Emma Ligtermoet
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About
I am a human-environment geographer with broad interests in bridging diverse knowledge systems for improving sustainability outcomes and equitable research practices. I’ve long standing interests in understanding how we navigate social-ecological change, particularly in socio-cultural land and waterscapes.
As a postdoctoral social scientist working within CSIRO’s transdisciplinary Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform, applied the theory and practice of knowledge co-production to transdisciplinary collaborations and landscape restoration governance. I developed co-production enabling tools designed to support interdisciplinary teams of sustainability scientists apply critical co-production thinking in the development of their external research engagement. You can read more about the CSIRO research here and here also at i2insights. Latter work explored hope, inspiration and polycentric governance in the context of landscape restoration. I collaborated with Gondwana Link to examine ‘bright spots’ (and dark and blind spots), towards supporting just governance principles and processes, in large, landscape-scale restoration initiatives.
Prior postdoctoral research at UWA through the Australian Government’s Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub, encompassed two projects: (1) Stakeholder views on the values associated with urban greening (verge gardening) and ecosystem service delivery and (2) Whadjuk Noongar knowledge associated with the Djarlgarro Beelier (Canning River) for cultural heritage and water management in urban planning contexts.
I am an honorary lecturer at the Fenner School of Environment and Society. My PhD research (through Fenner SES) drew on the disciplines of human-environment geography, socio-ecological systems science, Indigenous studies and environmental history to elevate and incorporate First People’s perspectives of social-ecological change into climate adaptation planning for freshwater coastal Country. The coastal freshwater floodplain region of Kakadu National Park and West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, supports livelihoods and holds significant cultural and ecological values, yet is at risk of transformation through saltwater intrusion with sea level rise. Applying a place-based approach, I identified past and ongoing drivers of change and responses, as potential analogues for exploring future adaptation. Working and learning extensively on and from Country, I shared interviews, customary activities, cultural activity mapping and undertook archival work to understand contemporary patterns and change of freshwater customary harvesting practices. This work provided recommendations for building adaptive capacity to support freshwater customary harvesting practices into the future and the development of locally informed, sustainable adaptation pathways.
I also facilitated the co-production of the Kunwinjku seasons calendar, led by knowledge holders Aunty Julie Narndal Gumurdul, Connie Nayinggul and Donna Nadjamerrek. This proved a highly valued research product for the Kunbarlanja community where it is used in two-way education, language and natural and cultural land management activities. Kunwinjku seasons calendar - CSIRO
I’ve experience in co-lecturing and tutoring university students at all undergraduate year levels in Sustainability Science related units, as well as Masters students. Prior to my PhD, I worked in aquatic science in WA, the NT, Malaysian Borneo and in conservation science in Laos.
Affiliations
- Institute of Australian Geographers
- American Association of Geographers
- Fellow of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust (2023)
- Ecological Society of Australia
- Australian & New Zealand Environmental History Network
- EcoPeoPle: Ecology, People, Place Research Group (UWA)
- CSIRO- CERC alumni- Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform
Affiliations
Research interests
My research interests traverse the disciplines of human-environment geography, environmental history, sustainability, conservation and aquatic sciences. I am interested in applied research that addresses issues of equity, justice and sustainability in our engagement with nature and culture, particularly in the management of aquatic places (rivers, wetlands, coastal regions). This includes engaging with knowledge co-production practices, where I have research experience working with Indigenous partners, with Indigenous knowledge systems, in multistakeholder contexts, and in developing tools to support the co-production of knowledge. I am particularly passionate about stories and practices that connect us to rivers and wetlands and that encourage us to care for these places. I’m interested in understanding local and Indigenous perspectives on social-ecological change and in working together to guide the management of natural and cultural heritage. I also have experience applying tools from a variety of disciplines, including methods such as oral history, archival work, GIS, place-based inquiry, and Indigenous methodologies to tackle contemporary natural and cultural heritage management problems.
Publications
Ligtermoet E., Munera-Roldan C., Robinson C., Sushil Z., Leith P. (2025) Preparing for co-production: A diagnostic approach to support reflexivity in interdisciplinary research teams. Nature: Humanities and Social Science Communications, Special Issue in Integration and Implementation for transformative research https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04196-7
Ligtermoet E., Martinus K., Ramalho C., Pauli N. (2025) Stakeholder networks underpinning the transformative practice of urban roadside verge greening Landscape and Urban Planning https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105342
Munera-Roldan C., Ligtermoet E., Leith P., van Kerkhoff L. et al., (2025) Co-producing futures: a three-mode heuristic for reflexive practice towards sustainability. SI “Transformative Partnerships for a Better Life” Earth Stewardship https://doi.org/10.1002/eas2.70015
Szetey K., Ward D.,…Ligtermoet E.…et al., (2025) Applying an ethical lens for more responsible modelling practice Socio-environmental Systems Modelling, https://doi:10.18174/sesmo.18753
Ligtermoet E. (2024) Finding the balance between critique and action: Early career reflections on knowledge coproduction across three contexts (invited submission, based on Fay Gale Early Career memorial lecture), Geographical Research https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-5871.12679
Robinson C.J., Urzedo D., Macdonald, J.M., Ligtermoet, E. Penton C.E, Lourie H., Hoskins A., (2023) Place-based data justice practices for collaborative conservation research: A critical review. Biological Conservation, 288:110346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110346
Ligtermoet E., Baker R. Narndal Gumurdul J. (2023) The return of the kinga (saltwater crocodile): Population ‘bust then boom’ shapes shifting baselines in Indigenous biocultural knowledge in northern Australia. Biological Conservation 277:109746 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109746
Ligtermoet E., Ramalho C., Foellmer J., Pauli N. (2022) Greening urban road verges highlights diverse views of multiple stakeholders on ecosystem service provision, challenges, and preferred form. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127625
Ligtermoet, E., Ramalho, C., Foellmer, J., & Pauli, N. (2022). Greening urban road verges highlights diverse views of multiple stakeholders on ecosystem service provision, challenges and preferred form. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 127625.
