PhD Scholar

A study of the conservation values of Aboriginal people and their linkages to the environment.

E-mail: lynette.liddle@anu.edu.au

Conservation values are strongly linked to what people derive, understand and know about, and how they manage, country. Conservation in many parts of Arid Australia is reflected in the landscape values of the people. I am investigating to what extent Aboriginal conservation strategies are evidence of adaptive management and a response to ecosystem change. Conservation and its values have an inherent value in which Aboriginal people are motivated to conserve the animals, plants and land units on country. An explanation of what are their conservation goals, and what role Aboriginal people may have in mainstream conservation, and what it might become is a key question in the thesis.

The aim of this research is to analyse and investigate the values behind Aboriginal conservation and how this is underpinned by linkages between ecology of the land and culture.