Importance of biodiversity
In this column we have often referred to the importance of biodiversity in maintaining a well-functioning ecosystem. It’s increasingly recognised that the scarcity or extinction of any flora or fauna will upset the balance of nature and we have ecologists and natural resource managers working to identify and address potential losses, many of which (but not all) are consequences of human activity. In more recent times the value of Indigenous land and sea management has been recognised, its success being acknowledged as largely due to a deep and different connection to the land. While the mainstream tradition has been to research, classify and ‘manage’ aspects of the ecosystem from outside, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people connected to Country see that they are part of the ecological system and manage it from within. Plants, animals and landscapes are foundations of identity and are essential to a person’s sense of self, family and place.
As species of plants and animals and their relationships are the focus of Aboriginal identity and spirituality, the impacts of plant and animal loss we have been describing take on another dimension. The decline of certain species affects not only ecosystem functions, but also cultural knowledge, food systems, language, ceremony and Country.
Below are two accounts of how the decline of certain plant species can affect not only ecosystem functions, but also cultural knowledge, food systems, language, ceremony and Country.
Note: These are broad, representative examples, publicly shared (not restricted knowledge). It should also be noted that Indigenous Knowledge Systems vary widely, and it’s important not to assume that everyone holds the same understanding of concepts, traditions, or information
1. River Red Gums – (Murray–Darling Basin Nations)
For many First Nations along the Murray–Darling Basin (e.g., Yorta Yorta, Ngarrindjeri, Barkandji), the river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is a cultural keystone species.Red gums are seen as living ancestors connected to story, songlines, and obligations of care for the river system. Their decline from altered flooding isn’t just ecological; it represents a break in the cultural relationship with the river, which depends on healthy floodplains.
Impacts
• Loss of habitat for species that are totems or culturally significant (fish, waterbirds)
• Loss of bark suitable for traditional canoes, coolamons, and scar-tree practices
• Decline in river health that disrupts cultural fishing practices and ceremonies tied to water
2. Bushfoods & Wildflower Species – (Southwest WA Noongar Nation)
The Noongar peoples describe many flowering plants (e.g., Banksia, Macrozamia, Quandong, yams) as part of a seasonal knowledge system (Noongar six seasons). The flowering of certain plants signal when animals can be hunted, when certain foods are ready, or when fires should be lit. Declines caused by dieback (Phytophthora), land clearing, and warming lead to breakdown of seasonal indicators.
Impacts
• Reduced availability of key bushfoods used in teaching and ceremony
• Weakened intergenerational transmission of women’s knowledge, because specific plants are tied to gathering, cooking, and teaching roles
• Erosion of language: many plant names encode ecological knowledge (growth patterns, uses, timing).
Sourced from: https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/heritage/environment/indigenous-heritage
