Weed Management Branch’s Indigenous conservation partnership efforts go global
The Weed Management Branch (WMB) hosted an Indigenous Leaders’ Engagement activity with a Philippine delegation, fostering collaboration in biocontrol and conservation efforts with neighbouring countries on 5 December 2024.
The WMB’s Weed Scientist Michelle Franklin emphasised the importance of Indigenous knowledge in the salvinia biocontrol program at Kakadu National Park. The delegation later toured the biocontrol rearing facility with Weed Sciences Technical Officer Gerald Danao and experienced the rearing of gall flies for the control of Siam weed – an invasive species that is also found in the Philippines.
The meeting was initiated by Gerald after meeting the Philippine Eagle Foundation’s indigenous leaders in 2024 at the TNRM conference.
The Filipino rangers were taking part in the Australia Awards Fellowship program ‘Building Climate Resiliency through GEDSI-Compliant Nature-Based Solutions’. They were in Australia to explore shared conservation strategies and take knowledge home to share.
