National Reconciliation Week

It is also important to reflect on the role that Indigenous Australians and communities play in tackling these challenges. Seamlessly combining Indigenous knowledge and conservation science is a crucial step for both healing Country and healing our people. Indigenous communities possess a profound, ancient and evolving understanding of their Country, developed through thousands of generations of living with nature. By integrating this invaluable wisdom with scientific methods, we can enhance biodiversity conservation efforts and tackle Australia’s extinction crisis in a way that also brings our people back onto country and into culture. This collaboration not only enriches conservation practices but also embodies the spirit of reconciliation, honouring and respecting the contributions and rights of Indigenous Australians.

But it means listening and being open to new ways of thinking about how to do conservation. First Nations voices haven’t always been listened to in the conservation field, and it is good to see that starting to shift, but we still have a long way to go.

Now more than ever, we need to make sure that Indigenous Australians have a meaningful seat at the table when it comes to looking after Country and that their voices are heard. We need to make sure that there is genuine free, prior and informed consent about actions that impact on Country, and that Community are listened to. And we need to make sure that our songlines, our totems and our culture are looked after. Acknowledging and bringing these knowledge systems together is essential for creating a sustainable future and fostering a society built on mutual respect and understanding and is an important part of Australia’s reconciliation journey.

Written by Dr Jack Pascoe, Biodiversity Council Chief Councillor and Yuin Man.