Barbara Stewart
I am an Australian ecologist based near Byron Bay on the east coast of the continent.
My interests revolve around trees, forests and ecological restoration. My first degree, a Bachelor of Science with Honours in botany, was undertaken in the temperate island state of Tasmania. Later, I moved on to warmer climates and undertook a PhD in subtropical rainforest regeneration ecology. Research, tertiary teaching, consultancy and plenty of travel have now taken me to places where exotic plants and amazing vegetation flourish throughout Australia, Asia and Central and South America. The environment is not faring so well in many places, and it is satisfying to be able to use my skills to contribute very directly to conservation management.
I enjoy communicating material and ideas from my areas of expertise and experience to a general readership. As so much of ecology is interesting and useful to me, I hope that others out there will appreciate having convenient access to information. Hence I regularly write for newsletters and local media as well as for scientific and technical purposes.
Currently, I am a director and ecological scientist with a consulting firm. It is a flexible position that allows me to travel, write and work on conservation projects. My current focus is in Ecuador, where I have links to a local conservation organization and an ecological restoration project on the Galapagos Islands.
Much of my spare time is taken up in management of my own rainforest property, but I also enjoy ocean swimming, bushwalking and studying Spanish.
Latest Articles
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Land-based Galápagos Experiences
Cruising the Galápagos Islands is the ultimate holiday experience for many, but if suffering seasickness, or on a budget, there are many rewarding land-based options.
Jul 10, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Sangre de Drago
Sangre de Drago (Croton lechleri, Euphorbiaceae) is a forest tree found through much of north-western South America.
Jul 10, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Guava (Psidium guajava)
Guava fruit are valued for their high Vitamin C content and aromatic flavour, but in the wrong location, the trees can invade environments with high biodiversity values.
Jul 7, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Hedychium Coronarium
The White Ginger or Butterfly Flower, with its scented white flowers and luxuriant foliage, is a fine example of a beautiful garden plant turned environmental weed.
Jul 7, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Weed Dispersal by Machinery
Machinery carrying soil and plant fragments can be a significant dispersal agent for environmental weed species.
Jul 6, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Environmental Weeds
Weeds, including escaped garden plants, pose serious threats to native flora and fauna. Control is costly and preventing new introductions is critical.
Jul 6, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Frailejones (Espeletia Species)
The Frailejones are tall daisy-like plants with distinctive lifeforms, found in the high altitude grasslands of north-western South America. Their habitat is threatened.
Jul 6, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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A New Edition A.G. Floyd's Classic
In this new edition of his well-loved reference, Alex Floyd has provided descriptions and illustrations of 403 Australian rainforest tree species.
Jun 18, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Cladia retipora
Cladia retipora can grow like snow drifts, explaining its common name of Snow Lichen, while viewed close up, delicate and lacy, Coral Lichen is a fitting name.
May 10, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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Parque Bolívar, Guayaquil, Ecuador
It's a city park, yet it is crawling with prehistoric-looking lizards, green, striped and knarled, ranging free to the delight of tourists and Ecuadorian children alike.
May 4, 2008
- Barbara Stewart
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