Collaborative research partnerships inform monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems by Indigenous rangers
This paper makes the case for increasing Indigenous-led land and sea management and shows how, for Indigenous communities, ecosystem management activities can affirm and support their connection to land (country).
Dobbs et al. (2016). Collaborative research partnerships inform monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems by Indigenous rangers. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries, 26:711–725
Nyul Nyul knowledge and western science in collaboration, this approach allowed partners to contribute to project conception, design, implementation and development of project outputs. In addition to cross-cultural ecological work that combined Indigenous knowledge and western science.
Nyul Nyul knowledge investigated using four methods:
• a questionnaire
• semi-directed interviews
• collaborative fieldwork
• analytical workshop
This article outlines the methods and results from a 3-year aquatic ecosystems management program that involved Indigenous (Nyul Nyul) rangers in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. This collaborative research program aimed to integrate Indigenous and Western Scientific knowledge, creating a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem than could be attained with only one knowledge system alone. This paper makes the case for increasing Indigenous-led land and sea management and shows how, for Indigenous communities, ecosystem management activities can affirm and support their connection to land (country).
The research team and participants comprised of Indigenous and non-Indigenous allied researchers:
• The Nyul Nyul Rangers who work monitoring the wetlands
• Nyul Nyul Traditional Owners
In this way, creating a balanced team of researchers, knowledge keepers and participants sought to create a meaningful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
• Urgency for collaborative catchment and aquatic ecosystem management between Indigenous knowledge and western science
• Collaborative approach to research is re-affirming and creates a stronger connection to land, and a cross-cultural exchange of ecological values
• Management plan for maintaining and protecting values held by Nyul Nyul people and those aligned with broader environmental policy and legislation
• A variety of field-based activities, questionnaires, interviews and workshops
The two major outputs of this program:
• Customized I-Tracker application created to assist monitoring freshwater ecosystem data for Nyul Nyul rangers
• Management plan
Nyul Nyul Rangers demonstrated through presentations at local, regional and national events, including two scientific conferences, their increased confidence in and understanding of wetland management. Developed collaboratively to allow rangers to digitally record, manage and map aquatic ecosystems.
Incorporating these intangible indicators of wetland health into monitoring programs was highlighted as an important area of future research.
"By drawing on both Nyul Nyul and WS knowledge, a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem processes and ecological change was developed (more so than relying on one knowledge set alone)" (p. 721)
"Nyul Nyul sense of identity is strongly connected to freshwater in the landscape. This is enacted through cultural knowledge and practices, ancestral and historical ties, memories of the more recent past, and day-to-day resource use and social activities. Wetland management activities have the potential to reaffirm Nyul Nyul relationships to country" (p. 716).
Ecology
fisheries management
wetland management
Aboriginal research