Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy

KIMBERLEY SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION STRATEGY

In announcing the development of the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy over a four year period, the Minister for Environment identified the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia as playing key roles in the development of the strategy.

In response to the Minister seeking the views of the Conservation Commission, the Conservation Commission expressed its full support for the development of this strategy. In summary, the Conservation Commission highlighted the following points:

·  The Conservation Commission is particularly keen to be an active participant in the development of the strategy.

·  As part of the Conservation Commission’s contribution it intends to undertake a performance assessment of the biodiversity management of islands (stage 2) with a focus on the unallocated (unvested) islands of the Kimberley in particular. Stage 1 of the islands assessment looking at the islands of the State vested in the Conservation Commission has recently been completed.

Specific items relating to terrestrial conservation management include:

·  The identification of mechanisms to progress longstanding recommendations for important additions to the conservation estate;

·  The tourism opportunities presented by the unique environment of the Kimberley cannot be underestimated. Along with the values of the Kimberley and the opportunities presented, there continue to be significant threats to the maintenance of those values and opportunities. It is important that planning and management, potentially at a multi-agency and stakeholder level, be undertaken to clearly define future directions and resource demands. It will be vital that Indigenous people are fully involved as joint planners and managers;

·  It is also considered important to investigate additional and complementary approaches to conventional tenure arrangements to enable shared and joint management of national parks and nature reserves. The Conservation Commission considers flexibility and the discussion of all options a necessary approach to achieve sustainable conservation, tourism and broader development outcomes;

·  Opportunities should be pursued for partnerships to be developed with Indigenous people in the management of other lands held as reserves with the purpose of the benefit of Aboriginal people, or the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas. This could enhance conservation, tourism and other development outcomes.

·  It is clear that a single agency approach will not be able to achieve the preservation of the region’s ecological integrity. The increasing need to address environmental, social and economic requirements necessitates a cooperative approach inclusive of all stakeholder groups. Recognition of the work undertaken by various groups is an imperative in this regard. The Kimberley is one of the least fragmented landscapes in Australia and so land managers, and those establishing land management policies, face the same issues, irrespective of tenure boundaries.

·  In linking research programs with management outcomes there are several areas that warrant attention such as;

§  The visitor experience to the region and how this can be enhanced or maintained, and how the potential for increased visitation can be realised whilst maintaining particular experiences and how the, often site-specific, impacts can be managed. It is suggested that social research is required to help guide the way forward here.

§  It is felt that a rapid assessment system needs to be developed for documenting and analysing the biodiversity of the Kimberley. The development of a cost efficient, focused, rapid assessment system would help remove the uncertainty regarding development proposals, help define a more complete conservation estate system and highlight areas where more intensive work is required.

§  Concern has been expressed about the tragedy of the loss of traditional Indigenous knowledge concerning the lands and waters of the Kimberley, its connection to people and its management. Whilst acknowledging the inherent sensitivity related to this topic, in relation to appropriate communication and ownership, it is considered that mechanisms should be put in place that facilitates the ability of Indigenous people to protect their cultural knowledge.

·  The Conservation Commission considers that the meaningful engagement of Indigenous people in the management of conservation areas is imperative. It is considered that the people who speak for country as traditional custodians should be directly involved in the decision making processes. The positive outcomes of a successful approach in this regard are numerous and are to the great benefit of all parties, from a greater understanding by the broader community of the living cultures of Australia, connection to country of people with traditional responsibilities, economic opportunities for Indigenous people across a wide range of areas, direct engagement with improved management of the land, and the acknowledgement of the importance of Indigenous knowledge.

2