The importance of Gayini (Nari Nari word for water) and land to First Nations people across the Murray-Darling Basin was a feature presentation in this.
Birds thrive in the Murray-Darling
Waterbirds thrive off donated water and traditional water management.
Straw-necked ibises in flight. Credit: Kate Brandis
It’s a Murray-Darling bird-breeding party in the Gayini (Nimmie-Caira) wetlands in south west New South Wales, as birds trhive.
Thousands of breeding waterbirds are flourishing thanks to water that’s been specifically allocated to help boost the environment, and the wisdom of the traditional custodians of Nari Nari Country.
Gayini is a wetland complex of nearly 88,000 hectares situated between Maude and Balranald, and part of the Murray-Darling Basin. It is home to many bird colonies and holds cultural significance to First Nations peoples, so the breeding event is a big win for the birds who live there.
First Indigenous member joins Murray-Darling Basin Authority board
By Shannon Jenkins
Monday December 21, 2020
The federal government has named Rene Woods as the first person to fill the Indigenous position on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority board, more than a year after the permanent role was created.
A Nari Nari man from Hay in New South Wales, Woods currently works as a conservation officer with Nature Conservancy Australia, and has previously held the role of chair of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations.
He has also been vice-chair of the Nari Nari Tribal Council.
Woods said the four-year appointment was “a step in the right direction” to closing the gap and improving First Nations influence on water-management decisions.