Metadata
Title
Laura Sonter
Category
general
UUID
1926be4297e5433ea0cbf6490f5f48c9
Source URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/18170
Parent URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/920
Crawl Time
2026-03-11T07:46:37+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Laura Sonter

Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/18170 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/920

Associate Professor

Laura Sonter

Email: : l.sonter@uq.edu.au

Positions

Affiliate of Global Centre for Mineral Security : Global Centre for Mineral Security : Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Affiliate of Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining : Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining : Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Affiliate of Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science : Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science : Faculty of Science

Adjunct Associate Professor : School of the Environment : Faculty of Science

Overview

Background

Reconciling biodiversity conservation with development pressures is one of the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. This is particularly true given the myriad ways that human wellbeing directly depends on well-functioning ecosystems. My research seeks to understand where, when and how to manage and conserve landscapes, so as to beneift both nature and people. I use land use change models, coupled with remote sensing and GIS datasets, to predict how future development projects (e.g. mines, hydropower dams, transportation infrastructure) will impact biodiversity and ecosystem services. This information allows us to compare the costs and benefits of alternative management interventions and, ultimately, provides the knowledge needed to make more informed decisions. My research benefits from collaborating across disciplines (ecology, economics, engineering) and working alongside government and non-government organizations. I am currently conducting projects in Australia, Brazil and the USA.

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Availability

Associate Professor Laura Sonter is: : Available for supervision : Media expert

Fields of research

Conservation and biodiversity Environment policy Environmental Sciences Environmental management Human Society Policy and administration

Qualifications

Works

Search Professor Laura Sonter’s works on UQ eSpace

All (79) Journal Article (71) Other Outputs (4) Conference Publication (3) Book Chapter (1)

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Renewable energy production will exacerbate mining threats to biodiversity

Sonter, Laura J., Dade, Marie C., Watson, James E. M. and Valenta, Rick K. (2020). Renewable energy production will exacerbate mining threats to biodiversity. Nature Communications, 11 (1) 4174, 4174. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17928-5

Renewable energy production will exacerbate mining threats to biodiversity

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Local conditions and policy design determine whether ecological compensation can achieve no net loss goals

Sonter, Laura J., Simmonds, Jeremy S., Watson, James E. M., Jones, Julia P. G., Kiesecker, Joseph M., Costa, Hugo M., Bennun, Leon, Edwards, Stephen, Grantham, Hedley S., Griffiths, Victoria F., Jones, Kendall, Sochi, Kei, Puydarrieux, Philippe, Quétier, Fabien, Rainer, Helga, Rainey, Hugo, Roe, Dilys, Satar, Musnanda, Soares-Filho, Britaldo S., Starkey, Malcolm, ten Kate, Kerry, Victurine, Ray, von Hase, Amrei, Wells, Jessie A. and Maron, Martine (2020). Local conditions and policy design determine whether ecological compensation can achieve no net loss goals. Nature Communications, 11 (1) 2072, 2072. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15861-1

Local conditions and policy design determine whether ecological compensation can achieve no net loss goals

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Mining and biodiversity: key issues and research needs in conservation science

Sonter, Laura J., Ali, Saleem H. and Watson, James E. M. (2018). Mining and biodiversity: key issues and research needs in conservation science. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285 (1892) 20181926, 20181926. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1926

Mining and biodiversity: key issues and research needs in conservation science

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Carbon emissions due to deforestation for the production of charcoal used in Brazil's steel industry

Sonter, Laura J., Barrett, Damian J., Moran, Chris J. and Soares-Filho, Britaldo S. (2015). Carbon emissions due to deforestation for the production of charcoal used in Brazil's steel industry. Nature Climate Change, 5 (4), 359-363. doi: 10.1038/nclimate2515

Carbon emissions due to deforestation for the production of charcoal used in Brazil's steel industry

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Offsetting the impacts of mining to achieve no net loss of native vegetation

Sonter, L. J., Barrett, D. J. and Soares-Filho, B. S. (2014). Offsetting the impacts of mining to achieve no net loss of native vegetation. Conservation Biology, 28 (4), 1068-1076. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12260

Offsetting the impacts of mining to achieve no net loss of native vegetation

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Global demand for steel drives extensive land-use change in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle

Sonter, Laura J., Barrett, Damian J., Soares-Filho, Britaldo S. and Moran, Chris J. (2014). Global demand for steel drives extensive land-use change in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle. Global Environmental Change, 26 (1), 63-72. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.03.014

Global demand for steel drives extensive land-use change in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle

2025

Journal Article

Mining, biodiversity and social conflict in the renewable energy transition

Aska, Bora, Sonter, Laura J., zu Ermgassen, Sophus O. S. E., Franks, Daniel M., Mingorria, Sara, Iniesta-Arandia, Irene, Lloyd, Thomas J. and Torres, Aurora (2025). Mining, biodiversity and social conflict in the renewable energy transition. Nature Reviews Biodiversity, 1 (9), 597-614. doi: 10.1038/s44358-025-00076-3

