Sustainable Places Research Institute

Research Interests

Adaptations around mobilities, flows and migration

Leanne is currently coordinating a research work package investigating the social, economic and ecological flows that occur within and between ecosystems and the resultant impacts of these flows on social, economic and environmental sustainability. Leanne is interested in the threats posed to livelihoods and the economy, food security and lifestyles from a changing global environment as well as mitigation, adaptation and human behavioural changes within coupled physical, social and ecological systems.

Her previous research has focused on linked social-ecological systems within a terrestrial context (the Wet Tropical Rainforest of Queensland); however, Leanne has a strong background in marine science and is interested in marine and coastal resource use and management, in particular the ecological and economic value of seagrass meadows across multiple scales. She is skilled in community engagement and cooperative research and has experience in place-based research/learning approaches. Co-development of solutions to resource problems using a variety of mixed methodological approaches is also a strong interest of hers.

Other research interests include: the value of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in natural resource use and management and the integration of TEK and scientific knowledge; economic valuation of natural resources and Ecosystem Services; resource use patterns; alternative livelihoods; sustainable development; biocultural diversity and resilience.

Her experience includes: economic analysis of natural resources; Indigenous community engagement; socio-economic and ecological indicator development and verification; Community derived indicator development; Community engagement, cooperative research, place-based research/learning approaches; Environmental monitoring and survey work; Biological, ecological, oceanographic and socio-economic survey techniques. Leanne has extensive experience working with Indigenous peoples in remote areas of Indonesia and Australia particularly around joint management issues and governance of natural resources.

Selected Publications

LC Cullen-Unsworth, R Hill, JRA Butler & M Wallace (2011) Research Approach for the Integration of Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge for Natural Resource Management: An Example from the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The Geographical Journal DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2011.00451.x

LC Cullen-Unsworth, J Pretty & DJ Smith (2011) Developing Community-Derived Indicators of the Economic Impact of Conservation Management in the Coral Triangle Ocean and Coastal Management
doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.03.004

R Hill, LC Cullen-Unsworth, LD Talbot & S McIntyre (2011) Empowering Indigenous peoples' biocultural diversity through world heritage cultural landscapes: A case study from the Australian tropical forests. International Journal of Heritage Studies.
LC Cullen-Unsworth, JRA Butler, R Hill & Wallace M (2010). Cooperative Research: An Example from Far North Queensland. International Journal of Integrated Social Sciences.5 (6): 139-154.

RKF Unsworth, LC Cullen, JN Pretty, DJ Smith & JJ Bell (2010) Economic and subsistence values of the standing stocks of seagrass fisheries: potential benefits of no-fishing marine protected area management. Ocean and Coastal Management 53 (5-6): 218-224. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.04.002

RKF Unsworth & LC Cullen (2010) Recognising the Necessity for Seagrass Conservation. Conservation Letters, 3 (2): 63-73.
doi: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2010.00101.x

K Maclean & LC Cullen (2009) Research methodologies for the co-production of knowledge for environmental management in Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 39 (4): 205-208.
doi: 10.1080/03014220909510581

SE Pilgrim, LC Cullen, DJ Smith & J Pretty (2008) Ecological Knowledge is Lost in Wealthier Communities and Countries. Environmental Science and Technology, 42 (4): 1004-1009.
doi: 10.1021/es070837v