Innovative eDNA Program Unveiled to Enhance Biodiversity Conservation

Professor Morten Allentoft, the leader of the Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory at Curtin University, shared that new research is revealing important information about the struggles different species face today.

“Living organisms leave traces of DNA in various environments, including water, soil, and air. We can use these genetic clues to monitor ecosystem health, track endangered species, and identify invasive ones,” Allentoft stated in a press release.

Dr. Tim Cooper, BHP’s biodiversity chief, emphasized that the eDGES program aims to develop new conservation tools that will enable both industry and government to make better decisions.

“Funded by our Social Investment Framework under the ‘Environment’ category, this initiative will help close knowledge gaps, leading to improved sustainability in mining practices and training future genetic and data scientists,” Dr. Cooper explained.

This additional funding will allow the eDGES program to continue for another four years, building on the achievements of its initial phase, which began in 2020.

The ongoing nine projects include new eDNA methods to survey threatened and hard-to-find reptile populations in the Pilbara region, where mining activities overlap with the highest diversity of lizard and snake species in Western Australia.

Moreover, cutting-edge eDNA tools are being developed to assess biodiversity in groundwater habitats. The project will also focus on managing environmental restoration efforts at Salar de Punta Negra, leveraging eDNA analysis, groundwater data, and ecological models to inform the long-term rehabilitation strategies for Chile’s Punta Negra salt flat, which has suffered from water extraction impacts.