Mining, biodiversity and social conflict in the renewable energy transition

2025

Journal Article

Global land cover maps do not reveal mining pressures to biodiversity

Sonter, Laura J., Nursamsi, Ilyas, Bennun, Leon, Graham, Jamie, Maus, Victor, Rainey, Hugo, Starkey, Malcolm, Turner, Joseph A., Watson, James E. M. and Prescott, Graham W. (2025). Global land cover maps do not reveal mining pressures to biodiversity. Scientific Reports, 15 (1) 22421, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-01959-3

Global land cover maps do not reveal mining pressures to biodiversity

2025

Journal Article

Metal mining is a global driver of environmental change

Giljum, Stefan, Maus, Victor, Sonter, Laura, Luckeneder, Sebastian, Werner, Tim, Lutter, Stephan, Gershenzon, Julia, Cole, Megan J., Siqueira-Gay, Juliana and Bebbington, Anthony (2025). Metal mining is a global driver of environmental change. Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 6 (7), 441-455. doi: 10.1038/s43017-025-00683-w

Metal mining is a global driver of environmental change

2025

Journal Article

ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making

Lèbre, Eléonore, Czarnota, Karol, Walsh, Stuart D.C., Haynes, Marcus, Ufer, Natasha, Sonter, Laura J., Sreekar, Rachakonda, Bolz, Pascal, Bulovic, Nevenka, Côte, Claire, Kunz, Nadja C., Micklethwaite, Steven, Northey, Stephen A., Rochford, Louisa M., Schodde, Richard, Seligmann, Benjamin and Sturman, Kathryn (2025). ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making. Resources Policy, 105 105592, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105592

ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making

2025

Journal Article

Bromwich, Talitha, White, Thomas B., Bouchez, Alice, Hawkins, Isobel, zu Ermgassen, Sophus, Bull, Joseph, Bartlett, Harriet, Bennun, Leon, Biggs, Elizabeth, Booth, Hollie, Clark, Michael, El Geneidy, Sami, Prescott, Graham W., Sonter, Laura J., Starkey, Malcolm and Milner‐Gulland, E. J. (2025). Navigating uncertainty in life cycle assessment‐based approaches to biodiversity footprinting. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1111/2041-210x.70001

Navigating uncertainty in life cycle assessment‐based approaches to biodiversity footprinting

2025

Journal Article

Biodiversity offsets, their effectiveness and their role in a nature positive future

Maron, Martine, von Hase, Amrei, Quétier, Fabien, Sonter, Laura J., Theis, Sebastian and zu Ermgassen, Sophus O. S. E. (2025). Biodiversity offsets, their effectiveness and their role in a nature positive future. Nature Reviews Biodiversity, 1 (3), 183-196. doi: 10.1038/s44358-025-00023-2

Biodiversity offsets, their effectiveness and their role in a nature positive future

2025

Journal Article

Erratum: Publisher Correction: Biomass carbon emissions from nickel mining have significant implications for climate action (Nature communications (2025) 16 1 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55703-y)

Mervine, Evelyn M., Valenta, Rick K., Paterson, James S., Mudd, Gavin M., Werner, Tim T., Nursamsi, Ilyas and Sonter, Laura J. (2025). Erratum: Publisher Correction: Biomass carbon emissions from nickel mining have significant implications for climate action (Nature communications (2025) 16 1 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55703-y). Nature communications, 16 (1) 1151, 1151. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56465-x

Erratum: Publisher Correction: Biomass carbon emissions from nickel mining have significant implications for climate action (Nature communications (2025) 16 1 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55703-y)

2025

Journal Article

Biomass carbon emissions from nickel mining have significant implications for climate action

Mervine, Evelyn M., Valenta, Rick K., Paterson, James S., Mudd, Gavin M., Werner, Tim T., Nursamsi, Ilyas and Sonter, Laura J. (2025). Biomass carbon emissions from nickel mining have significant implications for climate action. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 481, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55703-y

Biomass carbon emissions from nickel mining have significant implications for climate action

2024

Journal Article

Remote sensing of artisanal and small-scale mining: a review of scalable mapping approaches

Nursamsi, Ilyas, Phinn, Stuart R., Levin, Noam, Luskin, Matthew Scott and Sonter, Laura Jane (2024). Remote sensing of artisanal and small-scale mining: a review of scalable mapping approaches. Science of the Total Environment, 951 175761, 175761. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175761

Remote sensing of artisanal and small-scale mining: a review of scalable mapping approaches

