Available online 11 February 2015
An online spatial database of Australian Indigenous Biocultural Knowledge for contemporary natural and cultural resource management
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Highlights
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- We present a world-first compilation of national Indigenous biocultural documents providing a one-stop-shop of Australian IBK knowledge.
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- IBK was traditionally passed down orally through generations; however, in there is increasing interest in IBK which requires other forms.
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- Large spatial gaps in Australian IBK documentation illustrate extensive opportunities to expand cross-cultural natural resource management.
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- IBK can no longer can be ignored in Australia, considering the increasingly large proportion of Indigenous land ownership.
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- Cross-cultural power sharing in national decision-making is required to allow the uptake of multiple knowledge systems.
Abstract
With
growing international calls for the enhanced involvement of Indigenous
peoples and their biocultural knowledge in managing conservation and the
sustainable use of physical environment, it is timely to review the
available literature and develop cross-cultural approaches to the
management of biocultural resources. Online spatial databases are
becoming common tools for educating land managers about Indigenous
Biocultural Knowledge (IBK), specifically to raise a broad awareness of
issues, identify knowledge gaps and opportunities, and to promote
collaboration. Here we describe a novel approach to the application of
internet and spatial analysis tools that provide an overview of
publically available documented Australian IBK (AIBK) and outline the
processes used to develop the online resource. By funding an AIBK
working group, the Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and
Synthesis (ACEAS) provided a unique opportunity to bring together
cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary and trans-organizational contributors
who developed these resources. Without such an intentionally
collaborative process, this unique tool would not have been developed.
The tool developed through this process is derived from a spatial and
temporal literature review, case studies and a compilation of methods,
as well as other relevant AIBK papers. The online resource illustrates
the depth and breadth of documented IBK and identifies opportunities for
further work, partnerships and investment for the benefit of not only
Indigenous Australians, but all Australians. The database currently
includes links to over 1500 publically available IBK documents, of which
568 are geo-referenced and were mapped. It is anticipated that as
awareness of the online resource grows, more documents will be provided
through the website to build the database. It is envisaged that this
will become a well-used tool, integral to future natural and cultural
resource management and maintenance.
Keywords
- Indigenous biocultural knowledge;
- Traditional Ecological Knowledge;
- Temporal mapping spatial mapping;
- Literature review cross-cultural ecology;
- Biocultural diversity;
- Socio-ecological systems;
- Sustainable development
Copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.
