Indigenous knowledge, sustainable design, and long-term thinking
This is a perfect example of the kind of sustainable design and long-term thinking we lose when we ignore indigenous knowledge.
In Western Australia, Marri trees, known as Gnaama Boorna in the Menang language, have been pruned by Aboriginal people for generations to collect and store rainwater. The ancient practice involves shaping the trees into a bowl-like structure, making them vital water sources in areas where water is scarce, and they are often found in ceremonial areas or high hills.
Source: Specially pruned for centuries in WA, marri trees provide a vital source of water for traditional owners | ABC NewsGnaama, meaning hole for water, and Boorna, meaning tree or timber.
[...]By pruning and trimming parts of specific trees as they grow, traditional owners encourage them to take on a unique, bowl-like shape — helping collect and store rain water.