2024

Journal Article

Feasibility of multi-spectral and radar data fusion for mapping Artisanal Small-Scale Mining: A case study from Indonesia

Nursamsi, Ilyas, Sonter, Laura Jane, Luskin, Matthew Scott and Phinn, Stuart (2024). Feasibility of multi-spectral and radar data fusion for mapping Artisanal Small-Scale Mining: A case study from Indonesia. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 132 104015, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jag.2024.104015

Feasibility of multi-spectral and radar data fusion for mapping Artisanal Small-Scale Mining: A case study from Indonesia

2024

Journal Article

Ensuring legitimate project-level claims about net biodiversity outcomes

Sonter, Laura J., Maron, Martine, Metaxas, Anna and Bull, Joseph W. (2024). Ensuring legitimate project-level claims about net biodiversity outcomes. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 39 (7), 599-602. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.05.004

Ensuring legitimate project-level claims about net biodiversity outcomes

2024

Journal Article

Comparing environmental impacts of deep-seabed and land-based mining: A defensible framework

Metaxas, A., Anglin, C. D., Cross, A., Drazen, J., Haeckel, M., Mudd, G., Smith, C. R., Smith, S., Weaver, P. P.E., Sonter, L., Amon, D. J., Erskine, P. D., Levin, L. A., Lily, H., Maest, A. S., Mestre, N. C., Ramirez-Llodra, E., Sánchez, L. E., Sharma, R., Vanreusel, A., Wheston, S. and Tunnicliffe, V. (2024). Comparing environmental impacts of deep-seabed and land-based mining: A defensible framework. Global Change Biology, 30 (5) e17334, 1-14. doi: 10.1111/gcb.17334

Comparing environmental impacts of deep-seabed and land-based mining: A defensible framework

2024

Journal Article

Threat of mining to African great apes

Junker, Jessica, Quoss, Luise, Valdez, Jose, Arandjelovic, Mimi, Barrie, Abdulai, Campbell, Geneviève, Heinicke, Stefanie, Humle, Tatyana, Kouakou, Célestin Y., Kühl, Hjalmar S., Ordaz-Németh, Isabel, Pereira, Henrique M., Rainer, Helga, Refisch, Johannes, Sonter, Laura and Sop, Tenekwetche (2024). Threat of mining to African great apes. Science Advances, 10 (14) eadl0335, eadl0335. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adl0335

Threat of mining to African great apes

2024

Journal Article

Conservation planning for retention, not just protection

Negret, Pablo Jose, Venegas, Ruben, Sonter, Laura J., Possingham, Hugh P. and Maron, Martine (2024). Conservation planning for retention, not just protection. Global Change Biology, 30 (3) e17211, e17211. doi: 10.1111/gcb.17211

Conservation planning for retention, not just protection

Funding

Current funding

Rehabilitation Options for Ponded Areas Due to Longwall Coal Mining

Australian Coal Association Research Program

Open grant

Past funding

Partnership with The Biodiversity Consultancy

The Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd

Open grant - 2021 - 2024

Nature futures: mapping pathways to prosperity for people and nature (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Melbourne)

University of Melbourne

Open grant - 2019 - 2021

Dr Laura Sonter - AQ WRAP

Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program

Open grant - 2019 - 2020

Mining and biodiversity: quantifying threats and uncertainties to improve conservation outcomes

UQ Early Career Researcher

Open grant - 2017 - 2021

Offsetting impacts of development on biodiversity and ecosystem services

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

Open grant

View all 5 past funded projects View less

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Laura Sonter is: : Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

##### Towards a Holistic Understanding of Artisanal Small-Scale Mining Impacts on Wet-Tropical Forest: A Regional Analysis, Kalimantan, Indonesia

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Luskin, Professor Stuart Phinn - Doctor Philosophy

##### Sourcing battery minerals - from the land or sea?

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Dr Sreekar Rachakonda, Professor Eve McDonald-Madden - Doctor Philosophy

##### Managing Ecosystem Services in a Highly Connected World

Associate Advisor - Doctor Philosophy

##### Impacts of mining for renewable energy transition on biodiversity

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Professor Daniel Franks

Completed supervision

Doctor Philosophy

##### Understanding and Managing Ecosystem Services in Mining Environments using Indigenous Perspectives

Principal Advisor

Other advisors: Professor Peter Erskine - 2025

Doctor Philosophy

##### Mining, Biodiversity, and Area-Based Conservation: Risks and Opportunities

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Professor Richard Fuller - 2021

Doctor Philosophy

##### Managing ecosystem services for multiple beneficiaries

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham - 2020

Doctor Philosophy

##### Development, armed conflict and conservation: improving the effectiveness of conservation decisions in conflict hotspots using Colombia as a case study

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham, Professor James Watson, Professor Martine Maron

Media

Enquiries

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