Dalhousie Springs is the most iconic, species diverse short range endemic hot spot of any of the Great Artesian Basin Springs. It is home to over 16 endemic species including fish, crustaceans and molluscs as well as the site for a diverse range of disjunct and relict flora. It is also the traditional country of the Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru peoples who continue to maintain close links to the springs and surrounding country
For 50-60,000 years human activity has been a part of the ecology of Dalhousie Springs. Land management practices of the Aboriginal peoples of the area shaped the species diversity and composition of these springs. 200 years ago these practices were disrupted by the arrival of Europeans, the introduction of cattle, date palms and the suppression of Aboriginal land management activities such as fire.
In 1985 the area became Witjira National Park. With cattle removed we saw an increase in the abundance and density of Phragmites spp. with a corresponding loss of open water and lower tail habitat. This resulted in a serious decline in the abundance of endemic fish.
Working with the Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru elders we found strong links between the floristic diversity of springs and the cultural values and uses they were associated with. The main causal link between these was the use of fire and frequency of burn regimes at the springs.
From this we developed the Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy and in November 2017 led by Cultural Ranger and Lower Southern Arrernte Man, Dean Ah Chee we undertook the first management burn to be planned using Aboriginal science combined with western science.
This presentation outlines the investigations that led to this burn and the learnings we have derived as a result of undertaking it. Waru Pulka, Uwa.