caring for our country Achievements Report NORTHERN AND REMOTE 2008 –2013 West Macdonnell Ranges, . Source: T. J. Baker, DSEWPaC Northern and Remote Australia Northern and Remote Australia

The unique environmental, social and economic challenges faced by northern and remote Australia require a tailored approach to sustainable natural resources use and environmental protection.

3 Table of contents

Introduction 5

Outcome 1 Protect important natural assets in northern and remote Australia, particularly the national reserve system (and Indigenous Protected Areas within it). 7

Case study: Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area, Northern Territory 8

Case study: West Kimberley National Heritage area, Western Australia 11

Case study: Witchelina, South Australia 12

Case study: Natural Resource Management regions in northern and remote Australia 13

Case study: Rangers helping to maintain land and sea country in the Torres Strait, Queensland 15

Outcome 2 Assist at least 30 per cent of land managers in northern and remote Australia to increase their uptake of sustainable grazing and land management practices. 17

Case study: Wangamaty (Lower Daly) Landcare Group, Northern Territory 18

Case study: Ecosystem Management Understanding, Northern Territory 19

Case study: Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association, Northern Territory 20

Working on Country 21

National strategy to reduce Indigenous disadvantage 22

Case study: Caring for Gawler Ranges rock-holes, South Australia 23

Case study: Protecting Mangarrayi traditional lands at Elsey Station, Northern Territory 24

Outcome 3 In priority areas in northern and remote Australia, reduce the impact of invasive species including, in particular, cane toads, tramp ants and camels. 25

Case study: Yellow crazy ant management in north-east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory 26

Case study: Feral camels in northern and remote Australia 28

Outcome 4 Expand traditional fire management regimes, across at least 200 000 square kilometres of northern Australia’s savannas, to reduce the incidence of unmanaged fires, and position indigenous land managers for entry into emerging voluntary or other emissions trading markets. 30

Monitoring of Australia’s environmental assets in a changing climate 32

Building on progress and learning from experience – Phase II of Caring for our Country 2013—2018 34

References 36 To ensure that northern and remote regions were Introduction adequately represented, investments targeted the following outcomes: Northern and remote Australia contains some of the highest conservation value landscapes and »» By 2013, Caring for our Country will protect environmental assets in Australia, including Ramsar important natural assets in northern and remote wetlands, important aquatic and coastal environments Australia, particularly the National Reserve System and savannas. These environments cross state and (NRS) (and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) territory borders and are important for their biodiversity, within it). habitat connectivity, agricultural productivity, water »» By 2013, Caring for our Country will assist at least resources and cultural values. 30 per cent of land managers in northern and remote Australia to increase their uptake of Due to the large geographical scope and sustainable grazing and land management cross-cutting issues, a targeted and collaborative practices. approach is required for environmental investments. Northern and Remote Australia Partnerships with Indigenous Australians have delivered »» By 2013, Caring for our Country will reduce the successful outcomes for the environment, impact of invasive species including—in particular, capacity-building, social welfare and employment. cane toads, tramp ants and camels—in priority These partnerships have enabled local communities to areas in northern and remote Australia. take actions in their region, such as controlling invasive »» By 2013, Caring for our Country will expand species, adopting sustainable grazing practices, traditional fire management regimes across at least using traditional ecological knowledge in land and 200 000 square kilometres of northern Australia’s sea management and reducing the incidence of savannas to reduce the incidence of unmanaged unmanaged fires through traditional fire management. fires and position Indigenous land managers for Such regimes protect essential ecosystem services and entry into emerging voluntary or other emissions the unique values of the land. These activities contribute trading markets. Funding was allocated to the North to both Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage. Alliance to deliver this project.

Since 2008, Caring for our Country invested in Regional base-level funding was also invested in the delivering on-ground actions to address the complex 11 NRM bodies in northern and remote Australia to challenges associated with northern and remote deliver environmental outcomes, develop partnerships Australia. Northern and remote activities were indirectly and engage communities to build skills and knowledge funded through projects addressing targets in other in NRM. national priority areas. This approach provided opportunities to support northern and remote activities while achieving the biophysical targets and on-ground project outcomes of other theme areas. Caring for our Country assisted farmers to adopt sustainable land management practices. In northern and remote Australia, there were over 9000 recorded instances of farmers and land managers participating in projects to increase the uptake of sustainable practices. These projects included activities to better manage environmental assets, adjusting seasonal stocking rates to reduce soil erosion and improving weed and pest animal management.

5 Caring for our Country investments across northern and Information for measuring the success of activities remote Australia contributed to the broader long-term for this national priority area is based on internal and objective of a healthier and well-managed environment. proponent project reporting as part of the Caring for our Priority sites were strategically selected for their high Country MERI Strategy, and commissioned evaluations conservation values and natural resource issues. for the Working on Country program. While significant Caring for our Country has protected and enhanced progress has been made in improving environmental priority sites in northern and remote Australia by: protection for northern and remote assets, there are challenges for the future. In particular, key threats »» implementing on-ground plans of management for which require management are controlling the spread the NRS and IPAs within it of invasive species and protecting ecosystem services »» working with local Indigenous groups, land from the effects of climate change. managers and farmers to secure better environmental outcomes while supporting sustainable development »» increasing the protection of Australia’s biodiversity from invasive species such as cane toads, feral camels, tramp ants, and Weeds of National Significance. Outcome 1 Through strong partnerships and collaboration, the NRS creates a network of areas which Protect important natural assets in northern are managed to protect biodiversity and and remote Australia, particularly the important ecosystems. The NRS includes National Reserve System (and Indigenous protected areas across the country which are Protected Areas within it). established, and effectively managed, by the Australian Government, state, territory and local The National Reserve System is Australia’s network governments, Indigenous communities, private of formally recognised protected areas and is the landholders and non-government organisations. cornerstone of national efforts to provide long-term protection of terrestrial biodiversity. It represents Australia’s commitment to protect the land and inland The protected area network is a key element in meeting water systems vital to the survival of our unique native the Australian Government’s international commitment species, ecosystems and associated cultural values to the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. Northern and Remote Australia for future generations. A large amount of northern and The Australian and state and territory governments remote Australia is being managed as part of the NRS also have committed to Australia’s Strategy for the to protect high conservation value ecosystems. Under National Reserve System 2009–2030, which establishes Caring for our Country, the NRS in northern and remote a national partnership approach and provides Australia increased by over 17.5 million hectares, with guidance on the development and management of the the addition of 22 NRS properties and declaration of protected area network. Australia currently has almost 15 IPAs within this region. 10 000 terrestrial protected areas covering more than 117 million hectares, or 15.25 per cent of Australia’s land mass, which is well on track to meet international and national obligations.

