AWS is sponsoring PhD opportunities at ANU College of Systems and Society, Fenner School of Environment and Society from 2025. They aim to improve understanding and inform sustainable solutions for kangaroo management. The projects are examining kangaroo populations, management practices, and their impact on biodiversity and rangeland ecosystems.
1. Developing a National Kangaroo Strategy
Focus Areas: The research beginning in March 2025 is contributing to improved kangaroos management through:
- Documenting the history of kangaroo management and population changes.
- Analysing current management practices across States and Territories.
- Highlighting the need for consistency and improvements in kangaroo management.
- Exploring the role of the Commonwealth and comparing kangaroo management with existing national feral animal strategies.
- Incorporating Indigenous perspectives, rights, and opportunities in kangaroo management.
- Identifying clear roles and responsibilities among stakeholders.
The findings will contribute to an overarching national management standard potentially aligned with proposed EPBC Act reforms.
2. Integrating Kangaroos into Pastoral Production Systems and Environmental Markets
Focus Areas: The project which is still in development dtage will investigate sustainable options for improving kangaroo management, including through:
- Eco-Friendly Income Diversification: Exploring kangaroo-based products as alternatives to traditional livestock, focusing on lower methane emissions and biodiversity benefits.
- Environmental Credits: Assessing the potential for kangaroo management to contribute to emissions reduction, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity credits.
- Maximizing Sustainable Harvest Returns: Identifying ways to increase commercial use of kangaroos, currently underutilized, while maintaining environmental sustainability and population stability.
- Ethical Harvesting Standards: Developing innovationsand guidelines for humane kangaroo harvesting.
See also ANU Fenner School Website