Mapping Indigenous ecological knowledge of the marine environment to inform marine conservation planning

In regions where the majority of land is under Indigenous ownership or where Indigenous people retain a connection to their marine estates, respect for and an ability to include the rich knowledge base of Indigenous people in... [ view full abstract ]

In regions where the majority of land is under Indigenous ownership or where Indigenous people retain a connection to their marine estates, respect for and an ability to include the rich knowledge base of Indigenous people in conservation policy decisions is essential. Particularly for marine management, drawing together the knowledge of Indigenous communities and marine scientists can result in improved conservation outcomes. Maps of benthic habitats are considered some of the best surrogates for biodiversity in the marine environment and are an essential foundation for effective conservation planning. Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) can be an excellent source of information for mapping the marine environment and this contribution is especially valuable when other data is scarce. This study developed a methodology which combines elements of expert elicitation and participatory mapping techniques to assemble the IEK of the Anindilyakwa people of the Groote Eylandt Archipelago off Australia’s poorly surveyed Northern coast. Representatives from 14 Anindilyakwa clan groups participated (n=40), resulting in 21 individual maps. Nine broad-scale habitat classifications, predominately in the intertidal and nearshore marine environment, were described in both Anindilyakwa and English. The information gathered was then used to develop benthic habitat maps covering a combined area of 1800km², identify conservation priority areas and ascertain distributions of vulnerable species. The methodology developed provides a cost effective and replicable technique to characterise large areas of the marine environment from IEK and facilitates ongoing information exchange and respectful knowledge sharing between western scientists and Indigenous communities.