Call for Papers
- Biodiversity Conservation in the Face of Changing Fire Regimes: Recent Advances and Practical Insights
- Matriarchs of the Wheatbelt
Guest Editors:
- Sarah Clement - Australian National University, Australia
- Tim Doherty - WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Australia
Fire regimes worldwide are undergoing unprecedented changes, exacerbated by climate change, altered land use patterns, and novel human ignition sources. These shifts pose critical challenges for biodiversity conservation and compound existing risks to species and ecosystems. Effective fire management requires navigating complex trade-offs between protecting human communities and conserving biodiversity, while addressing scientific uncertainties and conflicting stakeholder values.
In this special collection, we seek contributions that advance our understanding of fire-biodiversity interactions and provide practical solutions for conservation challenges. We welcome empirical studies, modelling approaches, reviews, and perspectives that explicitly connect scientific evidence to fire policy and practice. Research addressing social, ecological, and governance dimensions of fire management is particularly encouraged, as is work that integrates multiple knowledge systems and stakeholder perspectives.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Post-fire biodiversity recovery and ecosystem resilience
- Prescribed burning effectiveness and ecological trade-offs
- Indigenous fire management and traditional ecological knowledge
- Fire regime reconstruction and reference conditions for restoration
- Species-specific responses to altered fire frequencies and severities
- Community engagement and social acceptance of fire management
- Governance frameworks for managing fire-biodiversity conflicts
- Climate change adaptation strategies for fire-prone ecosystems
- Invasive species interactions with changing fire regimes
- Fire management planning under uncertainty
- Economic valuation of biodiversity in fire management decisions
- Monitoring and adaptive management approaches
Submission Deadline: 31st March 2026
For any enquiries about the Collection, please contact the Guest Editors or the editorial office for Pacific Conservation Biology.
- Dr Leanda Mason (Edith Cowan University)
- Dr Harriet Mills (Perth Zoo)
- Place-based, kincentric, and matriarchal ways of knowing, doing and being
- Intergenerational knowledge sharing
- Storytelling and creative practices
- Long-term ecological studies, short-range endemics, and invertebrate conservation
- Community, co-design, participatory methods, education, and science communication
- Case studies
- Research and review articles
- Short communications
- Creative works (accompanied by scholarly reflection)
- Collaborative pieces
How to Get Involved Now
If you’re interested in contributing (research, review, collaborative, or creative work), please register your Expression of Interest here: Pat.Hannah@csiro.au
This helps us plan session strands and develop supportive structures for co-authorship, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- 10th September, 2025: Official Call for Submissions opens
- 30th November, 2025: Submission deadline
- 31st January, 2026: Expected publication
How to Submit
Submissions must follow the standard Pacific Conservation Biology guidelines: https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/forauthors
When submitting, select "Matriarchs of the Wheatbelt" from the drop-down menu.
Questions?
Visit: Matriarchs of the Wheatbelt – Dr. Leanda
Or contact Dr Leanda Mason at l.mason@ecu.edu.au for further questions about the collection.
