Cremona, Teigan, von Takach, Brenton, Shaw, Robyn, Carey, Alexander, Campbell, Bridget, Cameron, Skye, Catullo, Renee, Chong, Caroline, Cowen, Saul, Edwards, Danielle, Ens, Emilie, Griffiths, Tony, Hill, Brydie, Kriesner, Peter, McDonald, Peter, Mulder, Eridani, Nicholl, Ewan, Pierson, Jennifer, Potter, Sally, Rick, Kate, Robson, Natalie, Roycroft, Emily, Russell, Shaina, Sayers, Thomas, Umbrello, Linette, and Banks, Sam (2025) Regional conservation genomics: insights and opportunities from northern Australia. Biodiversity and Conservation, 34. pp. 2261-2286.

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Abstract

Biodiversity conservation in northern Australia is characterised by high endemism, data deficiency, and high Indigenous land tenure and population. The Northern Australia Conservation Genomics Forum brought together experts to explore current genetic research with particular emphasis on integration of genomics within conservation practices. We discuss the regional biodiversity of northern Australia, highlighting the unique biogeographic patterns, known and unknown species diversity, and ongoing threats such as habitat degradation, altered fire regimes, invasive species, and climate change. This article synthesises key themes from the forum, including the current application of genomics in conservation, gaps and areas of need and opportunity to advance species conservation in this sparsely populated, yet iconic region of Australia. We highlight the need to expand collaborative research partnerships across land tenures with Indigenous organisations, pastoralists, government and non-government organisations, which is crucial for the effective study and conservation of the region’s biodiversity. The paper identifies the challenges and opportunities in applying genomic data to conservation strategies and applied management, including species translocations and habitat management, while acknowledging the limitations and gaps in current research and collections. The insights from this forum emphasise the advantages in using genomics to inform conservation decisions, and the need for continued research and collaboration to protect northern Australia’s unique biodiversity.

Item ID:	89510
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1572-9710
Copyright Information:	© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Funders:	Australian Research Council (ARC)
Projects and Grants:	ARC DP210103227
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2025 21:45
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3105 Genetics > 310509 Genomics @ 30% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310307 Population ecology @ 30% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3105 Genetics > 310599 Genetics not elsewhere classified @ 40%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180606 Terrestrial biodiversity @ 90% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180504 Marine biodiversity @ 10%
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