RICHARD Hobbs loves the bush, and he wants to use his new role as Murdoch’s environmental professor to spread his message about restoring the environment to the community.

“WA is a great place to be a biologist because it is one of the top 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world,” said Professor Hobbs.

And he should know after 16 years at CSIRO, including a few years as Head of WA’s Wildlife and Ecology branch.

Professor Hobbs’ main research interests are conserving and restoring biodiversity and rebuilding functional ecosystems and landscapes.

As well as his continuing work in biodiversity value of bluegum plantations, Professor Hobbs has just started researching the threat of salinity to biodiversity in the Blackwood region.

“With environmental problems like a projected 30 per cent salinity in WA, almost anything you tackle is useful,” he said.

“However, it is important to look at biological issues from more than one angle.

“For instance, bluegum plantations make sense economically and are great for lowering the water table, but what effect are these trees having on wild flora and fauna?”

In his new role Professor Hobbs hopes to work at the interface between science and society, through teaching and community awareness, and by establishing a course in restoration ecology.

He has recently been appointed to the newly-formed Environment Action Council, which will oversee the preparation of the next WA State of the Environment Report.