Just Ecology

Many listeners would be familiar with the highly skilled use of fire to manage vegetation that has been practiced by First Nations peoples of Australia for thousands of years. What surprised me was learning that my own ancestors were also using fire to shape parts of the landscape across what is now the United Kingdom — in some places for more than five thousand years. Curious about this long history, I reached out to one of the leading authorities on the subject – Matt Davies. Matt is a leading expert in fire ecology and land management, currently serving as the Director of Agriculture for the Falkland Islands Government. He is internationally recognized for his extensive research on muirburn—the traditional Scottish practice of managed heather burning—— and on the complex relationships between fire, biodiversity and carbon in these landscapes. In this conversation we explore the long history of fire use across parts of the U.K., stretching back to the end of the last Ice Age. We discuss how the combined influences of burning, grazing and clearing helped shape the distinctive heather moorlands we see today. Matt explains what these heather ecosystems look like, how burning practices changed during the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution, and how fire became central to the management of grouse shooting estates. We also explore the contemporary debate about whether burning should now be phased out to encourage forest expansion, or whether more nuanced approaches might recognise the ecological and cultural value of these long-managed landscapes. Some of Matt's research can be found here: Moorland Burning Research and here: https://scholar.google.fr/citations?user=CslCJjcAAAAJ&hl=th For comments, feedback or requests for future content on Just Ecology, please email karljust3@gmail.com  

In this episode I sat down with botanist and ecologist Kate Bennetts to explore the floodplain forests and wetlands of the Riverina. With more than two decades of experience at the forefront of wetland restoration, Kate brings deep insight into how water — and the loss of it — shapes these great riverine landscapes. As Principal of Fire, Flood & Flora, she has dedicated her career to understanding how these ecosystems function, decline and recover. We begin by exploring what makes floodplain forests and wetlands so ecologically rich and distinctive. From there, the conversation turns to the profound changes these landscapes have undergone — the displacement of First Peoples, widespread tree clearing and the alteration of natural flooding regimes. Kate explains how environmental water allocations work in practice, and why carefully timed flows are critical to sustaining River Red Gum forests and the diverse wetland plant communities beneath them. We also delve into history, reflecting on observations from the 1850s Blandowski Expedition, and discuss recent research Kate has been involved in examining the allelopathic effects of Red Gum leaf litter on wetland vegetation. The episode finishes with a discussion about Kate’s on-ground restoration — including collaborative work with Traditional Owners — and what it will take to ensure these floodplain ecosystems remain resilient in a drying and highly regulated river system. If you have time before the 1st of May 2026, please make a submission for the updated Murray Darling Basin Plan, calling for more environmental water for our rivers wetlands: https://getinvolved.mdba.gov.au/2026basinplanreview Links to the 1970's research on the allelopathic effect of Red Gum leaves can be found here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2424020 Links to the the recent research on the allelopathic effect of Red Gum leaves that we discussed can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emr.70031?af=R Some of the books mentioned in the podcast: Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Life by William Blandowski The Victorian Bush: its Original and Natural Condition by Ron Hateley

For this episode I caught up with dear friend Trace Balla. Trace is a multi-award-winning "story catcher" and community artist based on Djaara Country in central Victoria. She is renowned for her nature-inspired graphic novels, such as the CBCA-winning Rockhopping and Rivertime, which use detailed cartoon-style illustrations to explore themes of environmental stewardship, gratitude, and connection to Country.  We recently had a chat out in the bush in central Victoria were we talked about Trace’s daily walks in nature and how important this practice is for inspiring her work. We reflected on place-based names for Country, as opposed to colonial names that have been stamped across the Australian landscape, before hearing about Trace’s experiences running nature and art workshops for kids. We talked about learning about ecology through drawing, spontaneity, and how walking through Country without a plan can lead to you unexpected and magical experiences. Trace was the designer of the Just Ecology artwork and we have worked on several art-ecology projects together. This is a conversation about slowing down, listening deeply, and letting Country — rather than schedules or systems — lead the way. You can find out more about Trace and her work at: https://traceballa.com/ For comments, feedback or requests for future content on Just Ecology, please email karljust3@gmail.com

It was a real honour to interview Emeritus Professor Stuart Hill. Stuart began studying ecology in the 1960s, and his PhD research conducted in a cave in Trinidad in the late1960s was among the first whole-ecosystem studies to examine community and energy relationships. His career spans decades of research, teaching and active engagement across multiple disciplines. Over the years, Stuart has taken a particular interest in soil biology, entomology, social ecology and organic agriculture, and he brings a rare additional perspective through his formal training in psychology. In our conversation we covered a wide range of topics, beginning with insights into his extraordinary understanding of life in soils, before exploring the role of human psychology in the ecological crisis. We also discussed several of Stuart’s ideas from his paper ‘10 Common “Mistakes” to Avoid, and “Needs” to Meet, When Seeking to Create a Better World’. I’m deeply grateful that Stuart took the time to share his knowledge and reflections, and I hope you enjoy the conversation. Stuart has an amazing collection of his resources on his website: https://www.stuartbhill.com/ For comments, feedback or requests for future content on Just Ecology, please email karljust3@gmail.com

In this episode I speak with Ana Backstrom about novel ecosystems and why the term has, at times, been controversial. We explore the idea that its use may reveal more about our own subjective values rather than an ecosystem’s inherent qualities. This leads into broader reflections on how terms such as “natural,” “modified,” and “wilderness” continue to place humans outside of nature and ecology. We discuss how humans are very much part of nature, and how shifting this perspective allows us to move away from narratives of separation and towards roles as caretakers and stewards of Country. Ana Backstrom is a plant ecologist with over twenty years’ experience working in biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration. She is currently completing a PhD that investigates socio-ecological management benchmarks for novel ecosystems. Her research aims to identify the key social and ecological attributes that shape novel ecosystem management decisions, and to explore the mechanisms and processes that either facilitate or impede the development of effective management strategies in highly changed landscapes.

