Fenner Undergraduate Student Advisor, Resource and Environmental Management Program Convenor, Honours Convenor

I grew up in Sydney and was educated at Sydney Boys High, and then UNSW where I studied pedology, geomorphology and geology, completing a 4 year concurrent Honours in Science in 1973. I moved to UNE at Armidale and wrote a PhD on the hydro-bio-geochemistry of small rural catchments. After 6 years' teaching in the Faculty of Natural Resources at UNE, I joined CRA (now RTZ) Exploration in Canberra as an in-house geomorphologist / consultant in their Research Group. In 1986, I joined the then ANU Department of Forestry to teach soils to forestry and resource management students. I carry out research into most aspects of the interaction of biota with soil formation, regolith and landscapes, and sustainable land management, including dry sclerophyll forest management. I own and manage a grazing/native forest property on which I am practising what I preach by managing and planting trees to demonstrate the integration and viability of agroforestry, farm forestry and native forestry, while maintaining sustainable cattle, sheep and goat enterprises. I continue to act as a consultant and advisor to the landcare, agricultural, forestry, mining and land development industries. I am also very interested in student services at ANU and advise students on degrees, courses and careers as student advisor to the School.

Professional Activities

Soils and landscapes, and aspects of their formation, evolution and management is a fair summary of my research interests. In this context, I was a founding member of CARS (Centre for Australian Regolith Studies) and then CRC LEME Mk I and Mk II (Landscape Environment and Mineral Exploration) and continue to work in the effects of the biota on soils, regolith and landscape evolution research and applications.

My fundamental interest in agriculture and forestry is the critical relationship that exists between plants (trees) and soil - the ways in which soil controls the growth of plants, but also the effects that trees have on the formation and evolution of soils and regolith. Other biotic factors are also important to the formation and evolution of soils, regolith and landscapes and these are also the subjects of my research and that of the postgraduates I supervise.

I have a continuing interest in multipurpose and sustainable utilisation of trees in agricultural and forest land management, planning and development. To this end I lead a major RIRDC funded project on "The Management of Privately Owned Dry Sclerophyll Forests". I am also interested in the "intangible values" of privately owned forestry and farm forestry including environmental services, capital value of land and aesthetic values.

Courses I coordinate, or in which I teach, include: Australia's Environment, Australian Landscapes and Soils, Soil Resources and Management, Geomorphology, Land and Catchment Management and Farm & Urban Forestry. Each of these courses is also offered at the graduate level and some are offered in professional, short course and in web based format.

Selected Publications

Field, J.B., Turner, B.J. & McElhinny, C. 2008. A Native Dry Sclerophyll Forest Management Toolbox. In Race, D & Stewart, H. (eds). Proceedings of the Australian Forest Grower National Conference, Albury. October.

Field, J.B. & Little, D. 2008. Biota and the Regolith. Ch 8 in Scott, K and Pain, C. (eds) Regolith Science, CSIRO Pub, Melb.

Field, J.B. 2004. Geomorphology and the Biota. ANZGG Conference, Mt Buffalo, Victoria, February.

Field, J.B. and G. R. Anderson, 2003. Biological Agents in Regolith Processes: Case study on the Southern Tablelands, NSW.CRC LEME Conference, Canberra, November

Newham, L., Buller, C., Barnett, P. and Field, J.B. 2001. Land-use change assessment tools. Report to Environment ACT, Canberra