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Northern & Remote Australia National Reserve System and Indigenous Protected Areas

National Reserve System and Indigenous Protected Areas in northern and remote Australia. Source ERIN, DESWPaC

7 Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area, Northern Territory

The Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area is located on the western Arnhem Land plateau, spanning 1 370 366 hectares. It is a biodiversity CASE STUDY hotspot of plants and animals, and is home to species such as the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) and the vulnerable Arnhem Land rock-rat (Zyzomys maini). Thousands of rock art sites are also found here, including paintings of creation stories and depictions of the way Indigenous people lived tens of thousands of years ago. Kakadu National Park Warddeken Rangers – the old teaching the young. and the Arnhem Land plateau have the greatest Source: T. Guymala number of rock art sites in the world.

Caring for our Country funding of $1.7 million assisted Warddeken Land Management Limited and the Bininj (Indigenous people) to manage their land sustainably. It is managed by Traditional Owners in collaboration with government agencies, industry, and numerous project partners including Bush Heritage Australia, the Nature Conservancy and the Pew Environment Group. Management interventions recognise the operational challenges of a large expanse of land which is frequently isolated and inaccessible during the wet season and which lacks many essential services and infrastructure to support rangers.

Like all IPAs, Warddeken has a formal plan of management to undertake various cultural and natural resource activities, including traditional fire management, maintaining rock art sites and weed and feral animal control. Environmental benefits are tied to social, cultural and economic benefits and the Closing the Gap agenda. Within the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area, Working on Country rangers participated in accredited training to gain formal skills in operating machinery and vehicles, identifying weeds, first aid, book-keeping and survey techniques. These skills are valuable for self-sufficiency in the future. Furthermore, Traditional Owners worked with industry and scientists to develop carbon abatement strategies in preparation for future biodiversity credits. Here, natural resources are also a source of employment and economic opportunities. “Our vision is to have our healthy people living and working on our healthy

" Milingimbi country in the Arnhem " Yirrkala " Oenpelli " Darwin Land Plateau. We want to work with " Batchelor partners to achieve mutually agreed objectives Warddeken Indigenous " Pine Creek Protected Area " Angurugu using Indigenous and " Numbulwar western science-based " Katherine " Ngukurr knowledge systems”— " Mataranka Warddeken Land

" Wyndham Management Limited Annual " Timber Creek Report 2010–11.

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Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. Source: ERIN, DSEWPaC Warddeken Ranger leading young men on a hunting expedition using spears made as part of Warddeken’s ‘Material Culture’ project. Source: D. Maclaren An important aspect of the NRS is the establishment Caring for our Country supported the acquisition of IPAs. These are land or sea areas managed by of some of the largest properties ever purchased Indigenous communities with a combination of for the NRS, including Henbury Station traditional and contemporary practices supported (527 293 hectares) in the Northern Territory and by the Australian Government and a range of other Witchelina (420 101 hectares) in South Australia. partners. IPAs comprise more than 36 million hectares In addition, one of the most significant IPA projects or almost one-third of the NRS. As of February 2012, under the program was completed with the declaration there are a total of 53 declared IPAs. of the Southern Tanami, the largest IPA ever declared at 10.16 million hectares and the largest terrestrial The expansion of the NRS under Caring for our protected area in Australia. The immense size of these Country was designed to give priority to increasing the newly protected areas not only contributes to the overall area that is protected in under-represented bioregions. extent of the NRS but also helped to achieve better From 2008 to 2013, Caring for our Country funding protection of under-represented bioregions and ensure resulted in a significant improvement in the level of sufficient areas within Australia are protected to deliver reservation of a number of poorly protected bioregions robust, landscape-level outcomes. in northern and remote Australia, such as the Finke bioregion and Daly Basin bioregion. Australia’s biodiversity is being protected into the future through management of areas as part of the With funding from Caring for our Country, Australia’s NRS. Partnerships have been created between state NRS has expanded by almost 18 million hectares, and territory governments, non-profit conservation representing an increase of over 18 per cent in the organisations and private land owners to create a Australian protected area estate during the five-year network whose joint aim is to conserve these unique time frame. Additional land is expected to be added to Australian environments. the NRS by 30 June 2013, with the potential declaration of eight new IPAs comprising more than 12.8 million hectares. The total expansion of the NRS through Caring for our Country is predicted to be around 30 million hectares by June 2013.

Important natural ecosystems in northern and remote Australia can be protected by including them in the NRS and by gaining National Heritage listing, as was the case for the West Kimberley National Heritage area.

Sturt’s desert pea. Source: T. Howard, DSEWPaC West Kimberley National Heritage area, Western Australia The West Kimberley is a vast area which has great biological richness and provides important geological and fossil evidence of Australia’s evolutionary history. The region’s remoteness has created a haven that CASE STUDY supports plant and animal species found nowhere else on the Australian continent. Over two years, from 2008–10, Caring for our Country provided over $850 000 to the West Kimberley National Heritage area. The funding was used to provide information on potential National Heritage values in preparation for the Northern and Remote Australia National Heritage listing and covered geomorphology comparative studies, amphipod survey work, biodiversity studies of waterholes and marine areas, purchase of Mornington Station, Kimberley, Western Australia. data for the Australian Natural Heritage Assessment Source: N. Rains Tool (ANHAT), karst system field work and literature review, plant name discrepancies consensus project, and WA Herbarium plant specimen processing. A small amount of funding was also used for promotional purposes, including posters, information packages and guidelines.

The West Kimberley was entered on the National Heritage List on 31 August 2011. This large and complex listing represented a landmark that continues important work by the Australian Government in protecting Indigenous, natural and cultural heritage. The listing covers more than 19 million hectares of land and sea and includes the North Kimberley coast and islands from Cape Leveque to Cambridge Gulf, the Kimberley Plateau, King Leopold Ranges, Devonian Reef, Roebuck Bay and the Fitzroy River and its floodplain.

