The Origin of Social Biodiversity

We recognise the wisdom of Traditional Owners and what they can teach us about being active participants in nature—to be part of the circle of life rather than separate from it.

In the early 2000s, I had the privilege of working alongside Wadi Wadi and Barapa Barapa Elder Aunty Marilyne Nicholls collecting seed from native bristly wallaby grass.

The sun was shining, zebra finches were chattering, and we walked side by side through the grassland, gathering handfuls of seed heads. We laughed, shared stories, spoke about our experiences, our challenges and our hopes for the future.

After about an hour, Aunty Marilyne stopped and said:

"Jo, this is what we need to do more of. We can learn so much from each other—our challenges, our dreams and our ideas—when we walk side by side with a common purpose, especially outside in nature and doing something physical together. This is where true collaboration occurs."

That wisdom has stayed with me ever since.

Over the years, I've come to believe that this simple idea may be one of the most important ways we can help nature recover.   Not just through restoring ecological biodiversity, but through restoring social biodiversity—the diversity of people, perspectives, experiences, skills and relationships that allow communities to work together.

Nature thrives through connection, diversity and interdependence. Not just with plants and animals but Human communities as well.

So we believe if we are serious about creating resilient landscapes, healthy rivers, thriving ecosystems and a profitable business, then we must also invest in the relationships that connect us to one another. Because when people walk side by side with a shared purpose, trust grows, understanding grows, and our capacity to care for Country is immense.

Bear & Twigg is serious about opening our farm gate and welcoming people into our business.  One of the lessons nature keeps teaching us is that resilience doesn't come from sameness. It comes from diversity and connection.

As I reflect on this journey, I often find myself coming back to Aunty Marilyn standing in that grassland all those years ago.

We were simply collecting seed together, but what she was really teaching me was something much bigger.

She taught me that when people walk side by side with a common purpose, sharing stories, ideas, challenges and hopes, something powerful happens.

Trust grows.

Understanding grows.

New possibilities emerge.

One of the lessons nature keeps teaching us is that resilience doesn't come from sameness. It comes from diversity and connection.

Perhaps social biodiversity is simply Aunty Marilyn's wisdom applied at a larger scale.