News: Environment Institute
How Freshwater Transformed the Coorong's Microbial World
Environment Institute members Chris Keneally and Justin Brookes and their team have conducted groundbreaking research on how floods impact microbial communities in the Coorong Lagoon. Their study revealed that the 2022 flood not only reduced methane-producing microbes but also promoted beneficial bacterial growth, highlighting the vital role of freshwater flows in restoring ecological balance.Ìý
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Are we witnessing a major setback for Australia’s nature protection laws?
A new bill introduced to Parliament seeks to limit the federal government’s ability to reconsider past environmental approvals, even when new evidence shows harm. The move is tied to ongoing salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, putting the endangered Maugean skate at further risk. Dr Phillipa C. McCormack, Environment Institute Future Making Fellow, explores the consequences in her piece forÌýThe Conversation, calling for urgent reform of Australia’s outdated environmental laws.
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2025 Illegal Wildlife Trade Workshop Recap
The Invasion Science & Wildlife Ecology Group at The University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøÌýhosted the 2025 Illegal Wildlife Trade Workshop at the Shine Dome in Canberra. Over 50 participants attended across the two days, representing a wide range of agencies and organisations, including state government representatives, forensic scientists and tool developers.
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