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West Kimberley National Heritage area. Source: ERIN, DSEWPaC

11 SA

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Witchelina is a vast conservation area in the arid heartland of South Australia. Established in 2010, the property is an important addition to the NRS.

Witchelina is just over 4200 square kilometres, more CASE STUDY than twice the size of greater Adelaide, and is one of the largest properties purchased for the NRS through Caring for our Country. It is part of the world’s first transcontinental wildlife corridor created through Australia’s . Witchelina is owned and managed as a conservation reserve by the Nature Foundation SA. Nature Foundation SA purchased the property with almost $2 million from the Caring for our Country initiative as well as generous contributions from private donors.

Witchelina and the surrounding area have been affected by Australia’s long drought, but recent rains and careful management are seeing the property recover. River red gum and coolibah woodlands line the creek beds and wildflowers such as the iconic Sturt’s desert pea (Swainsona formosa) flourish. Witchelina’s ‘old man saltbush’ plains and acacia dune-fields provide ideal habitat for small mammals such as the vulnerable dusky hopping mouse Old man saltbush. Source: M. Marriot, DSEWPaC (Notomys fuscus). When it rains, the creeks and waterholes act as refuges for nomadic ducks, sandpipers and other waterbirds. The chenopod shrublands provide habitat for the nationally vulnerable thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus), and the blue-winged parrot (Neophema chrysostoma) visits Witchelina from Tasmania in winter.

Witchelina has a long history of human occupation. The property straddles the boundaries of the Adnyamathanha and Arabunna peoples, who have a strong ongoing spiritual connection to their country. After European occupation, Witchelina operated as a pastoral station for more than 140 years. Now that Witchelina has been purchased for conservation, the Nature Foundation SA has removed the small number of remaining sheep and will manage the property according to international standards. Priorities include working with neighbouring landholders to maintain boundary fencing and establish effective feral animal control.

Base-line survey work is planned to get a detailed picture of the reserve’s biodiversity. While Witchelina’s rare habitat types are well documented, there has been little previous work to record its native species. Nature Foundation SA anticipates exciting new discoveries, especially for plants and reptiles.

The purchase of Witchelina dramatically increases habitat protection in two of Australia’s most underprotected bioregions. The reserve significantly increases the area protected in the under-represented Flinders Lofty Block bioregion, taking total levels of protection from 5.6 per cent to almost 9 per cent. Witchelina also increases protection in the Stony Plains bioregion to 7.35 per cent. Witchelina makes an important contribution to national conservation efforts to expand the protection of bioregions. Natural Resource Management regions in northern and remote Australia

Regional NRM organisations have been engaged by the Australian Government to deliver integrated Caring for our Country projects at the regional level. These regional organisations have been provided with annual base-level funding until June 2013, including in northern and remote Australia. CASE STUDY The regional organisations have provided support and access to knowledge and skills for landholders and environmental groups, and act as advocates for Caring for our Country in the broader community.

Territory NRM, Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a single NRM region with a diversity of environments ranging from tropical rainforests to arid rangelands. Many of the natural landscapes are still largely intact, with extensive woodlands, shrub lands and grasslands, and streams which are still lined by native trees. With an area of over Northern and Remote Australia 1.3 million square kilometres and a small population of 206 000, most of the major NRM challenges are in the surrounding landscapes.

Territory NRM works to identify strategic links and priority actions in the Northern Territory. It has received over $19 million in regional base-level funding from Caring for our Country to maximise outcomes from a diverse range of projects with land managers.

Northern Territory environments have not been subjected to the same pressures of urban expansion or intensive agricultural development as other parts of Australia. Agriculture is largely based on an extensive pastoral industry, with smaller areas of land being more intensively developed for crops, trees, fruit and vegetables. Mining and gas production are also restricted to small areas where they may have a high, but relatively localised, impact.

Grazing leases and Indigenous freehold land are the major land tenures and, therefore, there is reliance on a relatively small number of dispersed landholders to manage the majority of the landscape.

Territory NRM refers to its integrating role as ‘joining the dots’ to address threats, support ecological sustainable development, manage environmental assets and deliver on-ground actions.

Rangelands NRM, Western Australia

The Rangelands of Western Australia cover 90 per cent of the state and the majority of the coastline, ranging from the Kimberley to the Great Australian Bight. This vast space is dotted with areas of environmental and cultural significance, including two World Heritage listed sites, some of the nation’s last largely undisturbed wild rivers, and threatened species of plants, animals and ecological communities.

The population in the Rangelands is relatively small at 133 000. The region’s workforce is predominantly involved in world-class minerals and energy developments in the Pilbara, the Kimberley and Desert Rangelands and the area is surrounded by pastoral leases and occasional cropping enterprises.

Since 2009, Caring for Our Country has invested $3.9 million annually into Rangelands NRM projects to protect and conserve threatened aspects of the landscape in partnership with state agencies, local government, industry and widely-dispersed communities. Particularly successful partnerships have been formed with Traditional Owners, ranger groups and local communities to gather traditional ecological knowledge to inform landscape management. Rangelands NRM has supported Indigenous rangers to apply contemporary and traditional fire management techniques to preserve crucial habitat and monitor the health of native wildlife.

13 Thorny devil, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory. Source: M. Nelson Rangers helping to maintain land and sea country in the Torres Strait, Queensland

The Torres Strait Islanders’ connection with their natural surrounds is intrinsic to their identity. The Australian Government’s Working on Country initiative not only enables rangers in the Torres Strait to conserve and protect the islands and waters; it also brings meaningful employment which enables Torres CASE STUDY Strait Islanders to remain on their homelands and meet cultural obligations to care for country.

The Torres Strait Land and Sea Ranger Project is managed by the Torres Strait Regional Authority and is underpinned by community aspirations to maintain country, identity and culture. It provides employment, training and mentoring support to the rangers, whose ranks include four female rangers and three trainee rangers. Priorities for their work are determined in consultation with Traditional Owners and the community.

Conserving the habitat of nationally protected turtles and dugongs (Dugong dugon) is fundamental to the work Northern and Remote Australia of the rangers and the resource needs and broader aspirations of the community. The ranger project in this seafaring region has grown from just three rangers in 2008 on the one island of Mabuiag to 43 rangers across all 14 Torres Strait outer islands. The project is now flourishing.

Troy Stow is an Indigenous ranger who works in the exceptional system of islands between the Arafura and Coral Seas to Australia’s north. As the most senior ranger on the small island of Badu, he is responsible for managing four other rangers in the Mura Badhulgau Ranger Team.

