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- Title
Getting our Act together to improve Indigenous leadership and recognition in biodiversity management.
- Authors
Goolmeer, Teagan; Skroblin, Anja; Wintle, Brendan A.
- Abstract
Summary: Increasingly scientists and policy makers are acknowledging the importance of Indigenous participation in effective biodiversity conservation. In Australia, the recognised Indigenous estate is vast, accounting for up to 57% of the continent and comprising some of the highest priority conservation lands, including 46% of the formal National Reserve System. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act1999 (the Act) is Commonwealth legislation designed to protect and manage nationally and internationally important species and ecological communities, which entails specific objectives to recognise Indigenous people. However, to date the involvement of Indigenous people in implementation of the Act has been inconsistent and inadequate, particularly in the protection of the Indigenous estate, understanding and supporting Indigenous people's aspirations for Country and culturally significant species, and respecting the traditional management of species and landscapes. In this article, we will explore the key barriers and opportunities for improving Indigenous participation in biodiversity conservation under the Act. We structure our exploration using the three connected themes: (1) meaningful Indigenous engagement and participation, (2) recognition of the Indigenous Estate and (3) strengthening Indigenous‐led governance. We find that there is a pressing need and an immediate opportunity to reform and strengthen the Act to protect Indigenous Knowledge, to recognise and report on the role of Indigenous Estate, and to realise the aspirations of Indigenous peoples for improved land and sea management that strengthens people, culture and Country.
- Subjects
AUSTRALIA; TRADITIONAL knowledge; BIODIVERSITY conservation; NATURE reserves; ENVIRONMENTAL protection; INDIGENOUS peoples
- Publication
Ecological Management & Restoration, 2022, Vol 23, p33
- ISSN
1442-7001
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/emr.12523