News
Directors Update – April 2021
TERN is preparing its engagement in the consultation phase of the upcoming national research infrastructure roadmap. We want to demonstrate that in this changing world, it is imperative for Australia to maintain its environmental monitoring program and continuity of long-term accessible, quality data on changes in our ecosystems. Maintaining such infrastructure will contribute to a more sustainable national innovation system, providing industries with quality data critical to environmentally sustainable operational decisions.
Centre Spotlight: Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology
In this edition we visit La Trobe University’s Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology and shine our spotlight on their research into Australia’s relatively small but socio-economically and ecologically important alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems.
Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world
New research using TERN has found that the physical and chemical properties of soil control carbon and nitrogen stocks more than any other factor, including soil biodiversity. The results have major implications for the way carbon and nutrients are modelled and forecast in both natural and agricultural environments.
![Warra7-001[39855]_1000](https://www.tern.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Warra7-00139855_1000-p6d52cqo5mqhavmqv9u2zcmi9a1phh37qqtw5xglfc.jpeg "Warra7-001[39855]_1000")
Site of the Month: Warra Tall Eucalypt SuperSite
This month our site feature takes us to Australia’s most southerly flux monitoring site, located in one of the world’s tallest and most productive forests. For almost a decade, equipment at the Warra site has been measuring the exchange of carbon, water and energy between the atmosphere and the tall eucalypt forests that dominate this biodiverse and immensely valuable wilderness region.
Putting Australia’s vegetation on the map
60 photos of Australian vegetation captured at TERN monitoring sites have been added to the Global Vegetation Project’s open-access map. The new pics will enrich the experience of students and educators around the world. Find out more about this exciting project and take look at the images.
New Data! The photosynthetic pathway of all plant species in the TERN plot network
Quickly and easily download the photosynthetic pathway of every plant species recorded across TERN’s entire national plot network.
Australia’s Environment in 2020
Improved rainfall conditions have pulled our environment out of its worst state on record, but recovery is slow, partial and precarious. That’s the main conclusion from Australia’s Environment, the latest in an annual series of environmental condition reports, released on Tuesday 30 March 2021. The report, and its website, provide a summary of key environmental indicators and how they changed in 2020.
Centre Spotlight: ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage
This month we look at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH)’s work on providing a culturally inclusive, globally significant human and environmental history of Australia – Australia’s Epic Story.
Standards to assist conservation and decision-making
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and TERN are working on a project to standardise both environmental monitoring and data systems for improved decision-making. Standardised field survey protocols will assist land managers, development project operators and environmental consultants collect consistent and comparable monitoring data. In parallel, a standardised data exchange system will support better access and reuse of environmental monitoring and surveillance projects.
Paddock to reef: Australia’s newest monitoring SuperSite
The TERN-Queensland Government project to introduce continuous environmental monitoring sensors into the Burdekin region is progressing well.
The new monitoring equipment will allow TERN to deliver essential measures on the ecosystem functioning of grazing landscapes and enable improved pasture modelling for Queensland and beyond. Join us as we check in on the site’s progress.
Subscribe to Tern News
Project updates, data releases, research findings, and users stories direct to your inbox.