In the past, Troy’s work was largely land based: spraying and pulling out weeds by hand, trapping feral pigs and cleaning up beaches. With the arrival of a new boat in early 2012, Troy’s work has been expanded to include patrolling the multitude of cays, sandbanks, seagrass beds and coral reefs scattered across his sea country. Troy believes that the community engagement and education aspects of his job are very important.

“We engage directly with Elders and community members. They help with our work on the islands, imparting some of the knowledge that we learn from scientists in our training”—Troy Stow.

Beach debris removal at Laynhapuy IPA, Northern Territotory, Yirralka Rangers. Source: DSEWPaC

15 Cattle grazing in northern Gulf of Queensland. Source: D. Markovic, DSEWPaC Outcome 2

Assist at least 30 per cent of land managers Land uses in these regions include grazing, cropping in northern and remote Australia to increase and horticulture (DAFF 2013). Projects funded by their uptake of sustainable grazing and land Caring for our Country have assisted farmers to management practices. increase their uptake of sustainable land management practices; improved biodiversity management Caring for our Country funded projects in the on farms; supported capacity building and skills sustainable farm practices national priority area under development for land managers; and encouraged the improving management practices and landscape- partnerships between stakeholders, including rural scale conservation targets. The northern and remote research and development corporations, industry Australia outcomes were developed to target and organisations, farmer groups and NRM regions. encourage applications in this region of Australia. One of the delivery mechanisms for providing Caring for our Country funding assisted landholders information to farmers and land managers was the Northern and Remote Australia and farmers to increase knowledge and uptake of national network of Regional Landcare Facilitators, sustainable grazing and land management. which contributed to achieving sustainable farm Improving soil condition is important to agricultural practices outcomes. Caring for our Country funded one productivity and the quality of ecosystem services Regional Landcare Facilitator in each of the 56 NRM provided to the community from rural lands. regions across Australia over four years (2009–2013). Wind and water erosion, soil carbon rundown and Regional Landcare Facilitators promote the uptake of soil acidification processes reduce the land’s ability sustainable farm and land management practices and to provide clean air and water and productive soils; also help to establish, link and develop community protect biodiversity; and maintain the resilience of the Landcare and production groups so that these groups landscape to climate change. In northern and remote can share information. Facilitators provide support Australia, there were over 9000 recorded instances of to farmers and land managers to adopt sustainable farmers and land managers participating in projects agriculture practices, to improve the quality of to increase the uptake of sustainable practices. ecosystem services produced from agricultural lands, and to meet challenges such as climate change.

17 Wangamaty (Lower Daly) Landcare Group, Northern Territory

The Wangamaty (Lower Daly) Landcare Group received $150 000 over three years from Caring for our Country to protect and manage CASE STUDY biodiversity and Weeds of National Significance in the high ecological value aquatic ecosystem of Anson Bay and associated coastal floodplains.

Progress has been made in reducing the density of gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) and salvinia (Salvinia molesta), which are Weeds of National Significance, and other grassy weeds across 8000 hectares at the project site. A high level of trust and mutual respect has been developed between local Mixing herbicide gamba aerial spraying Yarra site. Indigenous communities and the Wangamaty Source: Wangamaty Land Management Group Land Management Group, led by Wangamaty Landcare Coordinator Joye Maddison. This is a solid foundation for achieving positive NRM outcomes in future.

The local community now has greater awareness about both gamba grass and salvinia and report new sightings of these weeds to the Wangamaty Landcare Coordinator or Indigenous ranger groups.

There were some initial difficulties with weed control. After attempting to control reshooting, the MalakMalak Rangers developed a method of burning old litter and then spraying, which led to quicker spraying and less herbicide usage. It was also discovered that it is best to survey gamba grass late in the season, as it is easier to detect against the native grasses which have Typical gamba stand, west side of Daly River, new bridge dried and fallen. over the Daly completed allowing access for eradication. Source: Wangamaty Land Management Group This project was linked to other Caring for our Country projects in the region, including the coordinated response to on-ground control of mimosa (Mimosa pigra) in the Daly and Moyle catchments. Funding provided by Caring for our Country also Caring for our Country aimed to improve the knowledge, encouraged farmers to better manage ground cover skills and engagement of land managers in managing and to test and lime horticultural soils regularly. natural resources, including by increasing their access Data from the Agricultural Resource Management to knowledge and skills. These policy objectives were Survey suggests that there are opportunities for grazing achieved by promoting the adoption of sustainable land businesses to monitor and manage ground cover levels management to bridge knowledge gaps through trials, to slow the rate of soil loss through wind and/or water demonstrations and education; encouraging innovation, erosion in northern and remote Australia. On average, information exchange and dissemination; and sharing the estimated percentage of cropping businesses the costs associated with private risk-taking for public across the 11 NRM regions which applied lime and environmental benefits. dolomite to their holdings to manage soil acidity in northern and remote Australia increased from Caring for our Country encouraged the development 7 to 18 per cent between 2007–08 and 2009–10. of partnerships to maintain and improve environmental These applications are used to manage soil pH in services in northern and remote Australia while supporting sustainable production. A collaborative agricultural industries such as broadacre cropping Northern and Remote Australia and horticulture. It is estimated that about 50 per cent approach is essential in isolated locations and where of Australia’s agricultural land has a surface soil pH issues cross state and territory borders. In particular, less than or equal to 5.5, which is below optimum for broader natural resource outcomes require the extremely acid-sensitive agricultural crops and below engagement and involvement of Indigenous groups to the optimal level to prevent subsoil acidification. be successful. These efforts will help achieve long- term sustainability for assets in northern and remote Australia. Much of this land is owned by Indigenous communities and requires close cooperation with the On-farm practice change is being monitored relevant groups to protect sites of environmental and using the biennial Australian Bureau of Statistics cultural significance. (ABS) Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), which surveys 33 000 of Australia’s 135 000 agricultural businesses. Further information on the results of on-farm practice change is available from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Ecosystem Management Understanding, Northern Territory

In the Alice Springs region of central Australia, Caring for our Country invested in a collaborative Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMUTM) project which integrated farming with ecological restoration on over 17 pastoral properties. Pastoralists were empowered to map and record their land CASE STUDY and then design management and monitoring plans to address priorities for rehabilitation.

