Media Release
Tuesday 4th December
Fire Threat to Monsoon Vine Thickets:
Rangers and Environs Kimberley present to
Science Conferences
Environs Kimberley and Aboriginal rangers from the Dampier Peninsula have teamed up to campaign for
the threatened Monsoon Vine Thicket (MVT) to be recognised as Nationally Endangered.
Environs Kimberley West Kimberley Nature Project and the Bardi Jawi and Nyul Nyul Rangers are
making presentations to two scientific conferences on their collaborative work to protect one of the
Kimberley's most threatened ecosystems.
Indigenous Rangers, facilitated by the Kimberley Land Council, have worked with Environs
Kimberley and partners to protect, manage and understand interactions within MVTs of the
Dampier Peninsula, a unique, culturally significant and Vulnerable Threatened Ecological
Community (WA). The Federal Government is currently deciding whether or not to list the
ecosystem as Nationally Endangered.
Louise Beames (EK) and Dr Judy Fisher (Fisher Research), prepared the presentation, which was
delivered by Kylie Weatherall (EK) and Nyul Nyul Rangers Ninjana Walsham and Keith Shadforth at
the Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia Conference in Perth (November 27–30). Malcolm
Lindsay (EK) will make a similar presentation with Chris Sampi and Damon Pyke from the Bardi Jawi
Rangers at the Ecological Society of Australia Conference in Melbourne, as part of the Linking
Indigenous & Western Ecology Symposium (3rd–7th Dec).
Entitled "Interactions in monsoon vine thickets: people, plants, fauna, fire and restoration in the
Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia", the presentations explain important ecological linkages
and the cultural significance of MVTs in traditional food, medicines, water sources, tools,
materials, language, law and culture — with loss or dysfunction of the ecosystem likely to have
profound cultural, as well as ecological, impacts.
"If MVT is listed as Endangered then it will be recognition of the incredible threats posed to the
ecosystem, and the government will have a responsibility to support the community to manage
and protect it." Environs Kimberley Projects Coordinator, Louise Beames said.
This rainforest-allied ecosystem occurs in patches within and behind the swales of coastal dunes,
over less than one-tenth of 1% of the Dampier Peninsula. Containing almost a quarter of all the
Peninsula plant species, MVTs are important refugia for birds, bats and other animals, which
move between patches, spreading the seeds and maintaining the connection between them.
The partnership identified two health indicators — vegetation structure and ant communities —
to detect change in response to fire and invasion, and developed, trialled and implemented
protocols, using the local Aboriginal language names and knowledge of species occurrence.
"We were surprised at the high diversity of ants, identifying 84 species! However, we are
concerned about the two aggressive invasive ants found, Singapore Ant and Black Crazy Ant,
which could be a problem for other species and are a sign that vine thickets are becoming more
disturbed by fire, weeds and other factors," Nyul Nyul Ranger Ninjana Walsham said.
To understand the extent, seasonality and frequency of fire, remote sensing technology was
employed with the assistance of DEC, alongside ground-truthing and vegetation structural
monitoring. For each of the 79 MVT patches, three types of maps were developed that examined
Fire-scar history, Vegetation Cover change and Fire incidence between 1989 and 2010.
"Aboriginal people, including Bardi Jawi people, are known traditionally to have kept fire away
from MVTs to protect important fruit, water and cultural resources, but now fire on the
Peninsula is mostly uncontrolled and increasing in frequency, seasonal intensity and scale,"
Bardi Jawi Ranger Chris Sampi said.
"Now we know that the change in the fire regime on the Dampier Peninsula has resulted in more
fires, larger fires and more frequent fires, affecting a large percentage of vine thickets," Mr
Sampi said.
Analysis revealed significant annual fire damage and losses in canopy cover, with 74% of MVT
patches being burnt every one to three years. Ground-truthing identified that fire impact is likely
to be underestimated, and that fire compromises vegetation structure well into the patches.
"These are frightening findings, given that we know that MVT's are slow growing and will
retreat rapidly when vegetation is burnt. This sustained damage has alarming consequences for
the ecological function and viability of the entire Dampier Peninsula MVT ecosystem network, "
Environs Kimberley Projects Coordinator, Louise Beames said
"This collaboration between Indigenous rangers with strong traditional local knowledge and
practical skills, ecologists and partners has enabled us to identify the most vulnerable MVT's on
Bardi Jawi and Nyul Nyul country, adjust management and better protect MVT's significant ecocultural values." Environs Kimberley Projects Coordinator, Louise Beames said
"It's great that we have been able to develop this science together and use it in our management
to better protect Monsoon Vine Thickets. We are very proud to present our work to other land
managers and scientists," Nyul Nyul Ranger Keith Shadforth said.
"We must thank the ESA and SERA conferences, and Rangelands NRM WA, whose support has
made our travel to Perth and Melbourne possible."
Who are we?
The West Kimberley Nature Project is run by ecologist Louise Beames at Environs Kimberley and
funded by Rangelands NRM WA through Caring for our Country. The State NRM WA has funded the
complementary practical ecology and fire history components of the project.
The Bardi Jawi and Nyul Nyul Rangers are land and sea managers who monitor, manage and protect their
natural cultural resources with the support of Traditional Owners. Informed by traditional culture and
science, they undertake a variety of programs on land and sea, and within their communities. Rangers are
funded through Working on Country, and facilitated by the Kimberley Land Council.
.
Dr Judith Fisher (Fisher Research) is an ecologist who has been contracted by Environs Kimberley to
develop the science behind the monitoring and determine fire history and its relationship to vegetation
canopy change.
Contacts:
Louise Beames
Projects Coordinator
Environs Kimberley
Ph: 0448472005
Mark Rothery
Nyul Nyul Ranger Coordinator
Kimberley Land Council
0417 885 658
Damon Pyke
Bardi Jawi Ranger Coordinator
Kimberley Land Council
0409 249 294
Louise.natureproject@environskimberley.org.au
mark.rothery@klc.org.au
damon.pyke@klc.org.au
Who else has supported us?
Department of Environment and Conservation Ricky Van Dongen has provided assistance with fire-scar remote
sensing vegetation analysis and has worked in close collaboration with Judy Fisher to design the methodologies
used.
Professor Jonathan Majer and Dr Brian Heterick (Curtin University) have provided
Judy Fisher with assistance on experimental design and specimen identification.
Judy Fisher has an Adjunct Affiliation with the University of Western Australia.
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority have assisted with laboratory space.
Val English, Department of Environment and Conservation Threatened Species Unit, has provided advice.
Volunteers from the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL) have assisted with second-season
ant and invertebrate sorting, and invertebrate identification and production of the fire history maps.
SKIPA (Society for Kimberley Indigenous Plants and Animals) has supported the development of the flora
monitoring protocols with time and expertise.
Broome Botanical Society has provided the background science and advice on management.