Our Partners
Corporate & Government Partners
Arid Recovery has four formal partners that make diverse contributions of resources and expertise to our mission. Each partner organisation appoints a representative to Arid Recovery's board.
BHP is a founding partner of Arid Recovery. The company runs the Olympic Dam copper mine and grants Arid Recovery access and rights over our wildlife reserve through special licence. Many BHP employees volunteer with Arid Recovery, and we are a fixture at community events in the nearby township of Roxby Downs. BHP (and its predecessor at Olympic Dam -Western Mining Company) has provided substantial corporate sponsorship to Arid Recovery, with contributions made in every year since our inception forming the bedrock of our sustainability as an organisation.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water is a founding partner of Arid Recovery. The department makes a regular financial contribution and support from staff for everything from conservation planning, risk management, threatened species recovery strategies and climate change adaptation. We regularly work with department staff on regional strategies, threatened species coordination, and through the associated South Australian Landscape Boards.
The University of Adelaide is a founding partner of Arid Recovery. A substantial set of research has been produced through collaborations with academics at the university and we have supported many research students together for Honours, Masters and PhD programs. The university also runs undergraduate field camps at the Arid Recovery reserve and appoints the chair for Arid Recovery's scientific advisory panel.
Bush Heritage Australia joined as a formal partner in 2018. The Australia-wide conservation NGO supports Arid Recovery at many levels, by making a financial contribution, generating knowledge-sharing opportunities between staff, building research collaborations and providing advice. Bush Heritage owns and manages three reserves in the priority landscape of the South Australian Rangelands - Bon Bon, Boolcoomatta and Evelyn Downs.
Indigenous Partners
Arid Recovery is on the country of the Kokatha people. We recognise the enduring relationship they have with their country and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. The Kokatha people hold native title over a large area of central South Australia, including Roxby Downs. A sign at the Arid Recovery reserve’s entrance gate acknowledges Kokatha country and features the Kalta (sleepy lizard).
Arid Recovery has worked with the Kokatha people from the early years. Kokatha people were involved in building the first feral-proof fences, and through archaeological surveys to determine locations of culturally significant sites which are now protected in-situ. We also collaborate with Kokatha Pastoral and BHP as part of our feral control program. As our closest neighbours, having the support of both organisations is critical in ensuring that Arid Recovery remains feral-free.
In 2023, we developed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kokatha Pastoral to work together sharing skills, knowledge and time on country to support conservation and sustainable use of the Roxby Downs, Andamooka and Purple Downs stations, and development of a Kokatha Ranger program.
