Mature eucalypt trees are keystone structures in the Australian landscape. They provide habitat for a range of fauna through the provision of hollows, exposed perches and foraging resources. Despite their disproportionate value, mature trees are still being cleared for new residential developments and in existing urban spaces. Cara's research explores different facets of mature tree retention in urban environments, with a particular focus on the ACT and south east Queensland.

The objectives of her thesis are:

• to identify the patterns of mature tree retention during residential property development;

• to explore the way bird and microbat communities vary with differing numbers of mature trees in urban greenspace; and

• to explore ways to design residential property developments so that more mature trees can be retained within acceptable tolerances of risk to people and infrastructure.

About the Speaker

Cara works as a consulting ecologist whilst undertaking her PhD remotely from Brisbane. She is dedicated to environmental conservation and is particularly passionate about conserving hollow-bearing trees for wildlife. Cara’s experience is varied, from volunteering in wildlife care and rescue, to activism, to researching carved hollows across the Gold Coast. In her current role she provides technical advice regarding development and biodiversity conservation reporting, as well as conducting threatened species surveys.