The capacity-building project was run by the Centralian Land Management Association and was successful at linking scientific experts with landholders to improve soil management and grazing and sustainable farming practices. Depending on their priorities, some projects focused on weed eradication while others restored soil and relocated watering points to increase resilience to drought.

The collaborative approach will have long-term benefits, including information sharing on successful techniques, increased profitability for pastoralists, enhanced environmental resilience and maintaining habitat for threatened species, as the management strategies are implemented on the properties.

19 Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association, Northern Territory

Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association worked with the NT Government, the NT NRM Board and landholders to deliver a landscape-scale project to CASE STUDY control Weeds of National Significance over 35 000 square kilometres in the Upper Georgina catchment in the Northern Territory and on the border of Queensland. The Georgina is a major headwater of the Lake Eyre Basin and the surrounding area also has a significant agricultural industry.

The focus species were Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata), mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica subsp. indica). Parkinsonia thrives around watercourses and forms dense thickets which suppress the growth of native vegetation, degrade pasture quality, prevent stock from accessing water and accelerate land erosion. This project united several pastoral properties with funding contributions from landholders and the NT Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport. Caring for our Country provided funding for strategic coordination across properties.

The project included building landholder knowledge and capacity through workshops and practical field-based learning, aerial surveys and geo-spatial mapping for detecting and targeting weed infestations, developing long-term management plans Parkinsonia. It is expected that the targeted removal of and coordinating catchment-wide treatment with Parkinsonia will help protect local wetlands, riparian zones and native vegetation; enable stock access to herbicides. Surveys detected previously unknown water; and reduce land degradation and erosion for infestations which could then be included in treatment pastoral development. Source: C. G Wilson, DSEWPaC actions. Weed management and landscape recovery can take time to yield tangible results and it is important to establish ongoing plans of management to maximise the value of investment and effort. It can be anticipated that the spread of seeds has been greatly diminished from the removal of adult plants through this project.

In future, it is expected that the targeted removal of Parkinsonia will help protect local wetlands, riparian zones and native vegetation; enable stock access to water; and reduce land degradation and erosion for pastoral development. Landholders have developed capacity to implement these activities themselves in the future and 60 monitoring sites have been set up to assess changes to landscapes and determine whether further intervention is needed. A legacy of this project is the establishment of connections between pastoralists with industry experts who can provide technical advice in future. Clear communication and responsibilities, and managing expectations, were key factors in the success of the project. Working on Country

The Caring for our Country initiative contributes to The program’s target to train and employ over the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap on 690 rangers by June 2013 has been met and Indigenous disadvantage policy agenda to improve these rangers operate across more than 90 ranger the lives of Indigenous Australians, particularly in teams around Australia. This target has been northern and remote Australia. expanded to employ 730 rangers by June 2015. The environmental and cultural heritage work Caring for our Country efforts assisted with funded under Working on Country includes: establishing a long-term foundation for self-sufficient communities to plan and manage natural resources. »» sharing traditional ecological knowledge and The Working on Country program supports land management practices in relation to country Indigenous aspirations in caring for country and »» controlling weeds and feral animals provides opportunities for Indigenous people to Northern and Remote Australia »» protecting and monitoring threatened plant and deliver environmental services that protect and animal species manage Australia’s environmental and heritage values. This program provides training and career »» fire management pathways for Indigenous people in land and sea »» caring for significant wetland areas and marine management and facilitates a partnership approach environments between Indigenous people and others to deliver »» a range of cultural heritage management environmental outcomes. activities. Working on Country projects are led by the local Traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous community and underpinned by community engagement are valuable for implementing ownership and action. Traditional Owners and appropriate management frameworks. Caring for our local communities are involved in the design, Country projects have been undertaken in partnership development, implementation and leadership with Indigenous groups to record traditional of projects to ensure they align with the needs ecological knowledge and integrate it with a scientific and interests of the community and benefit the understanding of best-practice land management environment. and biodiversity conservation.

“Sustainable work on country must be nurtured for the generations ahead” —Otto Campion, Senior Rembarrnga Ranger.

Cooked yam, sharing traditional ecological knowledge, Aurukun, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Source: K. Trapnell, DSEWPaC

21 National strategy to reduce »» Safe and supportive communities: many Working on Country projects are undertaken Indigenous disadvantage on Indigenous-held lands, and the program enables rangers and community members to Working on Country also makes a direct access and actively manage their traditional contribution to the Australian Government’s country. The program also enables Indigenous national strategy Closing the Gap on Indigenous people to access and work on traditional lands disadvantage, addressing three of the seven not currently under Indigenous control through strategic areas for action: partnership projects. The program supports Indigenous rangers and community members »» Economic participation: the training and paid to carry out cultural responsibilities on traditional employment opportunities provided through country, participate in cultural activities such Working on Country increase the current and as ‘back to country’ trips, transfer traditional future employment options for Indigenous ecological knowledge and share cultural people in regional and remote Australia. practices and knowledge across generations. Due to their paid salaries, rangers and their families have increased purchasing power and »» Governance and leadership: many of economic participation. Wages are often spent the Indigenous ranger groups report an within communities, helping to support local improvement in leadership skills among businesses and initiatives. Many Working on employees and an increased capacity for Country ranger teams support the local self-management by the auspice organisation. economy by purchasing project supplies Some projects have demonstrated improved such as equipment and petrol and leasing financial independence and self-management vehicles from local businesses. capacity, having attracted funding from external sources and entered into private funding arrangements. Caring for Gawler Ranges rock-holes, South Australia

A project in South Australia received $297 000 from Caring for our Country to care for rock-holes in the Gawler Ranges. Rock-holes are culturally significant water bodies, holes or depressions and often contain rare and threatened species which are dependent on scarce water resources in an arid climate. CASE STUDY

The project was conducted in partnership between the Gawler Ranges Native Title Claim Group, South Australian Arid Lands NRM Board, South Australian Native Title Services and the SA Department for Water. As part of the project, new information databases were created and plant and animal species were recorded using a specifically designed methodology.

Traditional ecological knowledge included Tjukurpa creation stories, traditional names for the rock-holes Northern and Remote Australia and information about bush medicine and food such as bush tomato. Indigenous people received training in CyberTracker software to assist with recording data in remote locations. Access to these sites was often hindered at certain times in the wet season, making it essential to have good communication and flexibility in modifying plans. The information collected helped inform monitoring and management strategies which combine traditional and scientific approaches, to be implemented by community members and Working on Country rangers.

