eriss

The plant resources of the Blyth–Liverpool wetlands are also of great interest to the BAC. They want to set up a reference herbarium to document plants used by traditional owners. A botanist from eriss recently visited THE BLYTH_LIVERPOOL WETLANDS AND Maningrida to collect specimens and show the eriss community rangers how to collect and curate plants for herbarium storage. The Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Consultations between eriss and the BAC to discuss Scientist (eriss) undertakes research on environmental community aspirations for the wetlands were facilitated Apart from surveys by eriss, other studies in progress issues related to uranium mining and wetland by the Northern Land Council (NLC). This was include the distribution and abundance of trepang (sea management. It is located at Jabiru in Kakadu National important to ensure community ownership and The BAC logo identifies key issues for the cucumber), and the use of Geographic Information Park in ’s . control of planning, research and development of the community. The fish trap signifies bringing and Systems (GIS) to gather information on wetland use and management plan. holding people together for decisions about the crocodile nest distribution. In 1996 eriss was asked by the Bawinanga Aboriginal land. The water lily links the earth, water and air, Corporation (BAC) to help develop a management plan it is a thing of beauty and a source of food. The This program provides an example of how eriss can for their wetlands. The BAC represents people in The Bawinanga Aboriginal two stems stand for two laws – traditional and assist the development of a community-based wetland outstation communities living near Maningrida in central Corporation and the balanda (non-Aboriginal). The lily bulbs and management plan. The program is in the spirit of (about 400 km east of Darwin) and is Blyth–Liverpool wetlands roots represent people in the district. The dilly community-based environmental conservation which is keen to enhance the future prospects of these bag holds the important messages for all the supported by eriss and other agencies. communities by developing a pro-active wetland Maningrida, at the mouth of the , is the people of the Djelk wetlands. management strategy. The BAC wanted eriss to assist largest settlement near the wetlands. It has a population of them to assess the ‘health’ of their wetlands. Based on around 1800. The BAC, however, mostly represents the Source: Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation 1996. this and other assessments, the BAC will create a interests of a surrounding scattered population of Caring for Country. Compiled by Helen Bond-Sharp, management plan that reflects community ideas for approximately 700 people who live in small community Printed by Maningrida LPC, Maningrida. sustainable use and protection of the wetlands. groups on outstations.

The BAC is also interested in harvesting wild freshwater The BAC’s role is to maintain and improve fish for the aquarium trade. As a first step they needed to outstation life by keeping the land, culture know what types of fish live in the Blyth–Liverpool and people ‘strong’ by using traditional wetlands, their abundance and where they occur. This and non-traditional ways to ‘care for information could be used to evaluate the ecological and country’. They identify the special values ABORIGINAL WETLAND MANAGEMENT economic viability of such a venture. Discussion between eriss carries out scientific research for the of their wetlands through use of the term landowners, eriss staff and other experts could lead to protection of people and the environment in ‘Djelk’, a word from the local Gurrgoni the development of methods for harvesting suitable fish places that are highly valued by the language meaning ‘land’ and ‘caring for species in a sustainable manner. Australian community. the land’. The wetlands cover approximately 100 000 In an initial freshwater fish survey in November 1996 Contact Officer eriss and community rangers sampled isolated pools in hectares and include diverse floodplain Lisa Thurtell, Ph: (08) 8979 9711 the lowland channels of three rivers flowing into the and estuarine environments associated Blyth–Liverpool wetlands. They recorded 26 species. The e-mail [email protected] with the Blyth–Cadell and Liverpool– most notable finding was the occurrence of the threadfin Wetland Protection and Management Tomkinson River systems. These wetland rainbowfish in the Cadell and Mann Rivers. Previously eriss systems represent some of the least this species was only known in the Northern Territory Locked Bag 2, Jabiru NT 0886 disturbed coastal wetlands in the Northern from eastern Arnhem Land in the Goyder River. It also Territory and many local people continue occurs on Cape York and in New Guinea. to utilise their traditional resources. © eriss, June 1998 Location of Maningrida and surrounding wetlands eriss

