DoctorClare Hawkins

Project Total: $832,197; The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is delivering the Renewable Environmental Research Initiative (RERI) to address key information gaps in the regulation of renewable energy developments. The RERI aims to improve understanding of how renewable energy projects affect nationally significant environmental matters, and how best to manage these impacts to enable faster, better-informed decision-making under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This project focuses on two EPBC-listed species identified as priorities under the RERI: the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle and the Tasmanian masked owl. For each species, the project will: Compile existing data and identify key knowledge gaps. Investigate flight behaviour, habitat associations, and vulnerability to impacts from renewable energy infrastructure.Evaluate current survey methods used in pre-construction ecological impact assessments. Findings will be synthesised into species-specific regulatory guidance to support environmental assessments of renewable energy developments and ensure appropriate protections are in place for these threatened species. Funded by: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water - Tender ($850,800); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $42,000; The Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle (TWTE) was listed as Endangered over 20 years ago due to its estimated population size of under 1000 individuals and several known threats contributing to its decline. Subsequent research has improved our understanding of TWTE ecology and mortality factors, however information on the current population size is lacking. An empirical population estimate is necessary for understanding the status of the TWTE and to inform strategic conservation decisions. The citizen science project Where? Where? Wedgie! (WWW) conducts structured, statewide surveys each May to monitor population trends. However, converting these survey results into population estimates is limited by uncertainty in detection probabilities (detectability). This project will address that gap by developing an innovative approach that integrates WWW survey data with GPS-tracking data from eagles monitored across Tasmania to calculate the probability of detection. This will allow the estimation of the population size by combining the resulting detection function with ongoing WWW survey data. Funded by: Southern Regional Natural Resource Management Association Inc (NRM South) - Grant ($46,200); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $5,000; Funded by: Norman Wettenhall Foundation - Grant ($5,000); University of Tasmania ($6,000).

Project Total: $3,000; Funded by: Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency - Grant-NCCARF Terrestrial Biodiversity PhD Visit ($3,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $1,500; Funded by: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales - Grant-Ethel Mary Read ($1,500); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $20,500; Funded by: Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - Grant ($20,500); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $2,000; Funded by: Wildlife Disease Association - Australasian section - Grant-Research Award ($2,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $1,000; Funded by: Trust of M.A. Ingram - Grant ($1,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $1,000; Funded by: Australian Wildlife Society - Grant-University Students Scheme ($1,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $6,563; Funded by: Foundation For National Parks and Wildlife - Grant-Agency ($6,563); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $32,000; Funded by: Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust - Grant ($32,000); University of Tasmania.