Sarah Bekessy

Almost 9 in 10 Australians agree we should invest in restoring wildlife habitats and natural places. Klaus/Flickr

May 17, 2019

How should I vote if I care about preventing the extinction of nature?

Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University; Alex Kusmanoff, RMIT University; Ascelin Gordon, RMIT University; Emily Gregg, RMIT University; Freya Thomas, RMIT University; Georgia Garrard, RMIT University; Holly Kirk, RMIT University; Jeremy Ringma, RMIT University; Katherine Berthon, RMIT University; Lindall Kidd, RMIT University; Marco Gutierrez, RMIT University; Mathew Hardy, RMIT University; Matthew Selinske, RMIT University, and Roshan Sharma, RMIT University

Here are the promises and policies of the Coalition, Labor, the Greens, One Nation and more.

A kangaroo finds refuge in a small patch of vegetation surrounded by a new housing estate. Georgia Garrard

December 12, 2018

The small patch of bush over your back fence might be key to a species’ survival

Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne; Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University; Heini Kujala, The University of Melbourne, and Natasha Cadenhead, The University of Melbourne

Expanding cities and farmland have created many small, often isolated patches of vegetation. Long seen as having limited ecological value, a new study shows these are vital for endangered species.

An impression of biodiversity sensitive urban design (BSUD) developed by the authors in collaboration with Mauro Baracco, Jonathan Ware and Catherine Horwill of RMIT’s School of Architecture and Design.

October 24, 2018

Here’s how to design cities where people and nature can both flourish

Georgia Garrard, RMIT University; Nicholas Williams, The University of Melbourne, and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University

Australian cities are home to many threatened species but are also where biodiversity is being destroyed by development. But what if planning and design processes built nature into the urban fabric?

Land clearing is once again on the rise in Queensland. AAP Image/Dan Peled

October 17, 2017

Let’s get this straight, habitat loss is the number‑one threat to Australia’s species

Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University

The outgoing Threatened Species Commissioner has downplayed the importance of land clearing as a threat to Australia’s plants and animals. But it’s the biggest threat, and magnifies the others too.

Cities today are flooded with light and we seldom think of its harmful impacts on the natural world. Jim Young/Reuters

December 16, 2016

Getting smarter about city lights is good for us and nature too

Alex Kusmanoff, RMIT University; Georgia Garrard, RMIT University; Luis Mata, RMIT University, and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University

Urban greening programs need to consider the harmful impacts of artificial lighting on ecosystems. Fortunately, we can do a lot to create more biosensitive lighting.

Early voting is underway in the US presidential election. Will the outcome reflect the polls? EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

November 1, 2016

What effect will closet Trump voters have on the US Election?

Alex Kusmanoff, RMIT University; Fiona Fidler, The University of Melbourne, and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University

Given the failure of British polls to predict the outcome of Brexit, is it possible Donald Trump could produce a surprise result of even greater proportions?

Victoria’s wildflowers: best enjoyed up close.

May 17, 2016

EcoCheck: Victoria’s flower‑strewn western plains could be swamped by development

Georgia Garrard, RMIT University and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University

Victoria’s volcanic plains offer fertile ground for grasslands teeming with wildflowers. But that same fertility has also made the plains a tempting target for grazers and growers, and developers too.

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