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Northern Australia is prone to recurring severe natural hazards, especially frequent cyclones, flooding, and extensive wildfires. The region is sparsely populated (≪ 0.5 persons km−2), with Indigenous (Aboriginal) residents comprising 14% of the population, and typically the majority in remote regions. Despite national policy committed to addressing emergency management (EM) in vulnerable Indigenous communities, implementation remains unfunded. We synthesise participatory intercultural research conducted over seven years exploring core challenges, opportunities and potential solutions towards developing effective EM partnerships. Similar EM engagement and empowerment issues face First Nations and local communities in many international settings. In search of solutions, we explore developing effective partnership arrangements between EM agencies and culturally diverse Indigenous communities. Observing that government already provides substantial investment in cultural and natural resource management programmes conducted by over 150 Indigenous Ranger Groups (IRGs) nationally, we demonstrate that expansion of IRG roles to incorporate EM community engagement and service delivery can provide multiple cost-effective community and business development benefits for many remote communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land and environmental defenders are a major bulwark against environmental destruction and biodiversity loss resulting from unsustainable nature resource extraction. Resultant conflicts can lead to violence against and deaths of these defenders. Along with mounting environmental pressures, homicides of these defenders are increasing globally. Yet, this issue has only recently started to receive scientific attention. While existing studies indicate the importance of socio-economic processes in driving such murders, spatially explicit global analyses considering environmental components are largely missing. Here, we take a broad spatial approach to assess relative contributions of environmental factors to the killing of environmental defenders. We find higher rates of such homicides are typically found in areas where limited or underutilized resources (e.g., freshwater, land and forests) are more available. Our results point towards a prevalent global land scarcity that results in industries targeting the last remaining strongholds for biodiversity and the environmental defenders within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment of the socio-ecological system of the Nature Park "Numto" in West Siberia was carried out based on ecosystem services (ES) mapping, applying a "cascade approach" which was modified according to the specific conditions of low commercial land-use by Indigenous Peoples and adopted with a focus on making it practicable and understandable by decision-makers. The ES values were defined through stakeholder analysis, while the mapping was based on the biophysical traits of the ecosystems and related spatial distribution of ecosystem functions. The mapped ecosystem values differ from the perceived ones. The assessment identified conflicting land uses and groups of stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples vulnerable to future climate change-induced deficits in access to ES. The ES that are important for climate change mitigation and adaptation are not valued highly by Indigenous Peoples. ES mapping is suggested as an appropriate method for the development of straightforward recommendations for Nature Park management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The village of La Morada on the northeastern slopes of the Andes, Peru, is a typical example of a recent settlement founded in the Ceja de Selva Alta by families of indigenous and mestizo descent, who originally came from the highlands. They have accumulated experiences of the impact of their resource-management practices, but with heavy emphasis on their highland background. Tremendous changes in the environment have been catalyzed by road construction, introduction of new settlements, crops, and most of all by the introduction of large numbersof cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1995 the writer assessed the feasibility of designating Karanamburanch in the northern Rupununi savannah, Guyana, as a protected area. Karanambu is one of Guyana's leading ecotourism destinations, popular because of the well-publicised interest of its owner, Diane McTurk, in conserving the endangered giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). It had been suggested that such a protected area could be financed by expanding the existing ecotourism operations and connected with development programs benefitting local Macusi Amerindian com-munities. However, questions soon emerged concerning potential conflicts with Amerindian land rights and the effect that a protected area would have on traditional resource-management practices. Fieldwork was carried out between April and November 1995 involving Rapid Rural Appraisal of local indigenous Macusi communities, combined with an Environmental Impact Analysis at Karanambu. The study recommended the establishment of a research station at Karanambu accompanied by a small Nature Reserve, rather than a more extensive protected area. This station,already under construction, will provide a focus for visiting scientists and increase the sustainable ecotourism potential of the ranch. It is to be combined with wildlife farming to provide additional employment and economic opportunities for local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]