Bayliss P., Finlayson C. M., Innes J., Norman-López A., Bartolo R., Harford A., Pettit N. E., Humphrey C. L., van Dam R., Dutra L. X. C., Woodward E., Ligtermoet E., Steven A., Chariton A., Williams D. K. (2018) An integrated risk-assessment framework for multiple threats to floodplain values in the Kakadu Region, Australia, under a changing climate. Marine and Freshwater Research 69, 1159-1185.
Ligtermoet E.J. (2018) People, place and practice on the margins in a changing climate: Sustaining freshwater customary harvesting practices in coastal floodplain country of the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory of Australia, PhD Thesis, ANU, Canberra.
Bayliss, P and Ligtermoet, E. (2017) Seasonal habitats, decadal trends in abundance and cultural values of magpie geese (Anseranus semipalmata) on coastal floodplains in the Kakadu Region, northern Australia, Marine and Freshwater Research, https://doi.org/10.1071/MF16118
Dutra L. X. C. Bayliss P. McGregor S., Christophersen P, Scheepers K, Woodward E, Ligtermoet E., Melo L.F.C., (2017) Understanding climate-change adaptation on Kakadu National Park, using a combined diagnostic and modelling framework: a case study at Yellow Water wetland. Marine and Freshwater Research, https://doi.org/10.1071/MF16166
Ligtermoet E. (2016) Maintaining customary harvesting of freshwater resources: sustainable Indigenous livelihoods in floodplains of northern Australia, Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Special Issue: Indigenous participation and partnerships in research and management of fisheries and aquatic ecosystems; 26 (4) pp 649–678 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-016-9429-y
Narndal J., Nadjamerrek D., Nayinggul C., Nadjamerrek J., Nadjamerrek M et al… Ligtermoet E. (2015) Kunwinkju Seasonal Calendar for Kunbarlanja, West Arnhem Land, NT, Australia. CSIRO, ANU, NERP, Darwin. https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Environment/Land-management/Indigenous/Indigenous-calendars/Kunwinjku
Dutra X.C., Bustamante R.H., Sporne I., van Putten I., Dichmont C.M., Ligtermoet E., Sheaves M., Deng R.A. (2015) Organizational drivers that strengthen adaptive capacity in the coastal zone of Australia, Ocean and Coastal Management 109 pp 64-76 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.02.008
Ligtermoet E., Chambers J. M., Kobryn H. T., Davis J. (2009) Determining the extent and condition of riparian zones in drinking water supply catchments in Sarawak, Malaysia, Water Science and Technology: Water Supply. 9 (5) pp 517-531, http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2009.580
Thesis
Ligtermoet, E., 2018. People, place and practice on the margins in a changing climate: Sustaining freshwater customary harvesting in coastal floodplain country of the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory of Australia. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/164233
Seasonal Calendar
Narndal J., Nadjamerrek D., Nayinggul C., Nadjamerrek J., Nadjamerrek M et al… Ligtermoet E. (2015) Kunwinkju Seasonal Calendar for Kunbarlanja, West Arnhem Land, NT, Australia. CSIRO, ANU, NERP, Darwin. https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Environment/Land-management/Indigenous/Indigenous-calendars/Kunwinjku Kunwinjku seasons calendar - CSIRO
Scientific Reports
Ligtermoet E., Ramalho, C.E., Martinus, K., Chalmer, L. and Pauli N. (2021) Stakeholder perspectives on the role of the street verge in delivering ecosystem services: A study from the Perth metropolitan region. Clean Air and Urban Landscapes (CAUL) Hub, Melbourne, Australia.
Pauli, N., Mouat, C., Prendergast, K., Chalmer, L., Ramalho, C.E., and Ligtermoet, E. (2021) The social and ecological values of native gardens along streets: A socio-ecological study in the suburbs of Perth. Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub (CAUL), Melbourne, Australia.
Pauli N. Maller C., Mataz L. Farahani L. Porter L., Arabena L., Davern M., Higgs C., Ligtermoet E., Verde Selva G., Atkins M., Mouat C,. Föllmer J., Kelly D., (2020) Perspectives on understanding and measuring the social, cultural and biodiversity benefits of urban greening. Discussion Paper. Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub (CAUL), National Environmental Science Program. Melbourne, Australia
Dutra X. C., Bayliss P., Scheepers K., Woodward E., Ligtermoet E., Melo L.F.C, (2015) Managing threats to floodplain biodiversity and cultural values on Kakadu National Park, Part II: Participatory methods and integrated assessments. NERP Report, CSIRO, Brisbane doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.02.008
Dixon I. Dobbs R., Townsend S.,Close P., Ligtermoet E., Dostine., Duncan R., Kennard M.,Turnbridge D. (2010) Field Trial of the Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland Health (FARWH) in the Wet/Dry Tropics: Daly River and Fitzroy River Catchments. Report to the National Water Commission. Tropical River and Coastal Knowledge research hub, Darwin.