Aboriginal Involvement in The Survey and Management of Rock-wallabies.

Abstract

Rock-wallaby populations in central desert regions are insidiously disappearing through a continuing process of local extinctions. Their survival will depend on collaboration between Aboriginal Councils and communities, and conservation agencies. While collaborative survey work to locate rock-wallaby populations has been successful, the next step of managing remnant populations will be more challenging. Differences in concepts of extinction and the preservation of bio-diversity, funding constraints and the cultural appropriateness of management programs are important factors which need to be addressed. These issues are examined with examples of recent initiatives in Western Australia.