Project proponents worked with pastoralists to protect rock-holes from grazing stock and a number of the sites were rehabilitated—for example, by removing sediment—to maintain their ecological functions. Entire communities benefited from the project and knowledge was shared with younger generations, ensuring the continuation of important cultural values and upholding traditional responsibilities to care for the sites. The recording and incorporation of knowledge into management plans has potential to deliver on-ground ecological improvements in future.

Galahs at Gawler Ranges, South Australia Arid Lands. Source: B. Furby, DSEWPaC

23 Protecting Mangarrayi traditional lands at Elsey Station, Northern Territory

One Caring for our Country project in the Northern CASE STUDY Territory provided $1.38 million over four years to address multiple issues: targeting weed and water management, Indigenous capacity building, biodiversity, and pastoral landcare at Elsey Station, east of Mataranka.

Elsey Station is owned by the Mangarrayi people and is part of their traditional country in the upper area. This project highlights the integrative nature of Caring for our Country, with activities supporting benefits for separate yet overlapping environmental outcomes. Multiple partners were involved in delivering the project: Mangarrayi Aboriginal Corporation; Roper River Landcare and Conservation Association; Savanna Solutions; and Banibi. Mangarrayi rangers were trained in managing Weeds of National Gouldian finch, Northern Territory. Source: B. Furby, DSEWPaC Significance and feral species on their land.

A whole-of-catchment approach was adopted, as the property is strategically located at the top of the Roper River catchment and weed control prevented seeds from being dispersed further downstream. Feral pigs cause destruction to wetlands and 560 pigs have been removed from the station since 2003.

Traditional ecological knowledge was used and recorded and cultural camps were held to transfer knowledge—for example, a method of controlled burning to reduce bushfire threats. Weed reduction and fire management on the property helped protect water resources and threatened species such as the Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) and northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus).

The project had positive environmental and social impacts and the capacity building and recording of knowledge are important legacies for the long-term management of natural resources on the property. Outcome 3 Caring for our Country activities also targeted reducing the number of feral camels and cane toads (Bufo marinus) in northern Australia. A national strategy In priority areas in northern and remote is required for species which move across state and Australia, reduce the impact of invasive territory borders. Due to the widespread distribution species including, in particular, cane toads, of cane toads, native species and ecological tramp ants and camels. communities were prioritised for protection. A variety of local community projects, including National Investments in northern and remote Australia have Cane Toad Eradication Week and Kimberley Toad targeted various environmental issues. These locations Busters, concentrated on humanely removing and are often at the forefront of invasive species control, slowing the movement of the pest in specific locations with pests spreading rapidly throughout areas which are in northern Australia. Since 2008, there have been over sparsely inhabited. Pest animal species have various 8360 community volunteer action days, resulting in impacts on the integrity of ecosystems and threatened the removal of around one million cane toads from native species. They cause immense damage to natural north-western Australia. Local eradication and Northern and Remote Australia environments and pastoral properties by consuming increased community awareness can help protect water resources and stock feed, causing land erosion; priority natural assets and species. Research is also and killing or out-competing native animals for being undertaken into biological control methods and habitat and food. In most cases, it is impossible to the effectiveness of ‘toad aversion baits’ to protect the fully eradicate established invasive species, so effort northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), a species which must be concentrated on minimising their impacts, is highly threatened by cane toads. These activities population densities and geographical spread. were guided by the Cane Toad Threat Abatement Plan, Progress has been made in controlling the distribution funded with $2 million from Caring for our Country as of electric ants (Wasmannia auropunctatain) Queensland part of the EPBC Act. and yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) in North East Arnhem Land.

Cane toad. Source: D. McRae, DSEWPaC

25 Yellow crazy ant management in North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) is ranked among the top 100 worst invasive species in the world by the UN Invasive Species Specialist CASE STUDY Group. Yellow crazy ants are found within Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, approximately 20 locations throughout coastal Queensland, and on multiple Australian offshore islands, particularly Christmas and Cocos–Keeling Islands. The ants form super-colonies that can cover over 100 hectares, with ant densities of more than 100 per square metre, making them a serious threat to agriculture and to the natural environment. Crazy ants. Source: B. Rose, DSEWPaC Yellow crazy ants have an enormous impact on the biodiversity of the areas they inhabit. The species affected encompass the full spectrum of conservation status, with several listed by the Commonwealth under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act), others listed at the state level, and other species adversely affected. There are 78 species which are potentially at risk from the yellow crazy ant, comprising 32 bird species (including five which are nationally protected); 17 mammals (six are nationally protected); 23 reptiles (seven are nationally protected); four amphibians; and two invertebrates (one is nationally protected). In the savanna environments, which are not favourable habitats for yellow crazy ants, native ant diversity is reduced by approximately 40 per cent. There is also a visible, but unmeasured, reduction in ground-dwelling fauna such as lizards and spiders. In more favourable habitats, such as rainforest and unburnt mining rehabilitation of savanna woodland, there is an almost complete loss of native ant fauna and severe reductions in other biota. The Yellow Crazy Ant Management in North East Arnhem Land Program has been conducted by Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with CSIRO and Rio Tinto Alcan-Gove for almost a decade, with investment being obtained from multiple sources. In 2008–09, the program was funded by Caring for our Country ($250 000) and Rio Tinto AlcanGove ($512 000). Since 2005, Rio Tinto AlcanGove has committed approximately $300 000 to 600 000 annually to this program, particularly for management works on their mining leases. Caring for our Country and Rio Tinto have approved further funding for the program from 2011 to 2013. To date, the Yellow Crazy Ant Management in North East Arnhem Land Program has declared the ant eradicated from selected parts of the region where local populations have not yet become established: at 21 sites, covering 295 hectares. These statistics are globally significant, accounting for one-quarter of the number and 37 per cent of the area of all ant eradications globally. Only these small sites have been able to be adequately assessed for eradication success, with the ant believed to have been eradicated from around a further 1000 hectares of unassessed area. As part of the program, at least 50 Indigenous people have been trained in yellow crazy ant chemical application, the identification of the species and general knowledge of the impacts of ants. Key Rio Tinto AlcanGove staff have been trained in all aspects of yellow crazy ant management, and a new PowerPoint presentation has been created as part of the induction process for new staff to be involved in yellow crazy ant management. To prevent accidental spread of this ant by industry, up-to-date protocols are in place for new mineral exploration throughout North East Arnhem Land. These protocols address the movement of soil within the Rio Tinto AlcanGove mining leases and the placement of new Telstra fibre-optic cable between Nhulunbuy and Darwin. The Yellow Crazy Ant Management in North East Arnhem Land Program also revealed infestation dynamics that had not been described before in the scientific literature. The program found that infestations are not necessarily one interlinked mass of ant colonies; rather, they comprise many spatially discrete clusters. This finding has implications for understanding how such infestations spread, how their impacts are measured and the effort required for post-treatment assessments. Awareness of yellow crazy ants has been increased through public awareness activities conducted by Dhimurru, CSIRO and Rio Tinto Alcan-Gove. Such activities include displays at the annual Gove Peninsula Festival and Garma Cultural Festival, continual updates in the local newspaper (The Arafura Times), and numerous national and international media uptake of press-releases. The program has also just been filmed as a case study for a documentary about invasive species for French television.

