During the season of Birak (December–January), the Transformative Aboriginal Agricultural Methods (TAAM) project team mapped sites on Gimlet Ridge and Weelhamby farms where landscape interventions, such as leaky weirs, will be installed to slow water flow and improve the landscape’s hydrology.
The team, led by Edith Cowan University and Maaman Marra Boodja, has also been collecting important baseline data by conducting UAV (drone) surveys and rapid biomass assessments. The installation of an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor network is beginning to yield interesting insights into soil moisture and subsurface water flows. Additionally, soil carbon gas flux measurements are helping to assess soil health, with a particular focus on the role of the soil microbiome.
TAAM project yarning sessions have continued on Country, centering on the integration of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal agricultural practices and their connection to the six seasons. These sessions have also been an opportunity to explore ways to foster positive engagement and build trust between farmers and Aboriginal Traditional Owners, ensuring meaningful collaboration and shared understanding.
This project is supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, and the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration.
