Aboriginal conservation deal boosts environmental goals
An area two-thirds the size of Tasmania has sealed a landmark agreement with Traditional Owners and met a key environmental target for Australia.
A large area of the Simpson Desert in the south-east of the Northern Territory is now protected by Aboriginal management, ensuring that a quarter of Australia’s territory is covered by some form of conservation agreement.
The signing of the Indigenous Protected Areas took place on Wednesday, with an agreement covering 47,311 square kilometers in the remote territory of Uluperte.
The IPA will be run by the Central Land Council, which says homelands are buzzing as bush medicine workshops begin and cultural knowledge is shared.
“The country was looking good after the rain a few weeks ago and all the people were excited and proud about it,” Les Turner, the council’s chief executive, told AAP.
“It gives Traditional Owners the opportunity to educate young people and go to Country.”
The agreement marks the federal government’s interim target to protect 25 per cent of Australia’s land for the 2025/26 financial year; This represents a three per cent increase on when Labor was first elected.
They set a target of protecting 30 percent of Australia’s land by 2030.
Environment Minister Murray Watt congratulated the area’s Traditional Owners as the government works to achieve the ultimate goal through the $250 million Australian Bushland programme.
“This is crucial to supporting threatened species and the habitats they call home, and ensuring future generations can enjoy Australia’s unique native wildlife and landscapes,” he said.
Mr Turner said Wednesday’s events in Uluperte were just the beginning for land stewardship and cultural engagement in the region.
He said the agreement will allow for $1.3 million in federal government support over the next two years, an IPA coordinator, and new ranger positions.
“What is important is that Aboriginal people control and manage the land, and this has been done in consultation with pastoralists and Traditional Owners,” he said.
“This is also a two-way learning in terms of Western and traditional methods.”
IPAs cover areas where Traditional Owners have agreed to manage biodiversity through agreements with the federal government and represent more than 55 per cent of the Australian National Reserve System.
Mr Turner hopes the IPA can increase protection for endangered animals in the region and expand into developing a junior ranger programme.
“We have IPAs covering an area of over 47,000 square kilometres, about two-thirds the size of Tasmania and more than the size of the state of Victoria, west of Alice Springs… all of these groups are working together,” he said.
Traditional land steward Damien Ryder said the IPA would help them protect sacred sites, assist with fire management and control wildlife numbers.
“It’s nice for families to come together as a group and to all be involved in protecting the country,” he said.
Mr Ryder hoped the increased support would also help them manage remote stations in the region and improve resources for people living in the Country.
The IPA extends across the Pmere Nyente, Atnetye and Pmer Ulperre Ingwemirne Arletherre Aboriginal land trusts, together with the Eastern Arrernte and Lower Southern Arrernte linguistic and cultural groups in the region.
