Catherine Helen Spence scholar to investigate barriers to revegetation in Mt Lofty Ranges
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Catherine Helen Spence scholar to investigate barriers to revegetation in Mt Lofty Ranges
Catherine Helen Spence scholar to investigate barriers to revegetation in Mt Lofty Ranges
Published on 23 April 2026
Adelaide University PhD student and Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship awardee Shannon Evenden is investigating how to increase the number of private landholders participating in revegetation projects.
Evenden’s PhD project, supported by the $25,000 scholarship, will explore private landholders’ lived experience to understand how to translate their intentions for revegetation into practice.
“The dominant focus for revegetation support comes in the form of financial incentives,” said Evenden, whose work is also supported by the University’s Environment Institute.
“While financial help is an important mechanism, there are likely to be unknown barriers to participation, such as whether a landholder has time to apply for grants.
“Through longform interviews and workshops, I will gain insight into the implementation gap, uncovering a holistic picture of barriers and preferential support mechanisms for revegetation projects.”
Evenden said identifying and addressing barriers to revegetation participation will help to address the degradation of the Australian landscape and its function.
“The drastic loss of biodiversity alongside essential ecosystem services, such as water retention and soil stabilisation, has led to a steady decline in landscape health,” she said.
“This ecological pressure is now colliding with a changing climate as South Australia warms and dries, and drought becomes an ever-present occurrence.
“With conditions predicted to only become worse, the impact of declining landscape health and exposure to a changing climate on farmer and rural community wellbeing cannot be overstated.
“To restore landscape health and increase resilience to a changing climate, revegetation is paramount and urgent.”
Evenden’s project will continue the legacy of the Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship, awarded to women investigating social problems or studying in the field of social science in Australia and overseas.
“The Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship has a proud legacy of supporting women to lead change on some of the most complex social, economic and environmental challenges we face. Shannon’s research is a powerful example of that legacy in action,” said South Australian Minister for Women, Katrine Hildyard.
“By centring community voices and people’s direct experience and through bringing a network of landowners together, her work will help shape more effective, practical solutions that support both our environment and the wellbeing of rural communities.
“We are proud to back women like Shannon, whose leadership, research, and passion are helping build a more resilient and sustainable future for South Australia.”
As part of the project, Evenden will also spend time at the Stockholm Resilience Centre in Sweden, a global leader in the interactions between people and nature.
“Driven by her passion to motivate revegetation, Shannon has developed an incredible network of engaged landholders who want to participate in her project and support revegetation outcomes,” said Professor Andy Lowe, Director of Adelaide University’s Environment Institute.
“The Catherine Helen Spence award and opportunity to develop these ideas with world leading experts in Stockholm is recognition of Shannon’s outstanding achievements and potential as an early career researcher.”
Media contact
Johnny von Einem
Tel:
+61 481 688 436
Email:
johnny.voneinem@adelaide.edu.au
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Catherine Helen Spence scholar to investigate barriers to revegetation in Mt Lofty Ranges
Published on 23 April 2026
Adelaide University PhD student and Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship awardee Shannon Evenden is investigating how to increase the number of private landholders participating in revegetation projects.
Evenden’s PhD project, supported by the $25,000 scholarship, will explore private landholders’ lived experience to understand how to translate their intentions for revegetation into practice.
“The dominant focus for revegetation support comes in the form of financial incentives,” said Evenden, whose work is also supported by the University’s Environment Institute.
“While financial help is an important mechanism, there are likely to be unknown barriers to participation, such as whether a landholder has time to apply for grants.
“Through longform interviews and workshops, I will gain insight into the implementation gap, uncovering a holistic picture of barriers and preferential support mechanisms for revegetation projects.”
Evenden said identifying and addressing barriers to revegetation participation will help to address the degradation of the Australian landscape and its function.
“The drastic loss of biodiversity alongside essential ecosystem services, such as water retention and soil stabilisation, has led to a steady decline in landscape health,” she said.
“This ecological pressure is now colliding with a changing climate as South Australia warms and dries, and drought becomes an ever-present occurrence.
“With conditions predicted to only become worse, the impact of declining landscape health and exposure to a changing climate on farmer and rural community wellbeing cannot be overstated.
“To restore landscape health and increase resilience to a changing climate, revegetation is paramount and urgent.”
Evenden’s project will continue the legacy of the Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship, awarded to women investigating social problems or studying in the field of social science in Australia and overseas.
“The Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship has a proud legacy of supporting women to lead change on some of the most complex social, economic and environmental challenges we face. Shannon’s research is a powerful example of that legacy in action,” said South Australian Minister for Women, Katrine Hildyard.
“By centring community voices and people’s direct experience and through bringing a network of landowners together, her work will help shape more effective, practical solutions that support both our environment and the wellbeing of rural communities.
“We are proud to back women like Shannon, whose leadership, research, and passion are helping build a more resilient and sustainable future for South Australia.”
As part of the project, Evenden will also spend time at the Stockholm Resilience Centre in Sweden, a global leader in the interactions between people and nature.
“Driven by her passion to motivate revegetation, Shannon has developed an incredible network of engaged landholders who want to participate in her project and support revegetation outcomes,” said Professor Andy Lowe, Director of Adelaide University’s Environment Institute.
“The Catherine Helen Spence award and opportunity to develop these ideas with world leading experts in Stockholm is recognition of Shannon’s outstanding achievements and potential as an early career researcher.”
Media contact
Johnny von Einem
Tel:
+61 481 688 436
Email:
johnny.voneinem@adelaide.edu.au
Topics
Featured story
Environment
Other articles you may be interested in