New research opportunities - fire danger, wildlife and environmental crime

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is looking for researchers to lead projects that will be undertaken for the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

Expressions of interest (EOI) are currently being sought for another three projects including a national scheme for the seizure and holding of wildlife, the creation of a fire danger index for grassland fire and the impacts of environmental crime on community expectations.

National guidelines for seizure and holding of wildlife – closing 3 September

This research will develop guidelines for the seizure and holding of wildlife, which will reduce mishandling, cruelty, illegal take, holding, theft and trade. The guidelines will assist DELWP effectively seize wildlife for the purposes of welfare, evidence or quarantine. More infomation is available here. 

Creation of a Grassland Fire Danger Index dataset – closing 3 September

This research will utilise past data to create a new dataset of grassland curing and grassland fire danger to better enable communities and agencies to understand grassland fire danger. The project will improve the current data around grassland curing and fire danger by extending it to formats such a GIS, enabling DELWP to better understand current grassland fire danger and fire modelling, as well as being beneficial to fire agencies for future research projects. More infomation is available here. 

Human dimensions of environmental crime – closing 10 September

This project will investigate the impacts of environmental crime to help DELWP better understand the expectations of the community. The project will look at the motivations behind non-compliance by those responsible from environmental crime, such as illegal rubbish dumping, to enable DELWP to develop more targeted and effective compliance actions. This study will also assess community perceptions of wildlife management to develop a new wildlife population management solution. More infomation is available here. 

Submitting a proposal

Further details on the projects and instructions of the requirements of these EOI can be found here. Any interested parties are encouraged to put forward a proposal.

Researchers are also encouraged to provide a consortium approach. In this case one party would be nominated as the lead research organisation and have overall responsibility for project delivery.

Any enquiries or request for further documentation related to these EOI should be directed to Loriana Bethune: loriana.bethune@bnhcrc.com.au.