Coastal Tourism
As part of the West Kimberley Nature Project, Environs Kimberley, in collaboration with WWF and KLC, worked with the Karajarri Rangers and the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association to produce eco-cultural interpretive signage for six high-use coastal sites within Karajarri Country from the northern end of Eighty Mile Beach- Jinmarnkur (Cape Missiessy) to Mirntanyartaji (Gourdon Bay).
YOU ARE IN KARAJARRI JURRAR – Coastal Country
The signs are a result of consultative workshops with these groups to first identify the sites where signage was needed and then to identify and describe important cultural and ecological information. Traditional Ecological and site knowledge was recorded and transcribed with the assistance of the Kimberley Interpretive Service and is an important feature of each of the seven signs.
Nganyjurrukura ngurra tukujana – Everybody looking after country properly
It was also important to identify the main eco-cultural threats to each site including; over-fishing, collecting shells, rubbish, fires, disturbing cultural sites, driving over turtle nests etc and guide users (tourists and locals) to minimise their impact on the sites and understand and respect the Traditional country they are visiting.
“Eighty Mile Beach is Ramsar-listed and one of the worlds richest intertidal wetlands supporting nearly 100 species of resident and migratory birds. Up to 300,000 birds migrate annually from their breeding grounds, as far away as Siberia and Alaska to rest, and to feed on invertebrates found in the intertidal mudflats. Species include Great Knots, Bar-tailed Godwits, Red-necked Stints and Greater Sand Plovers.
Many hundreds of the Flatback Turtle, listed as Vulnerable, nest along Eighty Mile Beach. Unlike other marine turtle species, Flatback hatchlings remain within 10-100km from where they were born and can be found feeding in shallow turbid waters on jellyfish and soft-bodied invertebrates such as sea cucumbers.
Other significant marine species include Dugong, Humpback Whales and Dolphins. Extraordinarily, four Sawfish species occur here. Two species (Green Sawfish and Dwarf Sawfish) are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.”
It’s important to note that Eighty Mile Beach doesn’t face as many of the immediate threats that wetlands do elsewhere on the global bird migratory pathways (e.g. land reclamation; large-scale hunting; rapid urbanisation and intensive shellfish harvest), and so play a crucial role in the viability of many migratory bird species.
The signs that EK have helped to develop with the KTLA, Karrajarri Rangers and other groups will be erected by the rangers in consultation with the community in 2012.
Many thanks to supporting organisations including: Kimberley Land Council, World Wildlife Fund Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation, Kimberley Interpreting Service, Notre Dame University, Kimberley Land Council, Rangelands NRM WA, Caring for our Country and others who contributed their photos and knowledge for each area.
MIDDLE LAGOON
As part of the West Kimberley Nature Project, Environs Kimberley has been working with the Nyul Nyul Rangers to manage the monsoon vine thicket patch at Middle Lagoon.
This monsoon vine thicket patch is significant as it is the only location on the Dampier Peninsula where Diospyros maratima is known to occur. Situated on a dune system on-top of a headland, the patch has become degraded due to increased tourist traffic and off-road driving through the dunes.
As part of the management plan – developed with the rangers, locals and the Nyul Nyul steering committee – the dune had now been fenced off. Natural restoration is being assisted through weed control activities. An eco-cultural interpretive sign and brochure has been developed to encourage an understanding of the cultural and environmental significance of the area and guide users to minimise their impact.