Look to the ground, to the air around you. Listen for that gentle hum. Notice the movement close by. Feel the light touch of tiny legs or antennae.
They’re the smallest of creatures, and a sign of a biodiverse environment, and without them we’d not have the rich flora and fauna of our celebrated Australian landscapes.
The beetles, butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, flies, ants and other small species found in our natural environs are recognised in the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust’s story and acknowledged as part of the Country we are on, and the longstanding relationship they have with Traditional Custodians and their management of the land.
Artist and Wiradjuri/Birpai man Wayde Clarke created an artwork to tell that story, placing insects in plain sight across layers of cultural knowledge and experience from the coast, across the ranges and deep into the desert country of the far west. It uses colours and symbols that speak to a diversity of kin, habitats and species.
"Aunties and Uncles would always talk about the land and be quite wise about it. Understanding how the environment works from an indigenous perspective is quite important.” Wayde said.
The story reflects the deep connectivity between Aboriginal cultures and western approaches to conservation.
In both worlds, our work with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal land stewards monitors the health of Country and looks closely to insects to learn how healthy the biodiversity of a landscape is. It’s through insects we learn and observe, and by weaving these knowledge systems together we achieve unity.
“As stewards of the land, it is our duty to ensure Aboriginal voices are not only heard but respected and empowered in work that we do,” NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust CEO Erin Giuliani said.
“We prioritise a rights-based approach to conservation, valuing Indigenous cultural authority and intellectual property, and weaving together our knowledge systems to bridge the gap between Indigenous wisdom and western science,” she said.
From small things
- August 2017: NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW).
- 2017: Kamilaroi man, the late Russell Taylor AM, appointed to inaugural NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust Board.
- From 2018: Aboriginal staff, contractors and suppliers actively welcomed and encouraged to pursue contracts and careers with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.
- 2019: Aboriginal Engagement Implementation Plan 2019-23 endorsed and implemented.
- 2020 ongoing: Work with Nari Nari Tribal Council to support critical habitat management on the largest privately held conservation agreement area in NSW. The conservation area is permanently protected under a funded conservation agreement delivered through a significant co-investment partnership with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and The Nature Conservancy.
- 2023: Launch a Cultural Biodiversity Conservation fixed price offer pilot program specifically designed for Aboriginal landholding organisations to access ongoing funding to protect and manage important sites on Country. Conservation management plans under the pilot will include annual payments for cultural land management practices. 2023-24: Cultural knowledge holders worked with landholders and staff to ensure cultural values and protocols were recognised, respected and protected in preparing conservation management plans for the Northern Inland Koala conservation tender.
- 2024: Gomeroi man, Professor Phil Duncan, appointed to NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust Board.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of NSW and recognise their ongoing connection to land, waters, biodiversity, and culture. Aboriginal cultural values are connected to Country and are found in waterways, mountains, wetlands, floodplains, hills, sandhills, rock outcrops and within the biodiversity of these geological features. These cultural values are often present on privately-owned land and are associated with ongoing cultural practices and learning. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future and commit to genuinely collaborate and partner with Aboriginal people in private land conservation.