Collaborative research partnerships inform monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems by Indigenous rangers

Dobbs, Rebecca J.; Davies, Christy L.; Walker, Michelle L.; Pettit, Neil E.; Pusey, Brad; Close, Paul G.; Akune, Yoshi; Walsham, Ninjana; Smith, Brendan; Wiggan, Albert; Cox, Preston; Ward, Douglas P.; Tingle, Fiona; Kennett, Rod; Jackson, Micha V.; Davies, Peter

Collaborative research partnerships inform monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems by Indigenous rangers

2016

Aquatic ecosystems are critical to the long-term viability and vibrancy of communities and economies across northern Australia. In a region that supports significant cultural and ecological water values, partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders can benefit aquatic ecosystem management. We present, as a case study from the Kimberley region of Western Australia, a collaborative research program that successfully documented Indigenous and Western Scientific knowledge of remote wetlands, using a variety of field-based activities, questionnaires, interviews and workshops. The sharing of knowledge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous research partners facilitated a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem values, threats, processes, management priorities and aspirations. These formed the basis of a management plan and monitoring tools, designed to build the capacity of an Indigenous ranger group to engage in research, monitoring and management of wetlands. The project provides a useful example of the benefits of collaborations in the context of remote-area management where local communities are responsible for environmental management and monitoring, such as is the case in northern Australia and presumably other areas of the world.

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