Her research focusses on arid vegetation dynamics (particularly in relation to climate and fire) and the management of threatened arid plant populations. A species of particular interest is Acacia peuce (‘Waddy Wood’), which is listed as Vulnerable nationally (EPBC Act). This is a slow growing desert tree that occurs as three isolated populations on the edge of the Simpson Desert. Two of the populations are in Queensland (Boulia and Birdsville) while the third, and smallest, is in the south-east of the NT. Most of the NT population is included in the ‘Mac Clark Conservation Reserve’, with outlier stands on the surrounding Andado cattle station. To the Lower Arrernte people, this tree (irrkep) and the broader site where it occurs (Akerre) are of immense religious significance, with two dreamings having been recorded – the first is the story of the Two Eagles and their battle with an avenging party of ‘Tankga men’, and the second concerns the travels of the Urrempele (western quoll) ancestors from Port Augusta. Across the scientific and wider community there has been a long-standing fascination with this tree and a recognition of both its ecological role (as habitat for fauna including charismatic species such as the Grey Falcon and Letter-winged Kite) and its inherent vulnerability to disturbance and climate change. Modern-day conservation of the Akerre population began with the fencing of two sections of the main stand in the 1970s by the then pastoralist Mr Mac Clark. Around this time there was deep concern for the population due to a paucity of young plants – this being attributed mainly to rabbits and protracted drought. A major recruitment event did eventually occur in response to an extended bout of above-average rainfall (1973-1979). Survival and growth of this cohort have been followed over the past four decades as part of an adaptive management program that includes tracking the health (demographic trends) of the wider population. Recent management advances include the full engagement of Akerre Traditional Owners along with the Apatula (Finke) and Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) rangers who help lead the on-ground monitoring; and the CSIRO-led application of UAV-Lidar and high-resolution satellite imagery to track population changes from the sky. This talk provides an overview of the current status of the Akerre Acacia peuce population and of the people involved in its care and management.