Food

The current environmental crisis is felt acutely across Australia through increased droughts, bush fires, severe loss of biodiversity, the poor state of Australian soils and climate change. Land degradation is a big problem across Cape York. Decades of cattle farming, invasive animals such as feral pigs and cane toads, invasive plants and weeds, and poor fire management, has damaged ecosystems and made living on the land sustainably challenging.

Farming and land management practices that are more regenerative and environmentally harmonious are being sought. What solutions can you come up with that can aid sustainable and traditional approaches to food production and land management in Cape York?

25. Fire management

Fire management is crucial to protect biodiversity and prevent larger fires later in the year. How might traditional fire management be enhanced and used more widely through modern technology that could enable rangers to safely distribute incendiaries and remotely manage burns?

26. Sustainable food production [*1]

Overgrazing and non-native agricultural practices have contributed to land degradation and environmental impacts in Cape York. Can you come up with any ideas for sustainable and regenerative solutions to food production and land management?

15. Smart conservation [*1]

Rangers work to preserve the environment and cultural heritage sites around Cape York, however, non-Indigenous tourists may not engage with the traditional land appropriately. It can be challenging for rangers to monitor or prevent visitors from going to restricted areas or sensitive cultural sites, and to ensure visitor compliance and safety. Can you think of any ideas to support Rangers in conservation and protecting traditional land and facilitate appropriate engagement from non-Indigenous visitors? Is there an opportunity to use apps or other supporting digital technology to enable rangers to better manage and monitor appropriate tourism, or for visitors to use themselves?

27. Reduce food waste [*1]

People may be away from homelands for considerable periods of time as they work on Country or unable to travel due to inaccessible roads in the wet season. Can you propose any innovative ways to store food that allows people to travel to and from Country without worrying about food spoiling?

[*1] These projects span several design areas

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