Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am a conservation biologist whose research relates to the integration of science in environmental management decisions. In particular I’m interested in the types of evidence decision-makers use to inform their decisions and why, the consequences of poor uptake of science on management decisions, and the design of decision support tools, tools for evidence synthesis and knowledge transfer systems that promote evidence-based decisions. I am a founding member of the Centre for Evidence Informed Policy and Practice, which promotes the advancement of evidence-based decision making through research, development, application and training.
My other research interests include developing decision triggers as a tool for management, cost-effective conservation and integrating evolutionary theory into conservation management.
My research program is highly interdisciplinary and I have a keen interesting in understanding what conservation can learn from other disciplines in order to become more effective.
External positions
Member of the Expert Assessment Group for the Green List of Protected Areas, IUCN - Specialist Group on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas
1 Nov 2017 → …
Centre for Evidence Informed Policy and Practice
Research area keywords
- Conservation
- Ecology
- Environmental Management
- Evaluation
- Evidence-based conservation
- Monitoring
- Protected Areas
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Collaboration Deed between Parks Australia and Monash University
Clarke, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Cook, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Zhou, J. (Project Manager)
15/04/25 → 30/06/28
Project: Research
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Creating conservation landscapes that effectively safeguard biodiversity
Cook, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
1/02/24 → 31/01/28
Project: Research
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Assessing the outcomes of ecological restoration in the arid zone: The potential for Fowler’s Gap Research Station to be recognised as an important conservation area in Australia
Read, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Cook, C. (Supervisor) & Walsh, J. (Supervisor)
28/07/25 → 27/07/26
Project: Research
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Developing and piloting a process for setting management thresholds for Australian Marine Parks
Cook, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
6/06/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Improving knowledge transfer to support Australian Marine Park decision making and management effectiveness evaluation
Walsh, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hayes, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Cook, C. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/08/22 → 28/02/24
Project: Research
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A Standardized Definition of Rapid Evidence Assessment for Environmental Applications
Webb, J. A., Schofield, K. A., Cook, C. N., Fisher, J. R. B., Cheng, S. H., Christie, A., Cooke, S. J., Dubois, N. S., Frampton, G., Macura, B., Nichols, S. J., Richards, R., Aicher, R. J., Mason, S., Anderson, E., Betley, E., Borsuk, M., Busch, J., Carlson, S. & Dubois, J. J. B. & 15 others, , Jan 2026, In: Conservation Letters. 19, 1, 7 p., e70005.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
Conservation abandonment is a policy blind spot
Pienkowski, T., Clark, M., Mascia, M. B., Rivera-Hechem, M. I., Gelcich, S., Cook, C. N., Watrobska, C. M., Jagadish, A. & Mills, M., 2026, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 10, p. 14–17 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
A Synthesis of Threats Impacting Australian Threatened Ecological Communities
Olivares-Rojas, J., Cook, C., Duncan, D. & Walsh, J., Feb 2025, In: Diversity and Distributions. 31, 2, 11 p., e13929.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
From parachuting to partnership: Fostering collaborative research in protected areas
Smit, I. P. J., Fernández, R. J., Menvielle, M. F., Roux, D. J., Singh, N., Mabuza, S., Mthombeni, B. M., Macgregor, N. A., Fritz, H., Gandiwa, E., Foxcroft, L. C. & Cook, C. N., Jan 2025, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 62, 1, p. 28-40 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access14 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Imperfect detection of terrestrial mammals in environmental impact assessment (EIA) baseline surveys may compromise decision-making and mitigation measures
Dias, A. M. S., Cook, C., Paglia, A. P. & Massara, R. L., Mar 2025, In: Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 112, 9 p., 107850.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
8 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Faculty of Science Research Impact Award
Cook, C. (Recipient), 29 Jul 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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