The learning generated through Indigenous natural resources management programs increases quality of life for Indigenous people – improving numerous contributors to wellbeing

The critical role that Indigenous people play in natural resource management is globally recognized,with such endeavors frequently supported by Government and non-government funded programs.We explore the perceived impact of the knowledge-exchange opportunities arising from theseprograms, using data from a survey of Indigenous people from northern Australian communitiesinvolved in Indigenous land and sea management programs (ILSMPs). We find that ILSMPs areperceived as opportunities for exchange of both western and Indigenous-generated knowledge, withmore people reporting opportunities to learn and share traditional rather than western generatedknowledge. Aspects of life perceived as improved by learning and sharing were in relation to self, toothers (community and family) and the Indigenous culture overall. Learning is having a positiveimpact on wellbeing; sharing is predominantly positive, but survey responses also reveal somenegatives: mostly related to examples of sharing undertaken in culturally inappropriate exchanges,which not only impacts wellbeing, but also erodes the quality of the information exchanged.Reducing the negative sentiments related to sharing will not only improve the wellbeing ofIndigenous people, but will also improve the quality of knowledge exchanged with consequentpositive outcomes for the environment and society as a whole