MPhil Candidate
Visiting International Research Student from The University of Adelaide, Australia
Supported by an Australian Endeavour Research Fellowship
Education
- Grad Dip Ed (Secondary Science and Maths), Charles Darwin University 2008
- B App Sci (Natural Resource Management), The University of Adelaide 1998
Current Research
My research examines the impact of conservation incentive payments in agricultural landscapes. Using the BushBids conservation tender program in South Australia as a case study, I’m investigating the influence of 10 year contracts for remnant native vegetation management on ecosystem service provision.
In the first part of my study I have looked at participation in the BushBids program, characterising the landholders who were interested in payments for provision of ecosystem services from remnant native vegetation management.
I am also using interviews and questionnaires to explore the experiences of program participants and their views about future management actions after 10 years of contracted vegetation management.
To assess the ecological impact of these 10 year management contracts I am using a modified before-after-control-impact study design comparing changes at contracted sites with changes at sites without contracts and at reference sites on public land.
While visiting the SAL lab I will be learning analysis and modelling techniques and aim to use these to identify the extent and cost of the intervention required to meet targets for landscape scale biodiversity conservation or other ecosystem services.
Supervisors Dr Tim Cavagnaro, Dr Patrick O’Connor, Dr Sean Smukler
I gratefully acknowledge financial support from: The University of Adelaide School of Agriculture Food and Wine, The Field Naturalists Society of South Australia, the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and Australia Awards-Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships
Research Interests
- Biodiversity conservation
- Ecosystem services
- Natural resources management policy
- Payments for ecosystem services (PES)
Presentations and publications
Bond AJ, O’Connor PJ and Cavagnaro TR (2017) Payments for ecosystem services: what difference do they make and who puts their hand up? Presentation at the Restore Regenerate Revegetate Conference, Armidale NSW Australia, Feb 2017.
O’Connor PJ and AJ Bond (2007) Maximising the effectiveness of photopoint monitoring for ecological management and restoration. Ecological Management and Restoration 8; 228-233
Affiliations