Post by James Cook University

TropEco, James Cook University’s environmental sustainability program, recently led a conservation field trip through the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland, giving students hands-on experience in endangered species conservation and rainforest field ecology. Led by TropEco’s Brandan Espe, the trip took students through biodiverse environments including Mount Windsor, Mount Bartle Frere, and Mount Lewis, where the team focused on locating endangered plant species, assessing population sizes, and collecting specimens for propagation and further study at the university. The fieldwork involved working with critically endangered plant species including Backhousia hughesii, Lenwebbia lasioclada, Gossia lewisensis, Rhodomyrtus effusa, and Rhodamnia longisepala, while also providing insight into local ecosystems, associated plant communities, and conservation field techniques. Back at JCU, collected specimens were prepared for propagation as part of ongoing conservation and recovery efforts 🌱🔬🌿 The trip also provided opportunities to encounter remarkable native wildlife, including the endangered Southern Cassowary and the Mount Lewis Spiny Crayfish, as well as native reptiles such as geckos and snakes, highlighting the ecological importance of protecting these unique rainforest systems. A special thank you to JCU student James Palucki for sharing his experience. Throughout the trip, James assisted with field collection, species identification, and propagation work, while further developing practical conservation and field research skills through real-world environmental work. “It was an invaluable learning experience to conduct conservation-focused research. I was not only able to further develop my field skills, but importantly, directly contribute to conservation,” James shared. This work was supported through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Saving Native Species program. Special thanks as well to Brandan Espe and the wider TropEco team for supporting this conservation work and helping provide students with meaningful hands-on field experience. James Palucki - https://lnkd.in/gxvXUv4u Brandan Espe - https://lnkd.in/gWhWsefr