The Djelk Community All studies undertaken by outside organisations have a Blyth–Liverpool wetlands. This will set the scene for Rangers training component for the community rangers. This researchers to undertake technical projects in the wetlands ensures that: and loosely follows a Ramsar wetland management The Djelk Community Rangers are a ❒ knowledge is not simply taken away by visiting planning model. Where necessary, advice from other special interest group within the BAC researchers, but is retained and used to help the experts is being sought, for example, on issues concerning with strong connections to the community weed and feral animal management. Plain English Blyth–Liverpool wetlands and a desire versions of the management plan will be available to the ❒ visitors do not go into restricted places to produce and implement a wetland local community as part of the community consultation management plan. The skills to do ❒ visitors are guided to the most suitable sampling process undertaken by the BAC to draft the plan. The these tasks are being developed through locations with prior permission from appropriate draft management plan will be widely circulated and land owners an extensive ranger training program. discussed. It will be a flexible, process-orientated working The program includes participation by ❒ there is active involvement by traditional owners in document which may be changed in response to better scientists and wetland managers, who ecological studies knowledge or refined community needs. ❒ help by sharing their experience from there are maximal opportunities for information TROPICAL WETLANDS other places and assisting the Djelk exchange between those who care for the land The management planning process is seen as a tool to trainees carry out scientific studies on and the visiting researchers bring traditional and scientific expertise together. The their wetlands. To encourage management plan helps the BAC continue using their valued wetlands in a sustainable manner. involvement by individuals and The role of eriss organisations from elsewhere, and as a focus for their activities, the Djelk eriss is contributing to the BAC wetland management Ecological surveys by eriss Rangers have built a field laboratory plan by providing planning advice and expertise to assist and ranger station overlooking the Liverpool River Otto Campion and Hedley Brian (BAC Community Rangers) and the Djelk rangers conduct baseline biological studies. Aquatic macroinvertebrate, fish and plant surveys were undertaken by eriss in the 1996 and 1997 dry seasons. floodplain. It incorporates visitor accommodation, general Lisa Thurtell (eriss) take a close look at a macroinvertebrate sample In terms of management planning, the eriss (Aquatic macroinvertebrates are small animals that laboratory space and computer facilities and was funded collected from the Mann River. contribution is a review of technical information on the complete part or all of their lifecycle in water; this includes by grants from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Training objectives are based on priority shrimp, mosquito and dragonfly larvae.) Commission. issues identified by the rangers and the local Community rangers participated in the surveys, community. Feral animals and weeds, in received training in survey work and exchanged eriss Djelk Community Ranger Training particular mimosa, are seen as major issues knowledge with scientists. The information exchange before, during and after and there is strong interest in commercial Program the surveys was crucial in the formulation of utilisation of animals and plants. survey objectives, site selection and reporting Ranger training began in 1990 under the Northern Land processes. Council’s Caring for Country (CFC) program. The During training programs, rangers and training program has utilised expertise from a number of visiting research or management personnel The macroinvertebrate survey revealed diverse, management and research agencies in the Top End, work together to develop specific projects. healthy communities typical of many Top End including eriss, Parks Australia North, NT Parks and Programs are planned to encourage a two- waterbodies. The streams had low nutrient Wildlife Commission, NT Department of Primary way learning environment where a mix of concentrations and low turbidity reflecting the Industry and Fisheries and NT Department of Land, traditional and scientific ecological ‘healthy’ condition of the catchments through Planning and the Environment. The rangers are also knowledge can occur. which they flow. At a few slightly salty sites enrolled in a certificate course in resource management at some animals usually only found in marine Northern Territory University. BAC Community environments were collected. Rangers at Marngalgadjurrmeh Billabong near Mann River