National award for Torres Strait rangers

Torres Strait Regional Authority rangers have wowed audiences with an award-winning presentation at the recent national Ecological Society of Australia Conference in Naarm (Melbourne).

Rangers shared knowledge all the way from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) with more than 1400 domestic and international delegates including ecologists, land managers, rangers and traditional owners.

Laurie Nona with a juvenile frilled neck lizard.

Their presentation about biodiversity surveys on Badu Island – which highlighted the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge to guide western science – received a Highly Commended award for ‘right-way’ science.

Rangers combined their local, traditional knowledge along with master’s level university training in wildlife surveys to record more than 80 species.

TSRA Ranger Supervisor on Badu, Laurie Nona, said the recent surveys on Badu were ‘right-way science’ in action.

“To witness traditional knowledge and western science collaborating for the common good, and to understand the importance and strength of these two cultures aligning to deliver outcomes for our people in biodiversity – that is what we call ‘right-way science’,” Mr Nona said.

Right-way science is often also called “two-way science” or “cross-cultural science”.

TSRA Rangers Laurie Nona and Harriet Holland.

TSRA Environmental Management Program Manager Billie Roberts said right-way science recognised the deep and enduring connections First Nations scientists have to Land and Sea Country.

“We’re focusing on empowering local communities and our staff, this starts from on-the-ground training through to university-level courses and valuing traditional knowledge,” Dr Roberts said.

This project also highlighted TSRA’s commitment to closing the gap targets for First Nations people to maintain a distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship with their land.