In this episode I speak with Kai Lane, a proud Yorta Yorta and Barapa Barapa man who serves as an ecologist at Ecology & Restoration Australia (ERA) and as a board member for Eco Warriors Australia. In 2025, he was awarded the National prize for Indigenous Led Science at the Ecological Society of Australia conference for his innovative Yedabila habitat pods, which are traditional woven huts used to protect turtle nests and provide aquatic wildlife shelter. Beyond his technical field work, Kai leads Cultural Heritage sessions for the Habitat Warriors program, where he uses storytelling and traditional practices to teach schoolchildren how to "care for Country" from an Indigenous perspective. He is also an author, recently releasing a book through Habitat Warriors that explores the traditional First Nations' uses of Australian flora for food, medicine and tools. I speak with Kai about the Yedabila habitat project, the inspiring work of Habitat Warriors, Indigenous football (Marn Grook), Indigenous astronomy, seasonal calendars and cultural plant knowledge. To learn more about the Yedabila Habitat Pods and Habitat Warriors visit: https://habitatwarriors.com.au/ Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com

In this episode I talk with Dr Mark Hall about native bees and other pollinators, and the critical roles they play in both natural ecosystems and modified landscapes. Native bees are often overlooked, yet they provide irreplaceable pollination services that differ fundamentally from those of introduced honey bees. We discuss Mark’s research on native bees in fragmented habitats, how native pollinators differ from honey bees, and the plants and habitat features they depend on. We also explore what gardeners and bushland regenerators can do to better support native bee diversity. Dr Mark Hall completed his PhD in 2018 on how the composition of wooded habitat in modified landscapes affects bird and pollinator assemblages, under the supervision of Andrew Bennett (La Trobe University) and Dale Nimmo (Charles Sturt University). Since then, he has investigated pollinator diversity, health, management, and their contribution to crop production. Since 2020, Mark has partnered with the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network to identify habitat and floral preferences of pollinators—including bees, flies, wasps, butterflies and beetles—and to guide effective restoration across the Upper Campaspe region in central Victoria. He is currently the Senior Biodiversity Officer with the City of Greater Bendigo. Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com

In this episode I meet with Suzan Muir, who spent 63 days surviving in the wilds of southern New Zealand on the show Alone. She and her husband John, one of Australia’s most experienced explorers, live on the property Inanna surrounded by the Grampians NP, where they provide nature connection experiences for visitors. Suzan’s skill as a nature guide has developed through decades of wilderness adventures; guiding both adults and children.   We talk about Suzan’s experience on the show Alone, including the bush skills and relationship to place which are essential to surviving alone on Country. We then talk about the 2025 bushfire in the Grampians, including an 7000 ha back burn that was deliberately lit with the apparent aim to reduce risk to human communities. Suzan reflects on the immense toll the backburn took on native wildlife and the unresolved questions around whether it was necessary. Finally, we explore a project we’ve been working on together to monitor biodiversity and fuel loads in the years following the fire. You can visit Suzan's website at: https://www.grampiansnatureprograms.org/ Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com

In this episode I chat with Dr. Paul Foreman, an Ecologist and Botanist with over 35 years’ experience. Paul has worked in State and Local Government, with Trust for Nature and Bush Heritage Australia, and established his own consulting business in 2009. Paul was the inaugural Chair for the Biolinks Alliance, where he has been involved in landscape-scale restoration projects. We discuss Paul’s PHD thesis, which investigated the role of aboriginal burning in shaping and maintaining grassland ecosystems. Paul’s research is one of the first to use multiple lines of evidence to show the fingerprints of aboriginal management in shaping grasslands. Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com   You can find Paul's thesis here: https://share.google/fkfzCD4KakSLDDT5Z

In this episode, we talk to Stuart Inchley about his role in discovering the largest known population of Slender Tree-ferns in Australia, and the work of the Gippsland Forest Guardians to protect these remarkable plants from forestry operations. We also discuss the ecology of rainforest ecosystems, the pitfalls of environmental policy and some recent inspiring wins for the environment. To follow the work of Stuart and the Gippsland Forest Guardians, visit these two websites: https://www.gippslandforestguardians.org.au/ https://tarwinriverforest.com.au/ Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com  

In this episode, I talk with Tanya Loos about seasonal calendars, nature journaling, and how to live and thrive with wildlife. We explore Tanya’s two books — Daylesford Nature Diary and Living with Wildlife. Tanya is an ecologist, science writer and field naturalist based in central Victoria. She draws from ecological science to educate and inspire people to care for wildlife and their habitats. To follow Tanya's work, check out her Instagram: @tansnaturediary and her website and blog: tanyaloos.com Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com

Pete McCurly is a craftsman and custodian of Scots-Irish and Ngarabul-Gumbaingirr lineage. He lives and works in southern Djaara Country. In this episode, Pete and I meet at the Rock of Ages in central Victoria, to explore the concept of time — delving into both ancient and contemporary systems and the ways they shape our world and approach to custodianship. Check out Pete's work on Instagram: @curlytimbers Email comments, feedback or content suggestions to karljust3@gmail.com