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 1000 peer-reviewed papers and 50 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.
Articles by David Lindenmayer (32 total)
Why I support a carbon method for limiting the emissions from native forest logging
Carbon offsets have rightly earned distrust, but the new Improved Native Forest Management method could protect native forests, store carbon and penalise future logging rather than delay decarbonisation.
Prescribed burning's impact on biodiversity
Research into frequent prescribed burning in a globally important hotspot in southwestern Western Australia reveals a negative impact on endangered species.
Does stopping native forest logging in Australia really kill orangutans?
The trope that ending native forest logging in Australia would be 'a very bad day for orangutans' does not stack up.
Should we bring back native forest logging? The answer is a clear no
Native forest logging is economically costly, environmentally damaging and socially divisive, and should not be revived in Victoria or Western Australia or maintained in Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland.
Stop native forest logging
Research across the world shows that logging substantially increases fire risks in Australian native forests.
The importance of plantations in the Australian forest industry
Timber plantations now provide the overwhelming majority of Australia’s sawn wood products and will become even more important as native forest logging declines and climate pressures intensify.
What is a healthy forest?
Many proposals to create so-called 'healthy forests' through thinning and repeated burning risk further damaging Australian ecosystems already degraded by logging, clearing and over-management.
Farming in a flammable future
Drawing on the on-farm financial experience of John Mitchell, a grazier in New South Wales who saved his family farm, this article sets out strategies farmers can use to prevent wildfire damage and deal with its consequences
We may be making Australia’s fire problem worse – not better
Research shows that logging, thinning and prescribed burning can increase forest flammability, challenging long-held assumptions about bushfire risk reduction.
Logging and thinning are putting Alpine Ash forests at risk
Australia’s Alpine Ash forests are endangered and highly vulnerable to fire. Logging, thinning and burning are increasing that risk – not reducing it.
Robodebt for the environment? AI will not fix Australia’s broken environmental laws
Using artificial intelligence to speed up environmental approvals risks entrenching flawed laws, poor data and declining biodiversity outcomes.
Are soil carbon schemes really working?
New research suggests rainfall and climate variability may play a larger role in soil carbon increases than land management, raising questions about carbon credit schemes.
Ending native forest logging subsidies need not cost jobs
Claims that environmental reforms will destroy jobs in native forest logging are overstated. Labour market dynamics and the growth of plantation forestry point to a manageable transition.
Large-scale forest thinning has limited benefits but major financial and ecological costs
Mechanical thinning is increasingly promoted as a fire control solution. But new research finds its effectiveness is mixed and the ecological, climate and financial costs often outweigh the benefits.
John Mitchell, David Lindenmayer and Bruce Chapman: Keeping the farm in the family can come at a high cost
As Australia’s farming population ages, poorly planned succession can destroy wealth, fracture families and leave no one better off.
Why ‘salvage logging’ undermines a promise to end native forest logging
Despite announcing an end to native forest logging, destructive logging practices continue in Victoria under the guise of firebreaks and post-storm debris removal – with serious consequences for biodiversity, fire risk and public trust.
Best of 2025 - 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.
Best of 2025 - 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.
A rare win-win for climate, farming and biodiversity – if policymakers act
Restoring Australia's farm dams could slash emissions, improve water quality, boost livestock productivity, and enhance biodiversity – all at low cost.
Mines over water: Melbourne’s largest and most important water supply catchment at risk
On 21 October 2025, the Victorian Government announced plans to protect Melbourne’s water supply catchments – the systems that deliver clean water to over five million people. It was welcome news for Australia’s largest and fastest growing city.
Focusing on the EPBC but dropping the ball on protection
While national environmental attention is fixed on EPBC Act reforms in Canberra, some Australian states have dropped the ball on forest protection – and this is seriously undermining Australia’s target of protecting 30% of the continent by 2030.
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
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
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
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
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 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
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 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
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'
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
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.