Experts' Perspectives on the Integration of Indigenous Knowledge and Science in Wet Tropics Natural Resource Management

Integration of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Western science in the Wet Tropics of Queensland remains limited despite legal frameworks supporting its inclusion. A study reveals that IK and science are perceived as distinct, with weak governance structures—both internal among Aboriginal communities and external from institutions—hindering their collaboration. The research argues for a reconceptualization of natural resource management (NRM) to holistically incorporate IK, emphasizing its epistemology, values, and ethics. This requires stronger Aboriginal governance and more targeted engagement strategies to fulfill customary obligations and exercise Native Title rights effectively.

Gratani, M., Bohensky, E. L., Butler, J. R. A., Sutton, S. G., & Foale, S. (2014). Experts’ Perspectives on the Integration of Indigenous Knowledge and Science in Wet Tropics Natural Resource Management. Australian Geographer, 45(2), 167–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2014.899027