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| St Bees Island |
But what do islands have to do with conservation?
Last week, Robbie, Bill and Sean attended a conference in Canberra focused on the sustainable use and conservation of Australian islands. Islands are important because they harbour many species - like quolls - that aren't doing so well on the mainland ... but also because they often have significant mining interests. And it's easy to destroy them environmentally.
Our crew gave two talks at the conference - one highlighting our work on quolls with the Indigenous rangers on Groote Eylandt, and the other discussing how studying the demographics and behaviour of koalas on St Bees Island enhances conservation of the species.
Key points from the talks?
1. Koala populations differ biologically - so one single conservation plan won't be adequate to protect the species as a whole.
2. Island populations provide a unique opportunity to ask questions about species that are endangered on the mainland.
3. Working with Indigenous rangers and land councils will facilitate conservation of Australian fauna.
And the rest of the conference? It was a great chance for the guys to network! And explore the pubs and restaurants of our nation's capital ...
