Dr Breed is a scholar of ecosystem health, restoration ecology, and genomics. He pioneers the integration of genomics and health into restoration ecology. He leads an integrated team under two initiatives: The Healthy Urban Microbiome Initiative (HUMI) and the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology (FORE) group.

FORE is dedicated to improving restoration success through innovation, for the benefit of the natural world and society alike. We recognise that our planet is rapidly changing and believe that to respond, we need solutions based on cutting-edge science. Examples of his work under FORE include redefining the study of gene flow and mating systems of plants in fragmented landscapes. This led to the global revision of seed sourcing strategies for restoration under global change. His research on mixing local seeds with those from non-local origins explores improving restoration outcomes under global change. His research has influenced the guidelines by which seeds for restoration projects are collected and the way restoration work is conducted at local, national and international levels.

HUMI seeks to understand and recreate the immune-boosting power of high quality, biodiverse green spaces in our cities to maximise population health benefits, bring significant savings to health budgets, while delivering gains for biodiversity. At the recent UN Biodiversity Conference in Egypt (COP14; November 2018), Martin signed an MOU with the Secretariat of the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) agreeing to work in partnership with the CBD on the linkages between biodiversity and health, via the microbiome pathway.

Get in touch!

https://www.HUMIcity.org/
https://restorationecology.com.au/