Collaborating to move freshwater species

University of Canterbury freshwater biologists are using a joint mātauranga Māori and western conservation science framework for their work translocating species.

Freshwater researchers from the University of Canterbury say that conservation translocations should be a true collaboration between iwi and experts, that involves mātauranga Māori perspectives as well as western science.

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The following article is reprinted from The Conversation

Aisling Rayne, Channell Thoms, Levi Colllier-Robinson

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When rehoming wildlife, Indigenous leadership delivers the best results

Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau (Sinclair Wetlands) Glen Riley, Author provided

Aisling Rayne, University of Canterbury; Channell Thoms, University of Canterbury, and Levi Collier-Robinson, University of Canterbury

Whakapapa binds tākata whenua to the mountains, rivers, coasts and other landscapes, linking the health of the people with that of the environment. Like humans, species have whakapapa that connects them to their natural environment and to other species. If whakapapa is understood thoroughly, we can build the right environment to protect and enhance any living thing.

These are the words of Mananui Ramsden (with tribal affiliations to Kāti Huikai, Kāi Tahu), coauthor of our new work, in which we show that centring Indigenous peoples, knowledge and practices achieves better results for wildlife translocations.

Moving plants and animals to establish new populations or strengthen existing ones can help species recovery and make ecosystems more resilient. But these projects are rarely led or co-led by Indigenous peoples, and many fail to consider how Indigenous knowledge can lead to better conservation outcomes.

Co-author Levi Collier-Robinson (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Apa ki ta rā tō, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou) with students from Te Kura o Tuahiwi. Ashley Overbeek

We argue that now more than ever, we need transformative change that brings together diverse ways of understanding and seeing to restore ecosystems as well as cultural practices and language.

Read more: Indigenous peoples are crucial for conservation - a quarter of all land is in their hands

Reimagining conservation

Where Western science often focuses on specific parts of complex systems, Indigenous knowledge systems consider all parts as interconnected and inseparable from local context, history and place…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details