David Lindenmayer

Professor David Lindenmayer is a distinguished Australian scientist and academic, specialising in landscape ecology, conservation, and biodiversity. His research focuses on integrating nature conservation with agricultural production, improving biodiversity conservation in forestry and plantations, and enhancing fire management practices. With over 940 peer-reviewed papers and 49 books, David is one of the most published ecologists globally. He leads large-scale, long-term research programs in south-eastern Australia. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the ESA Whittaker Award, multiple Eureka Prizes, and the Australian Natural History Medal.

Recent articles by David Lindenmayer

If you go down to the forests today, you’re in for a big surprise (mass deforestation)

If you go down to the forests today, you’re in for a big surprise (mass deforestation)

Visit many areas of state forest in parts of Victoria and you might get a shock – the forest isn’t there.

Koalas, carbon credits and the fine print of conservation

Koalas, carbon credits and the fine print of conservation

We congratulate the NSW Government for establishing the Great Koala National Park, which will protect a nationally significant koala population.

A smart productivity play: Stop subsidising loss-making native forest logging

A smart productivity play: Stop subsidising loss-making native forest logging

On 7 September 2025, NSW set the proposed 476,000-hectare boundary for the Great Koala National Park and halted native-forest logging within it (plantation harvesting continues), with formal gazettal slated for 2026.

Cutting through the spin – Ten logging 'myths' in the new ABARES report

Cutting through the spin – Ten logging 'myths' in the new ABARES report

Australia’s native‑forest debate has long been characterised by falsehoods generated by industry and arms of industry such as parts of government.

Burning wood for power Is a dangerous step backward

Burning wood for power Is a dangerous step backward

The NSW Independent Planning Commission is currently considering an application to reopen the Redbank Power Station near Singleton.

New research shows native forest logging industry going up in smoke

New research shows native forest logging industry going up in smoke

New research published in the leading international journal Nature Communications has added to the growing evidence that native forest logging in Australia is exacerbating wildfire risks.

Active Management – Rethinking our approach to forest stewardship

Active Management – Rethinking our approach to forest stewardship

Our recent research raises an important and challenging question: Are our well-intentioned management interventions like thinning in high conservation value forests truly serving nature, or are they inadvertently accelerating the degradation of these critical ecosystems?

The NSW native forest logging industry is unsustainable – a fast transition out is needed now

The NSW native forest logging industry is unsustainable – a fast transition out is needed now

The NSW Government is currently seeking submissions on the future of native forest logging in the state. One option is not on the menu—yet should be. That option is the rapid and permanent exit out of native forest logging and a switch to a plantation-only timber industry in the next 2 years. This is essential because the industry, as it stands, is demonstrably unsustainable. And unsustainable in several key ways.

For Australia to meet emissions reduction targets, we don't need nuclear energy

For Australia to meet emissions reduction targets, we don't need nuclear energy

The Federal Opposition’s energy policy includes the construction of nuclear power plants. Peter Dutton says that we need them because Australia’s emissions reduction target of 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 is unachievable. Is this true? We argue that it is not – and especially if the Australian Government works with State and Territory Governments to stop native forest logging and land clearing.

Logging by another name – 'Forest Gardening'

Logging by another name – 'Forest Gardening'

First Nations’ sovereignty is in Country, and First Nations are sovereigns of their respective Countries. First Nations believe they have an obligation to defend Country from natural resource exploitation that causes widespread negative impacts to ecosystems. One of those forms of exploitation is native forest logging.

The ugly truth of the native forest logging wars

The ugly truth of the native forest logging wars

Despite industry and political spin, our Australian native forests continue to be destroyed. The many mythologies put forward in defence of continued logging are contradicted in detail by the facts and evidence.