauxite mining expansion... for now at least. #wildoz #conservation #ozflora #trees www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
abc.net.au
Alcoa shelves plans to explore Perth Hills for mining expansion
US mining giant Alcoa will withdraw part of its plans to expand its mining operations in the world's only jarrah forests, following community concerns around water security and environmental impacts.
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Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
For attendees of #ESA2025 that might be interested.
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Megan Evans @megcevans.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
#esa2025 Keynote presentation from Tiahni Adamson #BushHeritage speaking about #FirstNations governance and #RightWay science. First Nations leadership is not only the right thing to do but leads to more effective #ecological outcomes
A First Nations woman standing at the main stage at the Ecological Society of Australia Conference with a large screen in the background
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
For those who love plants, many groups have been restoring the vegetation of the Adelaide Plains, once harbouring 750 species! Head east along the river towards the St Peter’s billabong. Some things in flower: Linum marginale, Goodenia amplexans (strong smell) and Malva #ESA2025
Native grasses at billabongGoodenia amplexansNative flax - Linum marginaleNative hibiscus - once Lavatera, now Malva sp.
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
We donate $25,000 a year to Nature Glenelg Trust. They do remarkable on-ground work for biodiversity in the places that we love #ESA2025. Eaglehawk waterhole, an NGT property, south of Bordertown, probably has South Australia’s best woodland bird diversity.
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Looking for a nice bird, flower, Rakali, reptile, frog walk at #ESA2025 this week - head to the St Peter’s billabong @ecolsocaus.bsky.social - darter, water skink, c30 bird species, and lots of native plants. Little grassbird and reed warbler nesting.
Map of billabong siteDarterEastern Water Skink, I think? I know nothing about reptilesThe restoration of the billabong
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Ecological Society of Australia @ecolsocaus.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Register now if you’d like to be a judge for student presentations at #ESA2025 👇
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Ecological Society of Australia @ecolsocaus.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
The conference app & Bluesky are the place to be for any live updates. Follow the #ESA2025 feed to see everyone's posts tinyurl.com/bdh9asy2 - use the hashtag to be featured!
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Nat Forsdick @natforsdick.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Busting all our assumptions about sexual dimorphism, bird colour and song, Kristal Cain gets #AOC2025 off to a rollicking start!
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Dr Maggie J Watson @terngirl.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
A few home truths about the orange-bellied parrot, an excellent #AOC2025 plenary from @teamswiftparrot.bsky.social
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Yet another Australian extinction - www.theguardian.com/environment/.... Ironically the federal government is still allowing the destruction of the habitat for nationally listed threatened species - species such as the Eyre Peninsula southern emuwren and koala #biodiversity #murraywatt
theguardian.com
And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct
The tally of Australian mammals extinct since 1788 is now 39 species – far more than for any other country
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Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Ok, here’s my starter pack! go.bsky.app/4ASwaLv Non-exhaustive list!
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Nick Feik @nickfeik.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
“Positive talks” with the Coalition while “even the select group of environment and industry lobby groups who meet weekly with Watt to discuss EPBC reform are yet to see draft legislation”. Albanese and Watt are shitting on us, folks.
theguardian.com
With climate trigger axed Labor wants to rush new environmental laws through after ‘positive’ talks with Coalition
Proposed timeframe leaves 12 days to scrutinise most significant changes to national environmental protection regime since 1999
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Dr Nick 🦉🇦🇺 @doktrnick.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Female Powerful Owl in a Brisbane conservation park. Two guys with 2 dogs walked right under her but didn't notice her and her partner on the same branch. #brisbane #birds #wildoz
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Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
New blog: As a grant peer reviewer I consider Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) even if the scheme doesn't list EDI criteria. Key is to tie the selection criteria to EDI. This is how I do it mathemagicalconservation.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/a... @katehelmstedt.bsky.social @hugepossum.bsky.social
mathemagicalconservation.wordpress.com
As a grant reviewer, how do you request Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, even if it isn’t an explicit selection criterion
Many funding schemes now include equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as an explicit selection criterion. But what happens when it isn’t written into the rubric? Should applicants still consider …
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William (Bill) Sutherland @billsutherland.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Excellent advice from Hugh Possingham on monitoring conservation projects and why most Monitoring and Evaluation is flawed. youtu.be/qa6Ewt-W5mU?...