Within one year of the eradication of yellow crazy ants from selected parts of North East Arnhem Land, CONTINUED the fauna of savanna environments made a full ecological recovery. Recovery within the more isolated rainforest patches, which also contain many more endemic species, is much slower and will probably take decades.

The outstanding and unprecedented successes of the Yellow Crazy Ant Management in North East CASE STUDY Arnhem Land Program have been recognised with four national awards: the Gold Banksia Award (2011)— the highest environmental award in Australia; the Banksia Caring for Country Award (2011); the United Nations Association of Australia Biodiversity and Sustainability Award (2011); and the inaugural NAIDOC Caring for Northern and Remote Australia Country Award (2010).

27 Feral camels in northern and remote Australia

High densities of feral camel populations can damage soil, agricultural land, native vegetation, habitat for protected species and aquatic ecosystems. In recognition of these impacts, Caring for our Country made a substantial investment to reduce camel densities around priority environmental assets in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. These assets included

Lake Eyre (SA), Uluru and Kata Tjuta (NT) and the Rudall River (WA). CASE STUDY

Caring for our Country supported large-scale pest control across properties and jurisdictions. Combined with aerial culling, ground-shooting and mustering, pastoral and Indigenous landholders were engaged to develop ongoing camel management strategies and to undertake camel removal. Where feasible, commercial opportunities for the meat industry were fostered and inaccessible locations were reached by aerial culling. Densities were reduced overall; however, unseasonal flooding in December 2009 presented a setback by dispersing the camels, making culling difficult. The project was adapted to deal with these emerging challenges. The project is on track to meet targets for reducing densities by June 2013.

Major outcomes to date are the introduction of a coordinated and systematic approach among property owners; contribution to increased agricultural productivity and protection of key natural resources; and capacity building and engagement of Traditional Owners on Martu, Ngaanyatjarra and Central Land Council lands. Capacity building established a foundation for ongoing management of camels beyond this project. Other elements which will be useful for future planning and administration include the development of animal welfare protocols, collection of information about feral camel behaviour and a methodology for claiming carbon credits.

It will be some time before ecological recovery can be quantitatively measured, yet anecdotal evidence reports improved water quality and wetland health at some of the priority assets.

Camel footprint, near Umuwa, Alinytjara Wilurara NRM region, South Australia. Source: M. Jensen, DSEWPaC Camel, near Oak Valley, South Australia. Source: M. Jensen, DSEWPaC Outcome 4 It has been demonstrated that a reduction in Expand traditional fire management the extent and intensity of fire benefits regimes, across at least 200 000 square biodiversity as well as reducing carbon kilometres of northern Australia’s savannas, emissions. Traditional fire management is part to reduce the incidence of unmanaged of a broader plan to tackle climate change and fires, and position Indigenous land Indigenous land managers have been equipped managers for entry into emerging voluntary with information to enter emerging emissions or other emissions trading markets. trading markets.

The Indigenous Fire Management in Northern Australia Project expanded traditional fire regimes across more than 200 000 square kilometres. Over four years, $9.089 million was invested to develop a methodology and implement fire management across four project areas located in the Kimberley (WA), central Arnhem Land (NT), western Cape York (QLD) and the Gulf of Carpentaria (QLD/NT). The project also built capacity for Indigenous land managers to generate carbon market credits. The project was closely aligned with other policy frameworks such as the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. These regions were prioritised due to their biodiversity values and vulnerability to wildfires. Reinstating traditional fire management regimes helped minimise impacts on ecosystems and grazing land from destructive wildfires. The overall project helped reduce the occurrence of wildfires over 200 000 square kilometres, benefiting Fire management, Northern Territory. Source: DSEWPaC biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The project was led by the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) in close cooperation with Indigenous land managers and researchers from Bushfires NT and CSIRO. The on-ground component was delivered by more than 20 Indigenous ranger groups through four regional project partners: the Kimberley Land Council; Northern Land Council; Carpentaria Land Council; and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. The proponents were confronted with logistical complexity due to the large spatial coverage, difficult climatic conditions and multiple property tenures and stakeholders. The development of strong Arial photo of fire management, Northern Territory.Source: DSEWPaC cross-agency partnerships helped address some of these challenges of implementation. Traditional fire management consists of The project involved close consultation with Traditional implementing a fire management regime Owners and pastoralists about fire plans and carbon which creates a mosaic of burnt and unburnt market business opportunities. Indigenous rangers, vegetation. Prescribed burning is undertaken including those employed by the Working on Country early in the dry season, when fires are less component of Caring for our Country, were engaged intense, to reduce fuel loads and create a to conduct the fire management and participated in network of fire breaks. The early dry season training to identify flora and fauna species. burning reduces the likelihood of large, intense wildfires occurring in the late dry season. Northern and Remote Australia

Rangers at work in the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. Source: Wardekken Land Management Ltd

