Urban billabong restoration benefits from Traditional Owner involvement and regular flooding

Abstract

Context. Floodplain wetlands (e.g. billabongs) in urban environments have significant ecological and cultural value, yet are often highly degraded. Impacts such as reduced flooding and weed invasion continue to threaten these critical ecosystems. Both ecological and Indigenous people’s knowledge are important for urban billabong restoration. Aims. Our project aimed to (1) assess the response of billabong vegetation to flooding, and (2) increase the role of local Traditional Owners in billabong management. Methods. Over 3 years, a team of wetland ecologists and local Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Narrap (‘Country’) Rangers surveyed responses of understorey vegetation and the condition and flow..