Broome Aboriginal Rangers and conservationists protecting endangered Kimberley ecosystems from bushfires lands

Conservation of rare WA plant species impacted by bushfires led by Environs Kimberley and aboriginal rangers Yawuru Country Managers has secured funding from Landcare Australia’s $300,000 Bushfire Recovery scheme.

In August 2019, fires tore through significant vegetation at multiple sites around Broome, heavily impacting three different types of ecosystems, all of significant conservation and cultural importance.

The infernos burnt extensive areas of the priority listed Minyjuru habitat and Cable Beach Ghost Gum, a species endemic to the Broome peninsula.

They also destroyed swathes of the Federally Endangered Mayingan manga balu or Monsoon Vine Thickets of the Dampier Peninsula, which occur as patches within and behind coastal dunes, making up less than 0.01 per cent of the peninsular region yet containing support 25 per cent of its plant species.

All three ecosystems are of great importance to the Yawuru and Dampier Peninsula Aboriginal groups, for cultural practice, camping sites, bush tucker and bush medicine.

Environs Kimberley and the Yawuru Country Managers will conduct regeneration, flora surveys and weed management to monitor and assist natural regeneration of these culturally important ecosystems, whilst furthering our knowledge on how to manage these habitats to minimise threats from fire in the future.

“These ecosystems are not only ecologically important, but culturally significant to the local Yawuru traditional owners,” explained ecologist Dr Malcolm Lindsay from Environs Kimberley.

“Many members of the local aboriginal and wider community expressed concerns about the fires and requested a project to monitor the ecosystems’ recovery to see whether future bush regeneration was needed, and to deal with any immediate weed issues.”

The project has support from the Yawuru Native Title Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) and its operating entity Nyamba Buru Yawuru; Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA); and the Broome Shire, with additional project funding from Rangelands NRM (National Landcare Program) and the Aboriginal Ranger Program (DBCA).

Made possible due to the extraordinary volume of donations from generous organisations and private donors, the Landcare Australia Bushfire Recovery Grants will support 23 wide-ranging regeneration projects focusing on activities including impacted rainforest revegetation, nest boxes for decimated native species and feeding programs for endangered wildlife.

Key issues for all the grant recipients include restoring essential wildlife habitat, management of invasive weeds, erosion control and protection of our waterways and aquatic habitat.

The funding came from generous donations during the bushfires from across the country and around the world, including Landcare Australia partners Brambles CHEP, Bushman’s Tanks, Bloom Aid and Hawkes Brewing.

*Dr Malcolm Lindsay is