How can we intentionally design our homes to co-inhabit with wildlife? That’s the question we explored in an a new work at the NGV - www.whenwildlifemovesin.com From frog saunas to butterfly puddles: 8 ways to turn your homes into a wildlife refuge theconversation.com/from-frog-sa...

To anyone who thinks (indoor) cats can’t do tricks x

A massive congratulations to ICON Science Lab Head, Prof. @sbekessy.bsky.social, who has been successful in securing an ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship for 2025!! Congratulations Sarah!! 👏🏼🎉🥂 Read more about Sarah's project here: www.arc.gov.au/2025-industr...

The ICON Science Research Group, including both current and recent alumni, was well represented at the #ICCB2025 poster session last night! You can catch our lab head, Prof. Sarah Bekessy (@sbekessy.bsky.social), speaking in 'The future of designing with urban wildlife' session at 3.15pm in M4.

4/n Consequently, there are many efforts to make urban gardens more hospitable for native biodiversity, e.g.: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... @sbekessy.bsky.social ‪@drkyliesoanes.bsky.social‬ @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social @euanritchie.bsky.social will be able to add more examples

Just boosting this fresh new work from colleagues @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social @sbekessy.bsky.social! 🌏🧪 #conservationScienc #urban

These trees likely date back to European colonisation, and now they've been destroyed to make way for a car park. Yes, you read that right. A car park. We can do better than this. We have to do better than this.

"Big tree adds between 3% to 15% of the value of a property, so even if the owners don’t care about health benefits, cooling, aesthetic appeal and privacy, it’s financially better to rebuild their fence rather than cutting down the tree.” @sbekessy.bsky.social au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-neigh...

It’s hard to celebrate public schools gaining full funding. Its hard because kids now in kindergarten must wait till Year 10 before their education is fully supported. Its also hard when most private schools remain overfunded. Its hard to celebrate inequality. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

ok everyone - just a few more days (closes 5th march) to apply for this sensational role -Bush Heritage Australia is one of the most extraordinary organisations I have had the pleasure to be involved with. applynow.net.au/jobs/EMSC202...

Despite the supposed protection of Environmental Significance and Public Acquisition Overlays and national & state enviro protection laws, a Melb developer bulldozed 40 ha of Critically Endangered grassland earmarked for a recreation & conservation reserve. biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/melbour...

The ripping up of critically-endangered (<1% of original extent remaining!) Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plains occurred on the watch of Fed & Vic Env Ministers Tanya Plibersek & Steve Dimopoulos Write them👉 vnpa.org.au/action-prote... (h/t @lyndallterrier.bsky.social)

The “silent majority” of Australians support having more national parks, no matter who they vote for. Listen to the full interview and learn more about the study from @monashuniversity.bsky.social via our website: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/austral... 🌱 🐨 🦘 🐸 ⛺ 🥾 🌳

Join thousands of other subscribers who get the latest biodiversity science and policy news delivered straight to their inbox. Sign up at eepurl.com/iQT6W6 Subscribe today so you don't miss out on the edition heading for inboxes first thing tomorrow morning.

Want change? Want to protect Australia’s wildlife and environments? *Use preferential voting to your advantage.* No. Vote. Is. Ever. Wasted! Simply order your votes from most environmentally progressive to least (ecocidal). It’s literally that simple. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Tim Winton: Labor hasn’t delivered on more effective nature laws. It’s not just embarrassing, it’s calamitous www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Cats can be wonderful companion animals. Cats should be contained to their homes/catios/cat-runs, 24/7. Contained cats are healthier and safer. Containing cats protects wildlife (pet and feral cats kill) and human health. My chat with Richelle Hunt on ABC Melbourne www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Australia's renewable energy transition is being shaped by politics when it should be guided by evidence. We've prepared a public statement on the transition we need to have. Read the full 1-page statement: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/resources/st... #renewables #cleanenergy #climateaction

Three-quarters of Australians want more national parks, study finds biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/austral...