youtu.be
Why most conservation projects fail to learn
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
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Sofía López Cubillos @sofia-lc.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
We illustrate this with the Putumayo Trinational Corridor (Colombia, Ecuador & Peru). There, structured decision-making helped align shared goals and coordinate transboundary actions to conserve biodiversity while strengthening local communities.
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Sofía López Cubillos @sofia-lc.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
Imagine an Amazon where nations work together, rivers still fly moisture to the Andes, jaguars roam safely, and Indigenous voices guide decisions. 🌿✨ Our new @pnas.org piece explores how this future can be real. 🔗 doi.org/10.1073/pnas... 🧵👇 ¡Arículo en español en el material suplementario!
doi.org
To implement the Belém Declaration, we need a structured and collaborative approach | PNAS
To implement the Belém Declaration, we need a structured and collaborative approach
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Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society @aares-org.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Join us for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗔 & 𝗖𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 with Prof. Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social, exploring Impact, failure, and the case for Theory of Change 📅 16 September 2025 🕑 14:00 AWST (Perth) 💻 Online Webinar 👉 Register here: tinyurl.com/aareswa25 #UWA‬ #AARES
Professor Possingham will explore the challenges of defining, delivering, and measuring 'impact' in Universities and Not-For-Profits. Drawing on stories of both success and failure, he will argue for the adoption of more rigorous Theory of Change approaches to ensure real and lasting outcomes.

This annual lecture, hosted by the  (WA Branch) in partnership with UWA Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy (CEEP), brings together students, academics, policy-makers, industry leaders, and the public for critical conversations on environmental and resource issues.
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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 27/08/2025
Natalie Kyriacou is the founder of the environmental organization My Green World, and has speaks on this episode of Mongabay’s podcast about the aim of the book, her thoughts on real solutions to our ecological problems, what she wishes more people understood about nature.
news.mongabay.com
The honesty, humor and wonder of ‘Nature’s Last Dance,’ from Natalie Kyriacou
I recently received an advance copy of Natalie Kyriacou’s widely praised new book, Nature’s Last Dance: Tales of Wonder in an Age of Extinction, and found myself agreeing with its many high-profile…
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Sam Wakeling @samwake.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Congestion charging in London caused an average of 7% drop in car ownership in affected areas (outer London near the charging boundary). If we want fewer cars in our streets, and all the benefits that brings, this is one of the tools that we know works. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
The impact of congestion charging on car ownership: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment
Urban Vehicle Access Regulations are experiencing a resurgence in interest as practitioners grapple with prominent challenges, such as traffic safety,…
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 27/08/2025
"Air pollution from oil and gas causes more than 90,000 premature deaths and sickens hundreds of thousands of people across the US each year, a new study shows..." If MAHA were anything other than dipshit reactionary fantasies & conspiracy theories, it would focus overwhelmingly on air pollution.
theguardian.com
Air pollution from oil and gas causes 90,000 premature US deaths each year, says new study
Study analyzed health impacts of fossil fuels from exploration to end use, and found communities of color bear brunt of harm
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Dr Dave @ecosystemunraveller.com · 23/08/2025
September 19 and 20, I’ll be joining a fab group of speakers at the second GROUNDED festival. Part scientific conference, part field day, part food festival. There are so many win-wins in the agriculture and environment space—come along and help celebrate them! groundedaustralia.com.au
groundedaustralia.com.au
GROUNDED Australia - Farming Better
GROUNDED Australia is a hybrid event for farmers; a cross between a conference, a field day and a food festival.
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Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Is Labour betraying its own members? youtu.be/RZ9Er3rLUGU?... Labour members want progressive change – from scrapping the two-child cap to stopping arms sales to Israel. The leadership is ignoring them. This video asks: what is Labour afraid of, and what must change?
youtu.be
Is Labour betraying its own members?
