Margaret Friedel

Last updated

Margaret Friedel
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater University of Melbourne
Murdoch University
Scientific career
Fields Ecology
Institutions CSIRO

Dr. Margaret Hilda Friedel is an Australian rangeland (arid lands) ecology and management researcher, widely cited nationally and internationally for her work on the concept of ecosystem thresholds and her collaborative research with landholders and communities in outback Australia to foster understanding of the nature of rangeland ecosystems and how to balance commercial production with maintenance of a fragile resource base. [1]

Contents

Friedel's research is focussed on Australian rangelands from social, ecological and production perspectives, and the human-environment nexus in arid and semi-arid lands. Her research work has included collaborative scenario making to test regional development options for arid land communities, mainly in the Northern Territory. She is also known for her research into the sustainable management of buffell grass – a species useful for pastoral meat production but disadvantageous ecologically as it is invasive and out-competes native grasses.

Friedel is an Honorary Fellow at CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences' laboratory in Alice Springs, Australia and a member of the Alice Springs Regional Weed Reference Group. [2] She is an adjunct professor at the Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs. [3]

Background

Friedel attained a Bachelor of Science in 1967 followed by a Doctor of Philosophy, both from the University of Melbourne, Australia. In 1978, Friedel was awarded a Diploma of Education from Murdoch University, Australia. [2]

In 1974, Friedel joined Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Alice Springs initially researching pasture productivity and nutrient cycling in rangelands production systems. Her research expanded to encompass arid land ecology and management, with a focus on woody plant dynamics, fire as a management tool and ground-based rangeland monitoring. [4]

In 1985–1986, Friedel researched similar issues in South Africa and later, from 2000 to 2004, ran a collaborative study in Rajasthan, India using remote sensing to assess land degradation. [4]

The year 1995 marked the beginning of Friedel's involvement in community-based planning and integrated approaches to regional development that incorporate economic, social and ecological values. [4]

Publications

A selection of Friedel's publications are as follows:

Awards

Public lectures

Friedel delivered The 2013 Rangeland Journal Lecture on the topic of "A million years of change: wind, flood and fire in the Simpson Desert", the origin and development of the Simpson Desert. [13]

Achievements

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangeland</span> Biomes which can be grazed by animals or livestock (grasslands, woodlands, prairies, etc)

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<i>Santalum spicatum</i> Australian sandalwood

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References

  1. ↑ "Dr Margaret Friedel: contributing to arid land sustainability". CSIRO. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dr Margaret Friedel". CSIRO. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  3. ↑ "Margaret Friedel". Charles Darwin University. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "ARS Member Profile - Margaret Friedel". Australian Rangeland Society. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ↑ Grice, A. C.; Murphy, H. T.; Clarkson, J. R.; Friedel, M. H.; Fletcher, C. S.; Westcott, D. A. (7 December 2020). "A review and refinement of the concept of containment for the management of invasive plants". Australian Journal of Botany. 68 (8): 602–616. doi:10.1071/BT20092. ISSN   1444-9862.
  6. ↑ Grice, A. C.; Murphy, H. T.; Clarkson, J. R.; Friedel, M. H.; Fletcher, C. S.; Westcott, D. A.; Grice, A. C.; Murphy, H. T.; Clarkson, J. R.; Friedel, M. H.; Fletcher, C. S.; Westcott, D. A. (7 December 2020). "A review and refinement of the concept of containment for the management of invasive plants". Australian Journal of Botany. 68 (8): 602–616. doi:10.1071/BT20092. ISSN   1444-9862.
  7. ↑ Friedel, Margaret H.; Morton, Stephen R. (7 November 2022). "A history of CSIRO'S Central Australian Laboratory, 1: 1953–80: pastoral land research". Historical Records of Australian Science. 34 (1): 36–49. doi: 10.1071/HR22006 . ISSN   1448-5508.
  8. ↑ Friedel, Margaret; Allan, Grant E.; Duguid, Angus (2014). "Do we know enough about vegetation dynamics to manage fire regimes in central Australia?". Ecological Management & Restoration. 15 (2): 128–132. doi:10.1111/emr.12104. ISSN   1442-7001.
  9. ↑ "Outstanding Achievement Awards". Society for Range Management. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  10. ↑ "Public Service Medal (PSM)" (PDF). 2007. p. 374. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. ↑ "From the desk of the Managing Director in June" (PDF). Desert Knowledge CRC. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Margaret Friedel". Charles Darwin University. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "A million years of change: wind, flood and fire in the Simpson Desert". Biting The Dust. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  14. ↑ "IPCC WGII - Access to AR4 Review Comments". Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Council Announces Australian Rangeland Society Fellowship for Dr. Friedel". January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  16. ↑ Thad Box (2008). "A Conversation With Margaret Friedel". 32 (2).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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