Local ecological knowledge and wise use of ephemeral wetlands: the case of the Cowal system, Australia

Abstract

Ephemeral wetlands are important ecologically but are often jurisdictionally complex and under-studied. Forms of local knowledge, including local ecological knowledge (LEK) and farmer knowledge, are increasingly recognised as able to complement other scientific knowledge for planning and management. This paper contributes to the discussion on the value and potential use of local knowledge by considering the Cowal system, an ephemeral wetland in dryland Australia. The Cowal system’s hydrological regime is highly variable, with drying and wetting cycles influenced by distant rainfall events. There is limited historical scientific data available for the system. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with local landholders who privately own the land within the Cowal system. The aggregated results showcase their knowledge and understanding of the ecological functions of the Cowal system, highlight some current ephemeral wetland management activities and indicate their concerns for the future. LEK is shown to be a valuable source of historical and planning data. For example, their combined memories and family records of the Cowal system provide the only historical record of the timeline of the wetland’s filling and drying, and support their concerns about the alteration of the natural hydrological regime because of developments in the catchment area. The research suggests that LEK should be actively sought by scientists, managers, and planners of wetlands, especially where baseline and systems information is scant.