Meet the Experts - Luke Peel

From managing Natural Resource Management projects with cutting-edge remote sensing and GIS to tackling complex land management challenges, Luke’s work is all about embracing Integrated Systems Thinking to understand the intricate connections in our natural resources.

Read on to learn more about Luke’s impressive journey, from his diverse professional experiences to proudly representing the nation.

1. How do you explain what you do for work at parties?

Short answer…I work for Eco Logical Australia, an environmental consultancy on Natural Resource Management projects. If pushed for more information…I manage projects to address complex land management issues, using a mix of remote sensing, GIS and ground data for mapping, monitoring or modelling purposes to develop nature-based solutions to mitigate land degradation and increase resilience to climate extremes.

On the tools to install a Sentek soil moisture sensor (1.8m depth) connected to a logger and modem to send data automatically, and included two boreholes equipped with sensor to measure level, temp and EC (2021).

2. Why did you choose to work in the environmental space?

Exposure to nature and growing up in Darwin post cyclone Tracy with the bush at the end of the street in the northern suburbs, exploring the local creeks or the beach, and camping and exploring often in areas where there were no other people.

3. What do you love most about what you do?

Undertaking challenging projects and collaborating with many other talented experts in ELA and our TT partner agencies. This provides avenues to learn from others, share knowledge, skills and cross-pollinate concepts and implement solutions for complex and challenging scenarios for clients.

Site setup for rangeland monitoring on Wave Hill station – my first property to manage the monitoring implementation (1997).

4. What achievement are you most proud of?

Project managing and implementing the first catchment scale application of time-series satellite monitoring analysis of rangeland condition covering the Ord-Victoria Rivers region (78,000km2) including a trial in central-west Qld (Quilpie). 

The project included developing a user interface that I had designed and engaged CSIRO to build the interface we called VegMachine. The project was funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and built upon 7 years of (TS-CRC project) testing and validating with field sites (69 by 1Ha) measuring 50 veg quadrats (1m2) and LFA transects (2 by 50m), and photo points. The VegMachine software is still operational today and supported by my previous colleagues in Qld.

5. How do you make a difference in your role with Eco Logical Australia?

My broad skills and experience in soils, vegetation, water, remote sensing and GIS applications allow the ability to work with other experts to manage projects. Hopefully bringing the many components of my experience to apply in an integrated systems thinking approach with ELA/TT colleagues to solve complex challenges for Govt and industry clients.

Running events with other collaborators and the launch of the Clean Energy Soil Carbon Market guidelines (2020).

6. To share your genius, what’s your one top tip for clients working on Natural Resource Management projects?

Top tip – Integrated Systems Thinking, what does that mean? Our natural resources operate in a complex series of interactions (direct & indirect) that require an integrated systems thinking approach. 

This approach will be required if we are to manage the many issues and challenges we face to provide the necessary water, food, fibre and energy needs while mitigating climate extremes and reverse climate change. All land (and water) ecosystems need to be actively managed, furthermore we should take time to listen to First Nations people to better understand how we can do better in managing the Australian landscape. 

Additionally, technology has significantly improved our ability to map, monitor and model NRM, however nothing beats putting boots on the ground to calibrate and verify. A good mix of both is advised and to be suitably resourced to ensure a quality outcome that all stakeholders are pleased with.

7. What do you love about science?

As a scientist it is good to keep an open mind, there is always more to learn and experience from being involved in a variety of projects, and keep abreast of new information through scientific publications, conferences, colleagues and broader network.

The annual 3-day fieldtrip with ANU students in collaboration with Dr David Freudenberger and Dr Craig Strong (soils, plant, hydrology = landscape function).

Site tour with Chinese delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2019).

8. What's the most interesting project you've ever worked on?

There’s quite a few, besides the VegMachine project above, it would have to be managing and implementing the extensive monitoring program for Mulloon Institute’s catchment scale landscape rehydration project near Canberra. Including being the lead author of the journal paper that describes the monitoring program utilising State & Transition models, plus collaborating with eminent scientists, and managing many other researcher’s activities that were conducted and still progressing today.

Running field days for farming groups at The Mulloon Institute’s demonstration farm.

Running a workshop for the Mulloon catchment landholders in grazing management and satellite-based feed monitoring using Cibo Labs data portal.

9. An interesting or fun fact your team or your clients might not know about you?

I was captain of the NT volleyball team and proud to be the flag-bearer leading the Australian contingent into the stadium in Manila for the start of the SE Asian mini-Olympics tournament in 1994.

10. What do you nerd out over?

Have to admit camping, hiking, and fishing have always featured in my nerding out, and more recently activities relating to both rewilding of degraded landscapes and regenerative agriculture.

Calling landholders to organise upcoming onsite visit during a 3-week fieldtrip in Ord-Vic region. This location was just north of the Bungle Bungles (1999).