2016 SoE Biodiversity Most important knowledge gaps hindering effective management of biodiversity

Key knowledge gaps hindering effective management of biodiversity (in Australia) according to a survey of Ecological Society of Australia members.

In December 2015, Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) members were surveyed to solicit opinions on the current and emerging pressures on biodiversity, and impediments to effective management. 155 members responded.

This data was used by the Department of Environment and Energy to produce Figure BIO3 in the Biodiversity theme of Australia State of the Environment 2016, available at https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/biodiversity/topic/2016/availability-information#biodiversity-figure-3

According to the data, the highest-ranked response (18 per cent) was a lack of basic knowledge about species distributions and abundances, and particularly of threatened species (46 per cent of respondents included this category in the top 5). Other responses identified a lack of understanding of ecological processes, threatening processes and potential ecological thresholds or tipping points. The survey identified a lack of effective control of invasive species and a lack of knowledge about the impacts of climate change as the most important targets that need to be addressed to manage biodiversity cost-effectively. The survey further identified that management was hampered by a lack of understanding about the effectiveness of management and about best-practice management.

For further background see: the full Biodiversity report at http://www.soe.environment.gov.au (in particular, the section titled "Pressures")