This special edition of the Bulletin was facilitated by ESA’s Practitioner Engagement Working Group (PEWG). The PEWG seeks to build, support and showcase applied ecological research projects, driven by strong partnerships between ecological researchers and practitioners, and promotes the value of these links to on-ground action.

Ecological practitioners are at the forefront of addressing practical conservation issues and improving environmental outcomes. Through applied ecological research, restoration and management they conserve, protect, enhance and restore natural resources and promote natural ecological processes.

Often, they provide context-specific knowledge to help link research scientists to on-ground applications and drive actionable science. In this way they are essential to improved scientific understanding and effective government policy.

Articles in this issue focus on the many varied, integral roles that ecological practitioners play. Jenn Lavers and her colleagues at the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation outline the role of cultural burning in the protection of breeding seabird populations. Richard McLellan and Rebecca Spindler outline the steps they are taking to understand and restore Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum), a keystone species in arid and semi-arid landscapes. We read about the cross-cultural fauna monitoring methods being developed by Bridget Campbell and the Yirralka Rangers in north-east Arnhem Land. Mel Wilson and Allie Nance provide an update on their successful and innovative program to rid Norfolk Island of invasive rodents. Kate McShea and Greg Banks offer insights from three successful community engagement programs for fire and wildlife management.

The projects profiled in this edition provide a snapshot of the breadth and substantive contribution that ecological practitioners play in Australian ecology. We hope you enjoy reading their reports as much as we did.

– Guest Editor Dr Samantha Lloyd

This collection of stories is part of an ESA series spotlighting issues affecting Australian ecologists. The ESA is committed to supporting ecologists to find solutions to and develop resources for issues important to them. This includes networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities, grants and awards, mentoring programs, and more.

If you would like to join the ESA Media and Communications Working Group and help progress actions in this area, please visit the ESA website.

In this edition:

Improving rodent control in the Norfolk Island National Park

Feature: Technology in ecology

Spider Crab Cams help us gain a better understanding of an amazing underwater phenomenon

Book review:

Wombat