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Image Credit: Red Browed Finch Martin Stokes

for the Bob Croser Woodland Recovery Supplementary Scholarships, supporting PhD students dedicated to restoring the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR), one of Australia’s most ecologically important but heavily cleared woodland regions.

With less than 10% of its original vegetation remaining, the MLR has the highest concentration of threatened woodland bird species in the country. Seventy-eight species are in decline, and twelve are already regionally extinct. Urgent action is needed to restore habitat, understand population needs, and reverse these trends.

Thanks to a generous bequest from Mr Robert Dean Croser, the University of ÑÇÖÞ²ÊƱ¹ÙÍø established the Bob Croser Woodland Recovery Project, delivered by the Environment Institute in collaboration with community and government partners. This work aligns with the Action Plan and includes revegetation efforts across the Hills and Fleurieu region such as:

• Restoring heathland in Deep Creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula to support species like the western beautiful firetail, chestnut-rumped heathwren, and southern emu-wren

• Replanting low-rainfall grassy woodlands in the eastern MLR to provide critical habitat for the diamond firetail, hooded robin, restless flycatcher, jacky winter, southern whiteface, chestnut-rumped thornbill, and brown treecreeper

To continue delivering impact, a cohort of PhD projects has been developed around three research themes:

1. Policy, investment and landowner motivation

2. Understanding bird population needs to reverse declines

3. Restoring habitat: what to plant, and where

Three supplementary scholarships of $10,000 per annum (up to 3.5 years) are available for Semester 2, 2025, with another three to commence in 2026 at the new ÑÇÖÞ²ÊƱ¹ÙÍø University.

Eligibility
Applicants must:

• Be admitted into a Doctor of Philosophy program at the University of ÑÇÖÞ²ÊƱ¹ÙÍø

• Hold a primary Research Training Program (RTP) or University of ÑÇÖÞ²ÊƱ¹ÙÍø Research Scholarship

• Enrol in one of the six approved PhD projects

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Email expressions of interest to Melita Low at melita.low@adelaide.edu.au with the scholarship name in the subject line. Please include:

• Degree certificates

• Academic transcripts

• English translations (if applicable)

• Proof of English language proficiency

For enquiries, contact Melita on (08) 8313 0543.

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