Weeds

Weed management on Aboriginal lands

Weeds have been identified by Aboriginal people in northern Australia as one of the most important land management threats on their homelands. Recent attempts by Government land management agencies to focus on a technological fix approach to weed management has been ineffective in achieving sustainable and strategic weed management and as a consequence weeds in northern Australia are spreading at alarming rates.

Primarily the ongoing processes of western colonisation have been responsible for prohibiting Aboriginal people from obtaining authority for managing weeds on their own country and for limiting strategic approaches. A change in the way Government and non-government service delivery agencies do business in northern Australia is required to develop more appropriate, meaningful relationships with indigenous people in collaborative weed management. New avenues to support weed management that better match Aboriginal peoples aspirations and support the role of Aboriginal people managing their own traditional lands urgently need to be developed.

A number of relevant publications are available. For further information see:

Smith,N. (2002) Not from here: Plant invasions of Top End Aboriginal Land. Tropical Savannas CRC , Darwin. Copies are available here

 

 

 

Smith, N. (2002) Weeds of The Wet / Dry Tropics of Australia: A Field Guide. NT Environment Centre, Darwin. Copies are available here