The first Indigenous-led Research Strategy for Kakadu National Park has been released, setting the research priorities for the next decade and strengthening collaboration between Bininj/Mungguy Traditional Owners and the research community.
Launched by Environment Minister Murray Watt, the strategy was developed through a partnership between Kakadu Traditional Owners, Parks Australia, the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Resilient Landscapes Hub, and hosted by The University of Western Australia.
It outlines the types of research to be undertaken to protect Kakadu's environment and culture.
"Traditional Owners and Balanda [non-Indigenous] welcome the benefits that research can bring to Kakadu and want to encourage more research," the strategy paper says. "However, with limited resources and increasing threats to Kakadu's values, research needs to focus on protecting Kakadu and delivering benefits for Bininj/Mungguy. Kakadu needs a Research Strategy to guide this."
Bernadette Calma, a Kakadu Traditional Owner, Parks Australia Ranger and NESP project leader, said: "I'm really proud to have been one of the Bininj and Mungguy leaders of the NESP project that developed this strategy."
Her comments were echoed by fellow Traditional Owner and NESP project leader Victor Cooper, who stated: "I look forward to working together with researchers, Parks Australia and Bininj to protect Kakadu for future generations."
Bininj and Mungguy have maintained a cultural connection to Kakadu for more than 65,000 years, developing a deep knowledge of the land.
The park, which spans an area nearly half the size of Switzerland and sits 240km east of Darwin, is home to a vast range of biodiversity—including a quarter of Australia's land mammals, 271 bird species, 132 reptiles, 27 frog species, 314 types of fish, nearly 1600 plant species, and over 10,000 insects.
"By building off our strong partnerships between the National Environmental Science Program Resilient Landscapes Hub, Parks Australia and Traditional Owners, we can empower and better support the aspirations of Bininj/Mungguy from a research and cultural perspective," National Parks director Ricky Archer said.
A joint statement from the partners said the strategy will guide the protection of the park's values while delivering tangible benefits to Bininj/Mungguy, including ensuring Indigenous custodians are "guiding the research being undertaken on their land, as well as providing training and employment pathways".
"Kakadu's World Heritage values are at risk from a range of threats, many of which are predicted to intensify over time," the strategy says.
"Kakadu is fortunate to have a rich information base to draw upon, with more than 60,000 years of Bininj/Mungguy knowledge of sustainably managing cultural heritage and natural resources."
Effective collaboration between scientists and Traditional Owners is seen as essential to tackling emerging environmental challenges.
Professor Michael Douglas, NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub leader at UWA, said: "There is a wealth of Bininj/Mungguy knowledge to help manage" Kakadu.
"But responding to new threats, like invasive species and climate change, needs new information and that's where research is critical," he said.
Minister Watt congratulated the project leaders, stating they "have been instrumental in the development of the first Indigenous-led Research Strategy for Kakadu National Park."
"The Kakadu Research Strategy is an important step in listening to what the research priorities are for Bininj/Mungguy and understanding the right way for scientists to work with them in Kakadu," he said.
