How do we, the environmental management industry, make indigenous engagement truly meaningful and place the power of biodiversity data, and the ability to generate it, in the hands of Traditional Owners across Australia?
Environmental DNA technology can be a culturally and ecological sensitive method for surveying biodiversity on Country and has a simple sampling methodology which does not require an ecological qualification like traditional survey methods. This provides a significant and meaningful opportunity for Traditional Owners to lead innovative ecological surveys and decision-making on Country. Environmental DNA (eDNA) also has the opportunity to be used as a mechanism for Traditional Owners across Australia to connect with Country and gain ecological survey skills that can be accessed by industry to generate employment opportunities. Recognising the important role that eDNA has in advocating biodiversity surveys to be undertaken on Country by Traditional Owners, EnviroDNA has developed a Traditional Owner eDNA training and certification program, which provides participants with skills in eDNA biodiversity survey techniques and how to interpret eDNA data to help understand species distributions and inform management and decision making on country. The program also includes knowledge sharing opportunities where on Country knowledge is connected to the eDNA sampling design and results.
Here we present an overview of the certification program, including vision, what’s involved and a number of case studies of Traditional Owner certification across Australia that highlight the application of eDNA for management and decision making on Country, by Traditional Owners. These case studies will highlight the important role that eDNA has in meaningful Traditional Owner engagement on Country across Australia.