Survey finds 75% of Australians support the establishment of new national parks, and only 5% are opposed. The results come amid an angry backlash on social media against a pro-national parks campaign by Great Northern Brewing Co and highlights that there’s a “silent majority” of supporters.

Read more: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/4-ways-... @icon-science.bsky.social @sbekessy.bsky.social @monashuniversity.bsky.social

This week, the annual LIV Golf tournament returns to the Grange Golf Club in South Australia. Grange is known for its commitment to natural habitats and wildlife. But can a golf course really be good for biodiversity? ⛳ @aunz.theconversation.com theconversation.com/golf-courses...

Check out this new article from @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social @icon-science.bsky.social theconversation.com/golf-courses... reflecting on the important role that golf courses can play for #urbanNature! 🌏

ICON has officially moved over to Bluesky!

“Years of warnings...ignored or kept secret. Promises made, but not delivered...Laws that don’t work to protect the environment, or smooth the way for sensible development. All against the backdrop of...environmental destruction..It’s time to change that.” - @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social 2022

Labor just abandoned a 2022 election commitment to reform our ineffective environmental protection laws. Albanese says he abandoned new nature laws due to a lack of support in the senate, but as @adammorton.bsky.social writes, ”It’s pretty hard to get a deal when you’ve given up negotiation.”

Epic fail, again today on environmental policies from Australia’s PM: “It’s a matter of working to, in a practical way, a commonsense reform that delivers something that supports industry.” The fossil fuel industry of course. While Townsville goes underwater theconversation.com/politics-wit...

Right on time! Just when I was really starting to feel overwhelmed by, well, everything... Here's some handy new research from colleagues @sbekessy.bsky.social @lilyvaneeden.bsky.social on best ways to make positive changes for nature! #conservation🌏 theconversation.com/make-a-noise...

Now more than ever we all need tips for best ways to advocate for nature - our new research identifies what works theconversation.com/make-a-noise... @biodivcouncil.bsky.social @lilyvaneeden.bsky.social @fernhames.bsky.social @liamsmeeth1.bsky.social

So according to Trump people in the U.S. will only be able to identify as men or women? Fuck off, Trump. And likewise, to all that support this vile, dangerous human.

We learnt a lot about #urbanbiodiversity at #ESAus2024, with several sessions run by @sbekessy.bsky.social and a keynote by @drkyliesoanes.bsky.social This is a great summary by @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social: bsky.app/profile/jaci... #gadigaltogunnedah #notes

Terrible photo sorry but @hollykirk.bsky.social convincing us very eloquently (as usual) that we need to identify potential biodiversity values as well as risks when doing ecological impact assessments @esa2024.bsky.social

Integrating water design & biodiversity design is the topic of Fiona Hoegh-Guldberg's PhD! #ESAus2024🌏🧪 Her new paper is here www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Green or blue #natureBasedSolutions still vulnerable to green-washing! Need to consider biodiversity beyond just ecosystem services.

Now @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social asks how do we get forest & woodland birds back in cities when we actively lack forests & woodlands in cities? #ESAus2024 Her presentation focuses on how small birds are affected by bigger, noisier and more aggressive birds in #urban spaces. 🌏🧪🪶

Kicking off the Nature in Cities session here at #ESAus2024, @sbekessy.bsky.social calls for #urban developers to sign the Nature Pledge: Full stop on removing any remnant vegetation!! 🌏 naturepledge.org.au

Humans murder another majestic apex predator. Sickening this barbaric, backward practice continues.

Spiky blue devils and chocolate lilies: Victorian grassland bursts with wildflowers after ecological ‘reset’

Many cities fail the 3-30-300 benchmark for urban nature. The ‘3’ is often met and the ‘300’ is patchy due to poor tree canopy coverage. Cities need better planting conditions and governance to support tree growth @_ficus @TerrEcolGroup @geoconR @sbekessy

A new study examining plant and animal species after the Black Summer fire season found greater biodiversity loss in areas subject to frequent burning. www.abc.net.au/news/science...