Research, monitoring and knowledge managResearch, monitoring and knowledge management

Research, monitoring and knowledge management

Research and monitoring provide essential information about the park’s plant and animal life, its natural and cultural resources and its visitor use. This information assists the Director, the Board and Parks Australia to make good decisions about managing the park. It also assists in the adaptive management of the park and provides useful information for regional conservation programs, local Aboriginal enterprises, and the tourism industry. Research and monitoring can be done by park staff, consultants, government agencies, research organisations and individuals.

Flora and fauna monitoring reveals how conditions change over time, and helps in assessing the effectiveness of management programs to make better management decisions. The episodic fluctuations in the abundance and distribution of many central Australian animals and their habitats mean that long-term monitoring programs are essential to identify trends. Examining species at an ecosystem level also assists in identifying key pressures, vulnerabilities and potential flow-on effects to other species and habitats.

Undertaking visitor surveys and monitoring helps to develop better understanding of who visits the park, how visitors use the park, what visitors expect, and how satisfied they are.

Research and monitoring activities are subject to the EPBC Act and EPBC Regulations, including those that involve native species, those conducted for commercial purposes, and those that require access to biological resources. These actions must be carried out in accordance with the prescriptions outlined in this management plan.

Challenges

• Supporting Nguraṟitja to keep their knowledge and skills strong and pass them on to younger generations
• Ensuring Aṉangu control the use of their ICIP, including its use by Parks Australia
• Managing the park as part of a broader ‘living’ cultural and natural landscape, sharing knowledge and engaging with regional stakeholders to do this
• Ensuring adequate information to make decisions about long-term sustainability of groundwater use from the Dune Plains and Southern Aquifers
• Conducting research and monitoring to inform management of the park’s cultural and natural values, and sharing this knowledge to park staff, Nguraṟitja, and other stakeholders. This includes improving understanding of the impacts of climate change, the status and ecology of listed or significant species, and involving Aṉangu in this work
• Improving our ways of storing, retrieving and sharing data and knowledge