Examining the cost-effectiveness of emerging technologies for more effective threatened species conservation

Funding for applied research that underpins innovation in wildlife science is limited. Conservation practitioners need a strong theoretical and evidence base if governments, policy makers and funding agencies are to be convinced of the value of investing in research to support innovation in wildlife science. In this respect, it is surprising that there are few studies examining the cost-effectiveness of emerging technologies to support the argument for research that advances the case for these technologies and their application. This thesis addresses this knowledge deficit by first evaluating Australia’s capacity to deliver innovation in threatened species conservation based on an analysis of the applied research budget available to conservation practitioners. The thesis then tests the argument for increasing support for applied research and innovation by examining the cost-effectiveness of two emerging technologies, drone technology for efficient wildlife monitoring and biobanking as a support tool for captive breeding. The theoretical and evidence base for the application of drone technology was clear; practitioners could efficiently survey cryptic koalas across large landscapes with varying population densities. Drone technology could achieve greater data acquisition through higher detection of koalas with lower long-term costs and less survey effort compared to more traditional approaches. These gains in survey capacity, efficiency and reduced cost-base provides stakeholders with a new tool to conduct replicated, long-term monitoring of declining koala populations. The arguments for biobanking were equally compelling; captive breeding institutions could minimise inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity in animals produced from captive programs with smaller colony sizes than would be maintained under more traditional breeding programs. Incorporating biobanking into breeding programs would support higher targets for the retention of heterozygosity, and minimise loss of fitness in managed captive populations for later reintroduction to the wild. Reduced costs and lower demands on resources in captive breeding programs could allow the development of additional programs for at-risk species currently missing out. The argument for technological innovation was supported by modelling in this thesis in both case studies. The thesis provides a strong theoretical basis for policy makers, managers and end-users to advocate for increased investment by government and other funding agencies in applied research and innovation for conservation science.