Generating the biodiversity data that managers need to make informed decisions requires monitoring programs that are both scientifically rigorous and practically scalable. This talk demonstrates how partnering with Indigenous ranger groups and actively applying the concept of “eDNA commons” delivered actionable data for coastal management and insights for cultural restoration at ecosystem scales.
Working together with thirteen Indigenous ranger groups, collaborators from NSW DPIRD and Southern Cross University used eDNA metabarcoding to survey 40 estuaries across 1,300 km of NSW coastline, spanning diverse geomorphologies and four Marine Parks, and established a critical post-2022 flood biodiversity baseline for the state. With over 74 rangers actively involved in fieldwork, the project tackled one of the key barriers to large-scale eDNA adoption: geographic coverage. By engaging local ranger groups as field partners, the program was enriched with local knowledge, and in turn rangers deepened their own technical capacity and became genuine stewards of eDNA data on their Sea Country.
We trace the project from initial community engagement through to integrated results sharing and consider what this model means for the future of eDNA in coastal management. In doing so, we make the case that inclusive, community-based participation is not only a values choice, but also a practical pathway to scaling eDNA monitoring across complex coastal environments that achieves both management and social outcomes.