Just 6% of the world’s population are First Nations peoples, yet they steward 80% of the world’s biodiversity. And they do it without easy access to capital. Less than 1% of global climate finance has reached Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Creating an environment where First Nations peoples are financially supported and welcomed into leadership roles in conservation is critical to the survival of our planet’s most sensitive and vulnerable habitats.
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Among the fragile ecosystems safeguarded by First Nations peoples are the world’s coral reefs. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, and like all coral reefs it is currently suffering the impacts of climate change. The 2023-2024 summer was a tough one for our Reef, with widespread coral bleaching, two cyclones, and several severe flood events devastating some areas. Coral reefs everywhere are enduring similar conditions, with the world experiencing its fourth global mass bleaching event.
So why are First Nations peoples uniquely positioned to support the health of these delicate and vital parts of our ecosystem?
Ancient Knowledge-Holders
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are Australia’s First Peoples, who for 60,000 years have cared for their Land and Sea Country. They are the first scientists, farmers, engineers, innovators and conservationists. For millennia, they successfully nurtured and protected their environment through changing seasons and climates, guided by Traditional Knowledge and customs passed down through generations.
Following colonization, Traditional Owners were systemically excluded from Reef management decisions that affected their Country and their communities. Recently – for the last 40 years – Traditional Owners have sought to remedy this with formal recognition of their inherent rights and interests in the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments.
Today, Traditional Owners are leaders in the largest ever co-designed Reef protection effort in Australia’s history. Through the Reef Trust Partnership, a collaboration between the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, a landmark AU$51.8 million (US$34.0) has been invested into conservation projects co-designed with, and co-delivered by, Traditional Owners. By combining Traditional Knowledge with western science, Traditional Owners and the scientific community are developing and applying innovative solutions to the challenges threatening coral reefs. Their work also supports the preservation of Traditional values and knowledge, accelerates the impact of science-based solutions, and educates the next generation, all while safeguarding one of the world’s most delicate ecosystems and awe-inspiring travel destinations.
The lessons learned throughout this process are fundamentally important for site managers globally. This blueprint could hold the key to our oceans’ survival.
Value Diverse Perspectives
Too often we speak about people, instead of with them. Successful co-design work is structured around the premise that all voices and perspectives are valued and considered equally.
Traditional Owners have deep cultural connections with their Country and take a holistic approach to conservation that inextricably links environmental, animal, and human health and wellbeing. As solutions are explored for addressing climate change impacts along the Reef, Traditional Knowledge and customs are given equal importance to the approaches of western science. This has opened a pathway for communication between Traditional Owner groups and the scientific community, leading to new processes and outcomes that are more effectively supporting Reef health.
Share Power
Historically, Traditional Owners have been excluded from decision-making, agenda-setting, and financial resource management. The “business as usual” approach often relegates Traditional Owners to the periphery. In contrast, the co-design approach places Traditional Owners at the beginning and at the center, fundamentally transforming the system.
This power-sharing framework ensures that Traditional Owners are not just participants but leaders, making critical decisions and shaping the agenda from the outset. This shift results in better outcomes for the Reef and Indigenous communities, demonstrating the efficacy of this inclusive and collaborative model.
Gain Informed Consent
Another hallmark of genuine co-design work is the consistent application of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). For centuries, scientific research has been conducted without any consultation with First Nations peoples. This denies Indigenous communities their rights and interests in their land and sea Country. Instead, it is critically important to engage fully with Traditional Owners well before any work commences, through genuine and on-going inclusion and disclosure. Consent from Traditional Owners must be a requirement for any work to progress.
Commit Long-Term
Transformative change of this magnitude requires a long-term commitment of consistent and concerted effort. It involves meeting communities where they are, rather than assuming they are where we want them to be. This means taking the time to communicate clearly and appropriately at all levels, ensuring that everyone is brought along on the journey. By encouraging the inclusion of lived experiences, we foster an environment where Traditional Owners’ insights and perspectives are integral to the conservation efforts, leading to more sustainable and impactful outcomes.
More on the topic: Opinion: Indigenous People Are Essential for Preventing Biodiversity Loss. They Mustn’t Be Sidelined.
Healing People and Places
Transformational change is incredibly difficult to achieve. And yet, over just a few years, several key pieces of work have emerged that demonstrate the importance of Traditional Knowledge within the framework of environmental conservation, and the role of co-design in ushering forward solutions that benefit First Nations communities and support the work of western science.
Through substantial investments in Traditional Owner-led projects, we are witnessing transformative outcomes on the Great Barrier Reef. These projects are not only restoring ecosystems but are also revitalizing Indigenous communities, enhancing their capacity to lead future conservation efforts. This systemic change is fostering a new paradigm where Traditional Knowledge and western science work hand in hand to tackle the pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Through revegetation projects, Traditional Owners are bringing back keystone and endangered species to native habitats, for example. Water quality projects are eradicating invasive plant species and supporting the regrowth of indigenous plants, which is improving the health of the waterways and shoreline allowing native plants and animals to thrive. These projects have also reduced the flow of sediment, fertilizers, and pollutants onto the Reef. These efforts contribute to the overall health of the Reef, and demonstrate the profound benefits of integrating Traditional Knowledge into modern conservation practices.
Programs like this take time to implement, and the results can take years to become evident. We are encouraged by the progress that has been made in such a short time. It is proof that inviting First Nations people in at the very beginning – with a partnering mentality – creates space for a new type of shared leadership to emerge that supports the health and future of our natural environment and fosters a future where conservation practices are more inclusive, effective, and sustainable.
By supporting and elevating Indigenous voices around the world, and by honoring the legacy of their Elders and Ancestors, we can ensure the health and resilience of our planet’s most delicate ecosystems for generations to come.
About the authors
Liz Wren is a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee to the Minister for the Environment and Water The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP and advises the Minister on operating the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and is Co-Chair to the First Nations Wisdom Group, Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network.
Theresa Fyffe is Executive Director Projects & Partnerships at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Her career has focused on convening diverse groups of purpose-driven people to co-design and deliver high-impact, transformational programs that address complex challenges within complex systems.
