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Monitoring Contrasting Land Management in the Savanna Landscapes of Northern Australia

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Abstract

We compared measures of ecosystem state across six adjacent land-tenure groups in the intact tropical savanna landscapes of northern Australia. Tenure groups include two managed by Aboriginal owners, two national parks, a cluster of pastoral leases, and a military training area. This information is of relevance to the debate about the role of indigenous lands in the Australian conservation estate. The timing and frequency of fire was determined by satellite imagery; the biomass and composition of the herb-layer and the abundance of large feral herbivores by field surveys; and weediness by analysis of a Herbarium database. European tenures varied greatly in fire frequencies but were consistently burnt earlier in the dry season than the two Aboriginal tenures, the latter having intermediate fire frequencies. Weeds were more frequent in the European tenures, whilst feral animals were most abundant in the Aboriginal tenures. This variation strongly implies a signature of current management and/or recent environmental history. We identify indices suitable for monitoring of management outcomes in an extensive and sparsely populated landscape. Aboriginal land offers a unique opportunity for the conservation of biodiversity through the maintenance of traditional fire regimes. However, without financial support, traditional practices may prove unsustainable both economically and because exotic weeds and feral animals will alter fire regimes. An additional return on investment in Aboriginal land management is likely to be improved livelihoods and health outcomes for these disadvantaged communities.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by Land and Water Australia (Grant No. NTU07). The Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre provided fire scar polygons. The Northern Territory Herbarium provided their weed database records. Coordinating a large project across so many different tenure regimes required the cooperation of many organizations and individuals. The Northern Land Council provided continued support throughout the project. The Australian Department of Defense, particularly the CSI NT/K Environmental Management, facilitated access to the Mount Bundy defense training grounds. The staff of Kakadu and MRNP were helpful in providing logistical advice and assistance. Berndt Tyrna volunteered time and effort in assisting with ferals data collection and collating and managing the Gobal Information Systems database. Last but not least, we are particularly grateful for the assistance and knowledge of the Djelk and Djelk Women’s Rangers of Maningrida, the Adjumarllarl Rangers of Oenpelli, the Mandidi Rangers of Mamuduwerre, and the Aboriginal communities of Kapalga, Mudginberry, and Whistle Duck in Kakadu National Park. In particular, Aboriginal rangers provided advice and helped train members of the research team in the identification of animal tracks. We gratefully acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of Kakadu and Arnhem Land who gave us access to their land.

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Author notes

  1. Aaron M. Petty

    Present address: Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Savannas, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia

  2. Barry W. Brook

    Present address: Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia

  3. David M. J. S. Bowman

    Present address: School of Plant Science, The University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School for Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia

    Donald C. Franklin, Aaron M. Petty, Grant J. Williamson, Barry W. Brook & David M. J. S. Bowman

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  1. Donald C. Franklin
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Correspondence to Donald C. Franklin.

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Franklin, D.C., Petty, A.M., Williamson, G.J. et al. Monitoring Contrasting Land Management in the Savanna Landscapes of Northern Australia. Environmental Management 41, 501–515 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-007-9006-1

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