Tuckers Nob State Forest is prime koala habitat but sits outside the proposed Great Koala National Park because it is zoned as plantation. Under New South Wales regulations, plantation zoning allows clearfell logging, meaning entire areas can be logged without safeguards for wildlife. Although koalas live in these forests, they are effectively rendered invisible by planning frameworks that assume plantations are not suitable habitat. Without protecting core koala habitat, Tim Cadman argues, there is no future for koalas either in the region or more broadly.

Tim works with Meredith Stanton and a team of around thirty citizen scientists, Tim has been mapping important habitat trees and documenting koala presence using drones, night vision equipment, and on-ground surveys. The aim of this community-driven science is to demonstrate that plantation forests are functioning ecosystems. Meredith reflected on her own experience living in Clouds Creek State Forest, once known for a high koala population that has steadily declined over decades of repeated logging. Long before the 2019 bushfires, she noticed fewer sightings, the absence of breeding females, and the disappearance of familiar seasonal calls.

More Information

https://www.facebook.com/timothymarkcadman

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The name The Real Sea Mob reflects their belief in honesty, community, and connection. They aim to present science clearly, without exaggeration or despair, and to show both the challenges and the opportunities facing marine and coastal environments. Maintaining optimism, they said, comes from spending time in nature, working with engaged communities, and supporting each other through shared purpose.

After moving to Australia three years ago, Lucia’s first local citizen science project involved mangrove monitoring with Positive Change for Marine Life in northern New South Wales. That work connected her with Jock Mackenzie, now her manager at Earthwatch Australia where she is the Program Manager for wetlands, coastal, and marine environments in Queensland. Based in Townsville, she now works closely with communities, Traditional Owners, and Indigenous rangers across large sections of the Queensland coast.

Owen’s pathway into citizen science began during his undergraduate studies, when he travelled to Indonesia to conduct coral reef surveys under academic guidance. His interest in coastal ecosystems continued into his master’s research, which focused on mangroves and their role in buffering heat and supporting marine life. That research brought him to Mexico, where he and Lucia met while working on a citizen science project in Akumal. Lucia managed a dive centre and led scientific dives, while Owen carried out mangrove research, and their shared enthusiasm for coastal ecosystems grew from there.

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https://www.instagram.com/therealseamob/

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Ghost nets have become one of the most confronting environmental issues facing northern Australia, and hearing directly from those working on the ground makes it impossible to ignore the scale of the problem.

Speaking with Kristen Sierke, the Ghost Net and Marine Debris Coordinator with the Northern Land Council, highlighted how deeply this issue is woven into both marine conservation and Indigenous ranger work across the Northern Territory.

Kristen’s path into this work began with a long-standing connection to the ocean, from studying marine biology in South Australia to working in tourism on the Great Barrier Reef, and later as a ranger and in biosecurity roles in the Northern Territory.

That progression led her to work closely with Indigenous rangers, and eventually into a role dedicated entirely to tackling ghost nets and marine debris in Southeast Arnhem Land.

Ghost nets are abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear that continue to trap wildlife long after they are no longer under human control. Designed to catch fish, they do exactly that without discrimination, drifting for years or even decades.

An aerial survey in the Gulf of Carpentaria alone identified more than 2,500 ghost nets on beaches, with estimates suggesting that across northern Australia there is roughly one ghost net for every kilometre of coastline.

More Information

https://www.facebook.com/kristen.sierke/

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