My name is Fleur Morton, and I am a part of WildHub’s Conservation Catalyst programme, which is all about creating engaging content through interviewing experts in the field of nature and conservation about their expertise and experience. I joined this programme as a recent Master’s graduate who is passionate about the field of conservation, and I have great enthusiasm for learning all that I can from inspiring professionals while I begin my career. I have a lot of experience in researching many animal species from my Master of Animal Behaviour Psychology, and am beginning my career in animal and wildlife conservation. I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Dr Ashton Berry, director at BlueGreen Innovations, about his business that he created to connect the community with wildlife, after an impressive and rewarding career history working in urban bird conservation, lecturing at universities and researching. He shares what he is most passionate about in conservation, as well as his experience at the United Nations, and advice for early career professionals. Please find this conversation below.

Fleur: Could you tell me a bit about yourself? How long have you worked in the conservation field? What made you pursue a career in this area?

Ashton: I have been working in conservation directly and indirectly for 30 years, as a practitioner, lecturer, researcher and consultant. I was first drawn to conservation through my dad who is a professional artist, a painter. He would take us out into the bush when we were young, to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), to look for artistic inspiration, so we kids spent many unfettered weeks immersed and exploring out in nature. I developed a strong connection with the natural world and a desire to protect it.

Fleur: What are you most passionate about regarding the conservation of urban birds in
 Australia?

Ashton: Birds are fantastic. I love birdwatching. In terms of conservation, they are an indicator species - they can help to show the state of the wider ecosystem.  Smaller Australian birds are disappearing at a rapid rate from urban spaces and Australian cities, due mostly to habitat loss as well as other factors such as pollution and over competition for reduced resources. I've always been interested in the impacts of urbanisation, such as infill development - the process of building on unused or underutilised land in urban areas to create new housing, businesses, or other uses - that leaves no room for vegetation and that creates habitat loss. I've become very passionate about how urban systems work and what solutions can be found to increase urban habitat, reduce urban heat stress and to bring people closer to nature in the places we share – our urban and suburban spaces, literally in our backyards. 

Birds are an indicator species - they can help to show the state of the wider ecosystem  (Ashton Berry, BlueGreen Innovations)

Fleur: What are the key ways BirdLife contributes to the conservation of urban birds?

Ashton: Birdlife Australia has an urban bird program, which I worked on - my job was to develop the urban bird conservation action plan. The program itself has a vision for cities to be a haven for birds, nature and people. You can find this on their website - https://birdlife.org.au/publications/action-plan-for-australian-birds/  Birdlife is very much a research focused organisation, with a lot of community connection as well. There is a focus on monitoring and on-ground conservation work for birds, specifically where people live.

 Fleur: What do you feel are the key issues in the conservation of urban birds in Australia?

Ashton: Well, the key issues are really well detailed in the BirdLife action plan, if people would like a comprehensive view. The biggest threat by far is infill and expansion development. Local governments have understandably really focused on limiting development in agricultural and forest areas, which means they have increased the density of populations in cities. There is also still rapid expansion and urbanisation taking place generally, so green spaces and suburbs are disappearing, and the result is a loss of birds and other wildlife species.

Fleur:  On a larger scale, what do you feel are the key issues that need to be addressed in
 conservation and wildlife work across Australia? Are there unique issues/key work that is specific to the state of Queensland/each state in Australia?

Ashton: I think one of the key issues, from an urban perspective, is the loss of people’s connection with nature. When people are connected, they’re often more inspired to protect nature, or at least vote in that direction. Urban areas are ideal spaces for exposing people to nature in meaningful and long-lasting ways. The human health and wellbeing benefits from connecting people to nature are also significant.  More broadly speaking, across states and nationally, there are many issues that need to be addressed to enhance the conservation of Australian wildlife and habitat. But I think the loss of habitat and the impacts of climate change will remain the most significant.

Fleur:  Tell me about your business- what inspired you to create BlueGreen Innovations?

Ashton: After a lot of desk and research-based conservation work I wanted to do more work on the ground where I actually get my hands dirty . My business enables me to indulge my love of gardening, while helping people to design their gardens and to transform them so that they  attract birds and other pollinators, frogs and a diversity of other wildlife.. I often help people who perhaps are not confident or less able to do the physical garden work, and maybe don't know or don't have an initial interest in attracting wildlife, and I make suggestions and share my knowledge and experience of nature and wildlife. The business is also about retrofitting urban spaces with habitat in mind - creating a co-benefit with certain developments, for example turning existing drainage structures into a wetland or creek, which encourages biodiversity, and that is where the 'blue-green' solutions come in. 

Fleur: What is the ultimate goal or mission of BlueGreen Innovations?

Ashton: The ultimate goal is definitely to enhance biodiversity and connect people with nature. 

The ultimate goal of BlueGreen innovations is to enhance biodiversity and connect people with nature (Dr Ashton Berry, BlueGreen Innovations)

Fleur: How has your work across different countries informed your perspective on climate
 issues and wildlife conservation?

Ashton:  I would say in general people in different countries are working on and tackling the same issues as everyone else, but there are many things we can learn from other cultures. There are differences in attitudes and in some other cultures there is much more of a connection with nature, it is recognised more as an intrinsic and vital part of everyone’s everyday life.

Fleur: What has it been like to advocate for climate health and wildlife in spaces such as the
 United Nations?

Ashton:  It is an incredible experience and an amazing privilege. I was in a policy advocacy role at BirdLife International, and that gave me the opportunity to participate in UN conventions . There is a lot of confidence and energy involved as these are huge venues with lots of people, and there is also a strong sense of camaraderie between fellow advocates. Helping to influence the UN decision text by speaking with and influencing government  ministers was definitely a highlight for me.  As recently as 2019, we managed to successfully put forward our position on biodiversity  to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), who then adopted two words into their decision text that they hadn't previously - nature and biodiversity. That was an important inclusion, as the actions adopted by the conventions and member countries to address climate change and biodiversity loss are guided by the words found in these agreements. 

The UNFCCC adopted two words that they hadn't appeared in decision texts before - nature and biodiversity (Dr Ashton Berry, BlueGreen Innovations)

Fleur: What is your advice for early career conservationists who want to make a difference
 in wildlife biodiversity?

Ashton:  It's an amazing time to be a conservationist. There is so much that can be done. I was the first conservationist employed by my local government 30 years ago, and now there are many. More and more people are talking about nature and the need to protect it - it's so different now. My advice is to feel inspired by how much there is still to do, there are so many ways to contribute, and don't be afraid to try new things. Also, always make sure to do your own research and reading to inform your ideas.

Feel inspired by how much there is still to do, there are so many ways to contribute (Dr Ashton Berry, BlueGreen Innovations)

Fleur: Finally, what do you hope to see happen in wildlife and climate health in the next 10 years?

Ashton: I think reconnecting urban communities with nature is incredibly important going forward. Not only can it make a significant difference in effectively addressing biodiversity loss and climate change, but it also has tremendous benefits for societal health and wellbeing.

I think reconnecting urban communities with nature is incredibly important going forward. Not only can it make a significant difference in effectively addressing biodiversity loss and climate change, but it also has tremendous benefits for societal health and wellbeing. (Dr Ashton Berry, BlueGreen Innovations)

For more information about BirdLife Australia and BirdLife International, visit https://birdlife.org.au/ and https://www.birdlife.org/.