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Indigenous biocultural knowledge offers valuable insights for species conservation; however, like biological diversity, associated cultural knowledge is also often threatened. This paper demonstrates how Indigenous biocultural knowledge of species can contribute to addressing gaps in species occurrence data and conservation knowledge using a case study from the South East Arnhem Land Indigenous Protected Area (SEAL IPA), northern Australia. Using a series of mapping workshops and interviews this collaborative project recorded Indigenous biocultural knowledge of the distribution, ecology, cultural significance and threats to freshwater turtles (freshwoda teduls in the local Indigenous language, Roper River Kriol). Based on past freshwoda tedul hunting experiences, 74 Indigenous knowledge holders identified 753 past freshwoda tedul occurrences, significantly adding to the 12 occurrences previously listed for the SEAL IPA in Australia's online species database, the Atlas of Living Australia. Importantly, these were the first 'memory' records of past species sightings by Indigenous people to be recognized and added to Australia's national species database. In addition, a blog summarizing this research was promoted through the Atlas of Living Australia, raising awareness of the Indigenous biocultural knowledge associated with these species. The Mepimbat tedul proujek revealed the cultural significance of freshwoda teduls and reported declines in abundance since the turn of the century, implicating invasive hard‐hooved ungulates (buffalo, pig) and reduced rainfall. The addition of non‐sacred Indigenous knowledge to free online species databases may offer innovative solutions for storage, interaction and sharing of indigenous knowledge, with opportunities for intergenerational and cross‐cultural learning and broader application in conservation management and decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Globally, the role of women in conservation is gaining attention with increasing initiatives to support gender equity in environmental management and decision‐making. In Australia, the role of Aboriginal women in natural and cultural resource management employed as rangers is also gaining recognition; however, female employment in this field remains underrepresented. This paper reflects on a cross‐cultural partnership aimed at empowering young Aboriginal women in natural and cultural resource management, locally known as caring for Country, in Arnhem Land, a remote Aboriginal owned region of northern Australia. The project was led by local Ngukurr community Ngandi Elder and lead author, Mrs Daniels, and Macquarie University researchers who co‐designed and co‐delivered activities according to five project aims: (i) Community involvement; (ii) Biocultural research / learning on Country; (iii) Leadership and confidence building; (iv) Knowledge maintenance; and (v) Capacity building. Over three years of the project, over 60 youth participated in a range of on‐Country and cultural learning, leadership and capacity building activities including cross‐cultural biodiversity surveys, wetland monitoring, traditional language and knowledge recording and culture camps. Participant feedback and a biocultural learning assessment task noted growth in confidence, biocultural knowledge and desire for continuation of youth empowerment programs in conservation. To facilitate gender equity in Aboriginal natural and cultural resource management, structural and sustained support of women's empowerment and leadership, driven by local women with support of local communities, is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge emphasises the importance of cultural connections between humans and the biophysical world. In the face of threats to the maintenance and transfer of Indigenous knowledge, novel approaches such as seasonal calendars are emerging as tools to share knowledge and guide management of natural and cultural resources. The renewal of Indigenous cultural fire management in southeast Australia provided an opportunity to explore whether the co‐production of a fire and seasons calendar, using Western and Indigenous knowledges, can support cultural fire management. We present a case study of cross‐cultural collaboration between scientists and the Banbai Aboriginal rangers at Wattleridge Indigenous Protected Area, New South Wales. We reviewed literature from various disciplines (archaeological, ethnohistorical, Indigenous and ecological) and undertook participatory action research and interviews to collate relevant information. This was synthesised in Winba = Fire, the Banbai Fire and Seasons Calendar, which is used by the Banbai rangers to guide cultural burning, share cross‐cultural knowledge and increase awareness of Indigenous cultural fire management. The process of co‐producing knowledge, revitalising culture, caring for Country, working together and supporting self‐determination is relevant for many Indigenous communities around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the monitoring of indigenous land and environment in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. It mentions the efforts of several ecology managers in gathering data about cultural and natural resource conservation with the cooperation of local and public communities in the country. It denotes the challenges encountered by these researchers in collecting data from Aborginal people due to language problems. Methods used by these managers are also mentioned.