Ecosystems are deeply interconnected – environmental research, policy and management should be too

• Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change?
• Specifically, we investigate solutions to environmental and societal problems that stem from the disparities between scientific research, policy and management responses to environmental issues.

Our work’s standing among global research aimed at stopping ecosystem collapse has been recognised as one of 23 national champions in this year’s Frontiers Planet Prize.

Read more:
Our oceans are in deep trouble – a 'mountains to sea' approach could make a real difference

More holistic solutions

• The challenges focused on environmental issues were deliberately created to concentrate on separate ecosystem and management domains (marine, freshwater and land).
• We focus on solutions where social and ecological connections are at the forefront of environmental management practices and decisions.

• Most of the microplastics found along coasts and in harbours are blown or washed off the land.
• This leads to lags in decision making which create undesirable environmental outcomes that are difficult to return from.

Cyclones as a real-world example

• The exposed soil associated with clear felling was left draped in woody debris to protect it from rain.
• However, Cyclone Gabrielle hit in February last year, with extreme rainfall washing both soil and woody debris into streams.

• The debris also clogged harbours and coastal beaches, smothered seafloor habitats, destroyed fisheries and affected cultural and recreational values.
• This real-world example demonstrates the severe consequences of lags in information flow and management responses.

Living with nature, not off it

• Living within planetary boundaries requires a paradigm shift in behaviours, including the way we link science and management to on-the-ground action.
• Crucially, we need to increase the speed at which new research is taken up and rapidly transition this into action that improves environmental outcomes at local scales.
• This behavioural shift underpins the way to a more integrated, broad-scale ability to act and stay within planetary boundaries.

• Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher receives funding from philanthropy, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), including from the National Science Challenges, the Marsden Fund and the Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships.
• Conrad Pilditch receives funding from Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), including the National Science Challenge Sustainable Seas, Marsden Fund and regional councils.