Major Research achievements during past five years
Restoration ecology and fragmentation
Written two conceptual papers on the ecological basis for restoration ecology, and evaluated the success of restoration plantings at several sites. Working with three major New Zealand mining companies on mine-site rehabilitation projects. Prepared a restoration plan for a major island restoration project and have been involved in several other restoration/regeneration projects elsewhere. Undertaken research on fragmentation effects including projects on edge effects in lowland West Coast forests, and fragmentation effects in Western Australian woodlands and Southland forests.
Biodiversity conservation on private land
Have written general review papers on the integration of biodiversity conservation in plantation forest and agricultural ecosystems and am presently preparing a more general book on this. Prepared criteria for assessing significance in terms of New Zealand legislation, and have assessed significance on private land.
Threatened plant conservation
Evaluated alternative methods for assessing threat and prioritising threatened plant species, including development of an alternative system for categorising threatened species and undertaken evaluations of the status of several threatened plants. Written recovery plans for the coastal cress species, Hebe cupressoides and South Island broom species. Evaluated factors affecting the ecology of mistletoes including studies on mistletoe ecology, host utilisation patterns and conservation.
Indigenous forest ecology and management
Prepared review papers on disturbance and sustainable forest management and on the sustainable management of lowland conifer forests. Undertaking research on forest dynamics, community patterns and microclimates.