Three ecologists walk through a woodland landscape at dusk carrying boxes.

Research groups and projects

A group of researchers look up from the forest floor in Victoria.

Victorian Forest Biodiversity and Conservation

In Victoria, Australia, Fenner researchers undertake a range of studies to examine at the environmental impacts of fire, logging, and other factors affecting biodiversity and forest habitats.

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Suistanable city

ARC Laureate Project: Cities as transformative agents for a climate-safe future

Transformative changes are urgently needed to achieve a climate-safe future for cities. Distinguished Professor Xuemei Bai argues for a novel reconceptualisation of cities as transformative agents for climate-safe futures in her ARC Laureate Project "Cities as transformative agents for a climate-safe future".

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Three people testing soil in an agricultural field in Africa.

Transforming irrigation in southern Africa

The project aims to find means of meeting the African government’s plans for greater food security while using limited water resources more sustainably.

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A student takes notes at the edge of a dam with eucalyptus trees and kangaroos in the distance.

Sustainable Farms

Sustainable Farms draws upon research programs across the Australian National University, focussing on three key research topics: Healthy Farms, Healthy Farmers, and Healthy Profits.

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TSR_Boorowa_20230929_ANU3634

Supporting the re-emergence of cultural burning in box-gum grassy woodlands

ANU Fenner School ecologists and a cohort of New South Wales Local Aboriginal Land Councils are joining together on a project to re-introduce cultural burning in box-gum grassy woodlands and to monitor the environmental outcomes of the burns.

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An eastern bettong.

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary provides a safe haven where reintroduced species can thrive.

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A hydropower dam.

Pumped Storage Hydropower Group

The pumped storage hydropower group collaborates with governments, civil society groups and NGOs, supporting transitions to zero/low carbon electricity grids. As part of this, a key objective is ensuring environmental and social governance issues are prioritised, including during grid-scale planning.

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A mosaic image of agricultural scenes and a young woman looking through a microscope.

Activating the Indigenous Estate – Baseline Study of Agricultural Capacity

First Nations people have legal interests to greater than 57% of Australia’s land mass yet their participation in primary industries is minimal. The baseline study addresses several aspects and issues associated with growing First Nations primary production across Australia.

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The coastline of Booderee National Park with cliff faces and ocean.

Booderee National Park & Surrounds

Researchers undertake projects to study biodiversity and the impacts of fire and invasive animal and plant control on mammals, birds and reptiles inhabiting a range of vegetation types.

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A researcher kayaks down a river in a yellow inflatable raft.

Helping the River Sing - an innovative approach to communicating river health

It's crucial that we as a society communicate the huge importance of this system, celebrate its majestic wonder - and continue efforts to preserve and encourage river stewardship for future generations.

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Researchers and collaborators stand in front of a pond at the ANU Campus.

Mapping for Mob

The Mapping for Mob team works with Indigenous organisations to deliver Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software training to over 30 Indigenous professionals around Australia.

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Two researchers doing field work on a forest floor in Tasmania.

Difficult Birds Research Group

The Difficult Bird Research Group (DBRG), led by Prof. Rob Heinsohn at the Fenner School, ANU, seeks to promote understanding of the ecology and conservation of Australia’s rarest and most elusive threatened bird species. Such species are often hard to find, occur in wild and rugged terrain, and move around the landscape, and are consequently put in the ‘too hard basket”; however the DBRG develop new cutting edge techniques that address the challenges posed by these species, and apply the knowledge gained to manage them more effectively.

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