Bioculture
We restore the right flora and fauna to the right place to heal Country.
Bioculture refers to the Djaara way of seeing People as part of biodiversity, not separate from it. Djaara cultural practices and cultural values are intertwined with biodiversity and need to be healed together. Building on the aspirations and values set out by Dja Dja Wurrung in the Dhelkunya Dja (Country Plan), we work with our stakeholders to heal the plants and animals of Djandak, while healing our way of life. We provide a holistic and culturally appropriate healing plan for places, done the Djaara way.
Our services
| Service | |
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Biocultural Value Assessments |
We engage Djaara People and qualified staff to develop Biocultural Value Assessments which assess the cultural values, biodiversity values and opportunities of a site to inform design and construct proposals. We aim to restore ecological connectivity and habitat resilience while protecting cultural and environmental values. |
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Biodiversity Strategies |
We provide biodiversity advice, strategies and reports to improve the biodiversity of places and landscapes, using a combination of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and contemporary world’s best practices. |
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Native Species Recovery |
We delivery strategies and on-ground works to support native species to thrive throughout Central Victoria. |
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Cultural Landscape Revitalisation & Healthy Country Planning |
We provide a holistic view to conservation, land and water management, and ecology, ensuring Djaara cultural values are respected and protected, and return good health to plants, animals, habitat, soils, waterways, and people. We identify and develop opportunities for cultural educational activities and cultural shared learning to foster intergenerational healthy Country outcomes. |
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Partnerships & Development |
We partner with a range of government agencies, land managers, statutory authorities, commercial business, community groups, stakeholder and Traditional Owners to strengthen relationships, collaborate, restore and preserve cultural landscapes. |
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Djaara Cultural Engagement |
We engage Djaara People with Traditional Knowledge and lived experience in land management to develop our strategies, and work plans for caring for Country. |
Bioculture brings people, culture and biodiversity together to help us live within nature, not separate from it.
ABOUT BIODIVERSITY
For tens of thousands of years the Djandak sustained an ecosystem of plants and animals that were a natural part of the Land. They were meant to be here. Native flora and fauna thrived on Djandak. They took their place in the cycle of Country, provided foods and medicines for Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung peoples) and returned to the soil and water to feed Country. The introduction of foreign species by colonisers had an unimaginable impact on Country. Invasive weeds crowded out the native plants, stealing the water and nutrients and places they had always grown. Newly introduced animals interrupted the food chain, killed the native animals and moved into their traditional habitats. The natural balance of the ecosystem was disturbed. When gold miners arrived to dig for gold our Land was devastated. Farming methods from far-away lands only worsened this destruction. Djandak suffered.
It will take a lot of work over many years but our sick Country can be healed.
Djaara know how to care for Djandak the right way. We share our Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) now as the gardeners of the environment to return good health to the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung. We know how to restore balance to the cycle of this environment.
The values, aspirations and hopes of Djaara people are captured in Dhelkunya Dja (Country Plan). The Biodiversity team is focused on healing Country by eradicating invasive, non-indigenous weeds and flora and allowing native growth to thrive in its place. Both TEK and contemporary environmental science strategies are applied to ensure the most effective, ongoing response to weed eradication. By mapping and monitoring regrowth and spread, we are able to target our efforts
Biodiversity works in partnership with any group involved in land management activities on Djandak. We use our environmental and horticultural knowledge to manage noxious and invasive species without creating further harm to Country. We collaborate with:
- DEECA
- Parks Victoria
- Private Land Managers
- Local Councils
Past projects
Wheel Cactus control at Buckrabunyule.
This highly invasive noxious weed requires consistent and targeted eradication technologies. Our teams have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Djaara approach using drones to provide geographic data that maps and monitors the progress of eradiation.
The photo above shows that, in the front half of the photo, the cactus is dead after being treated in 2022 with a new method. In the back half of the photo, the untreated live cactus is the green still covering the slope.
We combine cultural knowledge with biodiversity to heal Country
RESOURCES
Download Dhelkunya Dja
(Country Plan)
Document Name &
Content overview
REFERENCES
Joint Management Project
Funding – Djakitj
Accountability frameworks and demonstration of achievement
