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Indigenous land and water management knowledge is being shared at a national forum.
The Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa (Strong Country) Land and Water Management Forum commenced this week on Larrakia Country in Darwin, marking the first gathering in over a decade of Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) providers.
The forum, which will run until 29 August, aims to foster stronger connections and share critical knowledge among Indigenous land and water managers from across Australia.
“This gathering marks a significant moment as Indigenous rangers and land managers come together to share their invaluable knowledge and strengthen their connections with Country,” said Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy.
The Federal Government has acknowledged the vital role that First Nations peoples play in environmental conservation, saying it will support the work with an investment of $1.3 billion into the Indigenous Ranger Program and over $230 million to expand IPAs.
“Our investment in expanding the Indigenous Ranger Program and Indigenous Protected Areas is not just supporting conservation; we’re creating sustainable opportunities and driving economic growth within communities,” McCarthy said.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, said First Nations environmental stewardship has lasted for millenia.
“First Nations people have actively managed Country for 65,000 years. That’s why we’re empowering First Nations communities to protect Australia’s environment, while also supporting local jobs and economic development,” she said.
The forum also aims to address sector governance and build organisational capacity, with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation as key partners in this effort.
“The Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa (Strong Country) Land and Water Management Forum is a crucial moment for land and sea managers from across the country to unite,” said Joe Morrison, CEO of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
“The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation is proud to be a partner of the Forum and we will continue to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia to achieve their aspirations for their Country and families.”
More information on the Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa Forum is available here.