Foundational - Identification of waterbird research priorities for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region
Project lead: Tom Prowse (University of Adelaide)
Project team: Ruth Cope, Johanna Kuhne, Steve Delean, Rebecca Boulton, Phill Casey and Justin Brookes (University of Adelaide)
Project overview
The diverse and abundant waterbird community of the CLLMM played a central role in the region’s listing as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The CLLMM is an important site for migratory shorebirds of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, many species of which have suffered population declines. The CLLMM also provides foraging and breeding habitat for non-migratory waterbirds and acts as a habitat refuge for many species during drought conditions. Significant opportunity exists to consult with diverse stakeholders to develop future waterbird research streams, and to engage community scientists in the delivery of this research.
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The project involves a literature review of climate change impacts on waterbirds, a series of targeted stakeholder workshops and prioritisation assessment to identify feedback on waterbird research priorities for the CLLMM region. The overarching goal is to develop a prospectus for waterbird research priorities in the CLLMM and surrounds, based on workshops with key stakeholder groups.
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The project has strong links to community, First Nations and research-users. The project engages numerous stakeholders representing First Nations and community, ‘Friends’ groups, eNGOs, South Australian and Commonwealth government agencies, and university and government scientists.
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By identifying research priorities which will guide research delivery by the CLLMM Research Centre, this project helps to instigate research that has strong management and decision-making implications.
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First Nations culture and traditions are rooted within an ancient historical connection with country and countless generations of studying their local environment as a way of life. First Nations traditional ways of life, including land and water management, sustainable harvesting, and the conservation of local species can provide vital perspectives into the ways we manage the lands and waters into the future.
This project will work towards restoration and impact reduction on the culturally significant waterbird species of the CLLMM region in the face of climate change. Many waterbird species are Nga:tjar (totems) of the Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South-East. There is a cultural obligation for Ngarrindjeri people to care for the Nga:tjar of the CLLMM region and to keep them on country and healthy.
These waterbirds have cultural significance for the Ngarrindjeri people through their role in creation stories and service and continue to serve as a traditional food source through consumption of the meat or eggs. By understanding the behaviours, populations and likely future habitats of waterbirds in the CLLMM, we can strive to reduce the loss of cultural practices and culturally significant species during the forecast climate change scenarios.
Cultural significance
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