Coproduction mechanisms to weave Indigenous knowledge, artificial intelligence, and technical data to enable Indigenous-led adaptive decision making: lessons from Australia’s joint managed Kakadu National Park

A collaborative research project in Kakadu National Park, Australia, demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge can be ethically integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) and technical data to support adaptive environmental management. The study developed coproduction mechanisms that combined qualitative Indigenous assessments of culturally significant sites with quantitative ecological data from drone and camera surveys. These mechanisms enabled local Bininj traditional owners to guide on-the-ground actions, ensuring that multiple knowledge sources were used respectfully and effectively. This approach empowers Indigenous-led decision-making while addressing complex environmental challenges, such as those faced in managing the Ramsar-listed Nardab wetland within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Robinson, C., Macdonald, J., Perry, J., Nadji, J., Nadji, S., McCartney, S., Taylor, A., Hunter, F., Cooper, D., Moyle, F., Drummond, A., Borovac, C., van Bodegraven, S., Gilfedder, M., Setterfield, S., & Douglas, M. (2022). Coproduction mechanisms to weave Indigenous knowledge, artificial intelligence, and technical data to enable Indigenous-led adaptive decision making: lessons from Australia’s joint managed Kakadu National Park. Ecology and Society, 27(4). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-13747-270436