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
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BioAgora project @bioagora.eu · 22/08/2025
🔦 A recent publication by @ec.europa.eu placed BioAgora in the spotlight! 🔄 We were listed as a cross-cutting initiative strengthening the EU's science-policy interface on the road to #TransformativeChange4Biodiversity. 🔗 bioagora.eu/news/europea... #Biodiversity #ForNature #ForOurPlanet
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Beach-nesting Birds @birdlifehoodie.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Hi! We're new here but maybe you followed us on X! We're @birdlifeoz.bsky.social's Beach-nesting Birds team - working to give birds that nest on Australian beaches a chance to raise their young 🐥 We've uploaded our past X posts, so you can learn about our work if you didn't know us! #plovers
Hooded Plover adults in western Victoria - by Dan Lees
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Beach-nesting Birds @birdlifehoodie.bsky.social · 08/05/2024
Last chance to register for BirdLife Australia's Beach-nesting Birds Conference! Registrations close Sunday 13th May! Where: Anglesea, Victoria When: May 31st - June 2nd Conference Program:
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Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Excited for our annual conference on modeling for ecology, biodiversity, sustainability, environment, water, energy, climate, fisheries, forestry, & ag. Love all the cool #math & stats used to save the world. Join us in Stellenbosch 2026. 🌍#MathSky @hugepossum.bsky.social @katehelmstedt.bsky.social
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SCCS Cambridge 2027 @sccscambridge.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
SCCS 2026 has opened for applications! 📣Spread the word! It will be our 25th conference in Cambridge and will take place between 31 March – 2 April 2026. Check out the website for more info and to apply: www.sccs-cam.org.
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Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Please share: PhD scholarship opportunity in mathematical ecology on the value of information for improving ecological management, open to international students, with a great team @hugepossum.bsky.social, Katriona Shea, Kate Helmstedt, & me at UQ, Australia 🌍 🧮, study.uq.edu.au/study-option...
study.uq.edu.au
The value of information for ecological management
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Daniella Teixeira @daniteixeira.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Always devastating to “see” Australia’s extinct fauna. Gone forever. John Woinarski presenting the evidence for the impact of invasive species, esp cats and foxes, on native mammals. #iccb2025
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Hugh Possingham @hugepossum.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
#iccb2025 biodiversity and carbon planting day with Brisbane Sustainability Agency #ArcherfieldWetlands Getting in a few thousand plants and finding lots of bird species
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Cambridge for Europe @cambsforeurope.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
As the 9th anniversary of the #Brexit referendum approaches, new polling shows: 🇪🇺 Large majority see Brexit as a mistake and failure 🇬🇧 Large majority blame Brexiters for the failure 🇪🇺🇬🇧 Clear majority want to #RejoinEU Let's get on with it! yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
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Society for Conservation Biology Oceania @scboceania.org · 19/06/2025
Help @hugepossum.bsky.social plant trees at Archerfield Wetlands on Saturday! Details at the SCBO booth.
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Sylvaine Giakoumi @sylvainegiakoumi.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Besides attending super interesting presentations, it is such a great pleasure to meet old friends/colleagues at #ICCB2025 @hugepossum.bsky.social @robsalgo.bsky.social @mariabeger.bsky.social
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darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
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Grant Hamilton 🐨 @ecologygrant.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
#ICCB2025 comedy at a conference! What more could you want??
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Yung En Chee @yungenchee.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
"Felicity Wade, the national co-convener of the Labor Environment Action Network, was confident Watt could “walk the line”, listening to business without losing sight of why the legislation existed." Not exactly words that inspire confidence... #EPBC
theguardian.com
Environmentalists worry as Labor seeks consensus on new federal nature laws
Environment minister Murray Watt is restarting the process after the government shelved earlier proposed reforms
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Tatsuya Amano @tatsuya-amano.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Can’t believe this is finally happening after 2 years of hard work by so many people! #ICCB2025
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