Key Note Speaker
Practitioner ecology:
Bridging the gap between ecological perspective and land manager experience
Perpetua Turner, State Fire Management Council (TFS) and Ecological Society of Australia
Australian ecosystems have a long history of unique and diverse flora, fauna, and ancient soils, but also a short history of disturbance, degradation, production, and industrialisation.
The pushing of these environmental thresholds in conjunction with anthropogenic climate change is resulting in a greater need for adaptive management, effective risk mitigation, and better decision support tools to help make the tough decisions to protect what we value.
Ecological science principles and research underpin the strategies, approaches, and actions for what we do at the grassroots level. Essential in this is delivering backup to research the effectiveness of management and translating results to better inform recommendations for future management.
This presentation will discuss experiences from 25+ years of working in fire ecology and biodiversity conservation via a cooperative approach, in the fire, forestry and agricultural sectors, and how ecologists distil research results into practical solutions to enact provisions for biodiversity conservation and management.
Perpetua Turner is an experienced and recognised expert in bryology and forest and fire ecology with a strong background in land management. She uses her skills and expertise in ecology, management, and regulation to deliver advice about vegetation fire management across Tasmania, particularly in the areas of prevention and mitigation of fires.
Perpetua enjoys working with community and uses her skills to lead ecological and community groups focused on planning, collaboration, conservation, and education. She is currently the Manager of the State Fire Management Council (Tasmania Fire Service) and President of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA). The SFMC is an independently chaired body (Fire Service Act 1979), that leads the enhancement and efficient management of bushfire-related risk in Tasmania. As Australia’s peak group representing ecologists for over 60 years, the ESA creates a community of knowledge and understanding among ecologists, reaching out to related fields.
View Perpetua's Presentation at the Conference here:
