“Right across the desert, we talked to people about what their priorities were for saving the species.”

Dr Rachel Paltridge is an arid-zone ecologist working with the Indigenous Desert Alliance. She joined Ecology Matters to discuss the tjakura, or Great Desert Skink, and the program that brings scientists, land managers and Indigenous Rangers together in one of Australia's largest collaborative monitoring projects.

After completing her PhD on predator–prey interactions in spinifex grasslands, Rachel spent 20 years as a freelance ecologist in central Australia, working primarily with Indigenous ranger groups on projects at the interface between research and management. From 2018–22, she worked as the Coordinator of the Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Protected Area. Her research is funded by the Resilient Landscapes Hub of the National Environmental Science Program.

The Ecological Society of Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Help the ESA support ecology in Australia by donating (⁠⁠www.ecolsoc.org.au/get-involved/donate/donation-form⁠⁠) or by becoming a member (⁠⁠www.ecolsoc.org.au/get-involved/become-a-member⁠⁠).

The music in this podcast is 'Glow' by Scott Buckley - www.scottbuckley.com.au.

Episode image credit - Kate Cranney.

Season image credit - Russell Charters.