A two-day conference on Queensland’s Fraser Coast will help shape the future one of Australia’s most iconic World Heritage-listed landscapes.
The University of the Sunshine Coast symposium Voices of K’gari: Research, Respect and Responsibility aims to share insights and strengthen partnerships to better protect the world’s largest sand island.
UniSC conference organiser Dr Kim Walker said K’gari was more than a natural wonder, it was a living cultural landscape, deeply connected to the Butchulla People and home to unique ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth.
“As pressures grow to increase the island’s resilience to global climate change and other impacts, the need for collaborative, respectful, and informed action has probably never been greater,” Dr Walker said.
She said the conference, to be held at UniSC’s Fraser Coast campus on November 10 and 11, would bring together Traditional Owners, researchers, citizen scientists, conservationists and community leaders to explore the intersection of cultural knowledge, scientific research and environmental stewardship.
“This is a rare opportunity to engage with the latest research, hear directly from Traditional Owners, and contribute to meaningful, long-term conservation efforts.”
Dr Walker said conference themes would include cultural knowledge and heritage management, exploring traditional practices, archaeological insights, and the role of cultural burning in ecosystem health.
She said discussions would focus on visitor and resource management to increase understanding of the effects of tourism and strategies for sustainable visitation.
“Other themes will address marine and freshwater systems, and the geological forces shaping K’gari’s future.
“They will also investigate the impacts of fire and climate change on rare plants and wildlife, and the preservation of cultural resources.”
For more information visit the Conference website.
