James Cook University’s Professor Helene Marsh has been appointed chair of the national Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC).
The TSSC, established by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, advises Federal Environment Minister Tony Bourke on amendments to the national lists for threatened species, threatened ecological communities, and key threatening processes.
Together with conservation advice, it advises the Minister and government on the development and adoption of recovery plans and threat abatement plans.
Professor Marsh, an internationally recognised conservation and environmental scientist, is currently Dean of Graduate Research Studies and Professor of Environmental Science at James Cook University. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Professor Marsh has extensive experience in conservation biology with a particular focus on establishing a sound ecological basis for the management of marine and terrestrial environments in tropical Australia and has won several international awards for her research and conservation activities.
Professor Marsh said she was surprised when the government approached her, saying the Minister would like to talk to her about the role, which is nation-wide.
She said she was looking forward to working co-operatively with states and communities to develop a sense of ownership about conservation problems.
Fostering relationships between the TSSC and the Environment Department’s Indigenous Advisory Committee will be a priority in order to strengthen the role of Indigenous landholders in biodiversity conservation, she said.
“I consider biodiversity conservation to be a vital source of jobs for Indigenous people in remote regions of Australia,” she said
“We need to reduce the feeling that it is peoples’ lifestyles that are threatened. Good conservation outcomes should be everyone’s business.”
*
Learn more about James Cook University!
Interested in learning about the popular James Cook University Pharmacy School? Apply now to the James Cook University Pharmacy School.
