Malak Malak River Monitoring Report: 2009-2010<br />

Introduction and AimsMalak Malak is the name of an Aboriginal language group from the Daly River catchment in the Northern Territory. The group largely resides in and near the Nauiyu Nambiyu community (approximately 250 kilometres from Darwin) in the Northern Territory, and has traditional river country around the middle reach of the Daly River. Malak Malak lands are bordered by the lands of the Kungarakany (north), Wagiman (south-east), Ngen&rsquo;giwumirri (south), Marramaninjsji (southwest), and Maranunggu, Kewema and Tjerratj (west) language groups. Malak Malak country is looked after by the Malak Malak Land Management Rangers. The Ranger group comprises approximately 8 members. It is supported by funds from the Caring for Country Unit of the Northern Land Council.The Malak Malak Land Management Rangers are heavily involved in the management of their lands. The men invest substantial time and effort on physical weed controls; particularly the spraying of Mimosa pigra from quad bikes, four wheel drive spray units, and from helicopters when conditions are favourable. The women rangers have, for a number of years, been trialling and undertaking biological control methods; using a beetle to assist the control of Salvinia in billabongs and breeding and releasing a Mimosa-eating moth. The women rangers developed and implemented this monitoring program.This report provides information on a year-long participatory monitoring program trial undertaken at river country sites significant to Malak Malak people during 2010. The research was funded through TRaCK (Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Research Hub) and undertaken by CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences. The research was conducted in accordance with the TRaCK Indigenous Engagement Strategy.The relationship Malak Malak people have with these sites is unique, and an integral part of theiridentity. Indicators (things to measure that can suggest changes are occurring) were chosen by the Malak Malak Rangers during workshops coordinated by CSIRO scientists. Those indicators reflect aspects of the sites that they consider characteristic features, or the threats of concern to the Malak Malak Rangers (such as weeds).Three monitoring methods were trialled. Of these, permanent photo points were the most successful. The results in this report focus on the interpretation of the photos.Although the use of cultural indicators was raised during workshops, the Malak Malak Rangers preferred to focus on physical indicators for monitoring and reporting purposes