Distinguished Professor David Lindenmayer, AO FAA , is an Australian scientist and academic. His research focuses on the adoption of nature conservation practices in agricultural production areas, developing ways to improve integration of native forest harvesting and biodiversity conservation, new approaches to enhance biodiversity conservation in plantations, and improved fire management practices in Australia. He specialises in large-scale, long-term research monitoring programs in south-eastern Australia, primarily in forests, reserves, national parks, plantations, and on farm land. [1]
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Lindenmayer is a Distinguished Professor (level E3) of Ecology and Conservation Biology at the Australian National University's Fenner School of Environment and Society. He has published 981 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 49 books on a wide range of topics associated with forestry, woodlands, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, and ecologically sustainable natural resource management. [2] He is among the world’s most highly cited forest ecologists and conservation biologists, being listed among the top 2000 highly cited researchers according to Google Scholar Citations public profiles across all disciplines. [3] His current Google H-index is 157 as of August 2025, placing him among the top 2000 Highly Cited Researchers (h>100) according to Google Scholar Citations public profiles across all disciplines. [4] In 2020 and 2021, The Australian newspaper listed the 30 leading Australian scientists, and Lindenmayer was listed as the leading conservation and biodiversity expert in the nation. [5]
His areas of expertise also include environmental management, forestry management and environment, terrestrial ecology, wildlife and habitat management, environmental monitoring, forestry fire management, natural resource management, zoology and forestry sciences, [1] with a particular focus on the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum. [6] His work on wildlife conservation and biodiversity has, for many years, led world research in this area. [7] Lindenmayer's conservation and biodiversity research has been recognised through numerous awards, including the Eureka Science Prize, and the Australian Natural History Medallion by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. [8] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia "for distinguished service to conservation and the environment in the field of landscape ecology, to tertiary education, and to professional organisations". [9]
Professor Lindenmayer has recently published an important book - The Forest Wars: The ugly truth about what's happening in our tall forests. This book lifts the lid on the destruction of native forests by government corporations and logging industry that is making bushfires worse, killing wildlife and costing taxpayers millions, for the sake of exported woodchips.
