The Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) is based at James Cook University (JCU), Australia's leading tropical research university.
Our mission is to promote cutting-edge ecological and environmental research in the tropics, and the wise management, conservation and sustainable use of tropical terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, in Australia and internationally.
Latest news
TESS's Silvia Tavares is the Editor of special issue of The Journal of Public Space which addresses the importance of public health and well-being
"Climate responsive urban planning and design is, therefore, key to secure a healthy urban lifestyle"
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TESS team endorses cost-benefit as a key factor for forest restoration
Willingness to reforest at landscape scales depends, to a large extent, on restoration costs, opportunity costs, and a reliable and reasonable carbon price. Finding the most beneficial restoration methods is essential.
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TESS team shows that planned road-building scheme would decimate the rainforests of Sarawak, Borneo
"...However, the implications of the development of highway and dams for forest integrity, biodiversity and ecosystem services remained largely unreported"..
Read the articleEcological and environmental research for the Tropics
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Researchers
TESS researchers currently number over 100, drawn from four JCU Colleges and affiliated members from other institutions.
1,180
Publications
Our collaborations are global. Our publications reach high-impact journals, such as Science and Nature.
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Facilities
JCU has well equipped field stations and analytical facilities close to two World Heritage reef and rainforest areas and a range of drier tropical savannas.
Outstanding Research
TESS research addresses the pressing, complex, trans-disciplinary and interconnected issues of S3D – Sustainability Science and Sustainable Development – across the tropical world
JCU is the only Australian university to receive the highest ranking of 5 (well above World Standard) in Environmental Science and Management in the Australian Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment for every round.
JCU's unique location enables researchers and students from Australia and overseas to work in a diverse physical environment unparalleled by any university in the world. Nowhere else is it possible to visit reef, rainforest and savanna in a single day, returning to world-class laboratory facilities in a vibrant and attractive tropical city.
