Professor Jennifer Firn

Professor Firn is an applied plant ecologist who is committed to discovering, in collaboration with local people, how the loss of native biodiversity impacts on ecosystem function and subsequently finding better ways to build more resilient landscapes. Firn’s research has focused on finding ways to control invasive grass species such as African lovegrass and buffel grass; and restoring forest ecosystems including critically endangered ecosystems such as Melaleuca irbyana thickets and ecosystem-level impacts of the invasive pathogen myrtle rust.

Firn’s research approach, together with collaborators and students, employs a diverse set of tools including empirical and observational studies, and expert and local knowledge elicitation. She works collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including the Tjuwanpa Women Rangers, the Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Logan City Council, South East Local Land Services and Far South Coast Landcare, NSW.