As NRMs we need to practice what we preach – science-based, whole-of-landscape approaches that incorporate Traditional Owner aspirations and knowledge, ensure sustainable production and retain the values and functions of ecosystems. However, there is one area where we are a long way from living up to this ideal: dingo management. To date, dingo management has predominantly consisted of the most effective ways to remove or exclude them from the landscape, with the goal of reducing livestock predation. However, this approach fails to recognise the range of ecological services provided by dingoes, incorporate knowledge and wishes of Traditional Owners and increase understanding of other effective solutions to livestock predation. Dingo management can arouse strong feelings and be a divisive issue, potentially contributing to the reluctance to engage with the topic. However, if we aspire to practice what we preach, we should, at the very least, be informed participants in the discussion.
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Authors:
Julie Funnell
