Question: why do you like working in rainforests rather than other environments?

Murray Collins answered on 15 Mar 2011:

Hi – I do like other environments as well. It’s just that rainforests have such an amazing different types of animals and plants, it’s really incredible. Scientists working in rainforests are still finding new species all the time, particularly new fish, reptiles, and plants there. Sometimes, though quite rarely, people find a new mammal too, like a new monkey. I find that really exciting!

From a climate change perspective tropical forests are very important too: they absorb carbon dioxide when they are alive and growing, but when they are cut down they release very large amounts of carbon dioxide, so it is important to manage them well.