One particularly innovative element of the project The landscape-scale fire management projects made was an equitable partnership approach in which significant progress in reducing the extent of late dry all Indigenous ranger groups actively collected season fires, having positive effects for biodiversity and managed scientific data with the support from and vegetation. For example, the Waanyi Garawa scientists rather than being directed by these research and Garawa rangers implemented on-ground fire organisations. Biophysical mapping and surveys management within the 40 000 square kilometre were also undertaken to gain better understanding of Northern Territory Gulf of Carpentaria project area. vegetation and physical characteristics. The average amount of this country burnt by late dry Moreover, funding contributed to greenhouse gas season wildfires each year was reduced by more than research and satellite data for the Northern Australia 80 per cent when compared to five years prior to the Fire Information website, which maps historical and project. This significant achievement was awarded a current incidents of fire. Research has demonstrated Northern Territory Indigenous Landcare award in 2011. that Indigenous fire management practices reduce Since 2008, the amount of country burnt by traditional carbon emissions and ‘savanna fire management’ practices tripled in the 46 000 square kilometres central has been formally endorsed as an approved Arnhem Land project area, leading to a substantial methodology under the Carbon Farming Initiative, decrease in uncontrolled wildfires. Aerial and ground creating opportunities for Indigenous people to burning has substantially increased across the north participate in the carbon market in the future. Kimberley, and workshops transferred and recorded Another aspect of the overall project was providing cultural knowledge to build regional capacity and information sessions on carbon markets and training in identify values, plant and animal resources to be burning techniques. Vegetation mapping and carbon protected. The broader project highlights the integrative base-line measurements were completed across the nature of the Caring for our Country initiative, four regional project areas, positioning Indigenous land with project outcomes coordinated over multiple managers to engage in the carbon economy. regions and providing a forum for sharing lessons learned. It has also contributed to social, economic and cultural benefits within Indigenous communities by creating jobs and building capacity.

31 The Southern Gulf Fire and Weed Project, located in Gangalidda country in the Gulf of Carpentaria (QLD), Monitoring of Australia’s aims to protect the many streams, rivers, and dense environmental assets in a vegetation which are threatened by rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) and calotrope (Calotropis changing climate procera) weeds. Working on Country supported the Monitoring and evaluation is important for measuring Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to the effectiveness of management strategies and employ a team of Indigenous rangers to control adapting these where necessary. Monitoring is required these invasive weeds. The rangers conducted over a long-term period, as environmental changes mosaic burning to restrict the spread of seeds, often take many years to manifest. The National used chemicals on the weeds and collected information Indigenous Ranger CyberTracker Project delivered for geo-spatial mapping systems. In this instance, training in the CyberTracker technology, allowing social, cultural and environmental benefits were rangers to collect on-ground biophysical data for achieved simultaneously. Similarly, the Western Desert northern and remote IPAs and Working on Country Traditional and Contemporary Fire Project extended fire projects. Analysis and mapping can then be performed management in the WA Rangelands to improve habitat at a later date. The technology has built capacity in for native animals, delivering training in contemporary data collection and assisted with monitoring changes and traditional practices to Traditional Owners of Martu in condition over time, recording information on country. Mosaic burning techniques were employed animals, plants, vegetation, and invasive species. to reduce vegetation loads and the spread of large CyberTracker software has been used to assist with wildfires. The project has also facilitated the transfer managing the Gawler Ranges rock-holes in South of traditional ecological knowledge about animals, Australia. plants and food. Indigenous ranger, George Sambo Indigenous rangers use the Cybertracker as another tool for monitoring biodiversity. Within his ranger group, George Sambo champions working with older and younger generations together on country to share and learn knowledge. As a Gurindji man, George has a thorough understanding of his cultural obligations and confidence in his knowledge and understanding to ensure that the Munguru Munguru ranger team fulfils the aspirations of the Gurindji Traditional Owners.

Calotrope weed, Working on Country supported the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to employ a team of Indigenous rangers to control the invasive weed. Source: D. Markovic, DSEWPaC

George Sambo is a dedicated and valued Munguru Munguru ranger. Source: J. Hodson, Central Land Council The future agricultural productivity of northern savannas is dependent on a well-managed landscape. These semi-arid areas also experience drought and pressures from a changing climate. Information and decision support tools are important to identify and manage such threats. For example, Caring for our Country funded the development of a register of natural assets for the highly productive Barkly Tablelands in central Northern Territory. The register is used to manage emerging threats, improve condition of the assets and build land manager capacity, ultimately assisting with preparing the ecosystem for future drought and extreme weather events. Drought can even impact on the success of programs

to manage weeds due to dormancy of invasive Northern and Remote Australia plants and subsequent ineffectiveness of herbicides.

Many of the activities funded by Caring for our Country have established a solid foundation for long-term achievements of outcomes in northern and remote Australia. The distant locations of many places make it necessary to maximise all conservation efforts and target several priorities at the same time in order to gain Cane River, Western Australian Rangelands. Source: N. Rains, DSEWPaC value for money and ensure that investments are not compromised by other threats. Intermediate outcomes are on track to being achieved and are also supporting other NRM priorities such as enhancing connectivity of native habitats and ecological communities and Australian Collaborative facilitating the uptake of sustainable farm practices. Rangeland Information Projects are most effectively delivered in partnership System (ACRIS) with local community organisations, Indigenous groups, industry, land managers and farmers. Access to knowledge and monitoring capabilities It is essential to engage communities in both planning are steadily improving as a result of Australian and implementation. A coordinated approach with Government investments in products such multiple partners is often required due to the remote as the Australian Collaborative Rangeland locations and cross-jurisdictional issues. Information System (ACRIS) and Australia’s For example, weed control is best delivered with Native Vegetation Framework. These systems all relevant land owners in a region to stop weeds have assisted with directing efforts efficiently and spreading across properties. measuring progress in achieving outcomes. ACRIS represents an important way to monitor change using scientifically rigorous data and information. ACRIS is a coordinating mechanism that collates rangeland information from state, Northern Territory and Australian Government agencies and other sources. Climatic variability in the rangelands makes it difficult to separate seasonal climate variation from change driven by human activities. The creation of ACRIS, which was first documented in the 2001 report, Tracking Changes in the Rangelands, addresses new ground in documenting change and its causes. This information contributes to rangeland management and capacity.

33 The partnerships developed have resulted in substantial In the first five years of Caring for our Country, a range progress towards achieving the outcomes for the of lessons have been learned and will be considered northern and remote Australia national priority area. for future design and delivery of NRM in northern and Ongoing effort is needed to maintain the progress remote Australia. For weed management and pest already made, recognising that partnerships take time control, it is important to focus on developing a network to evolve. Regions in northern and remote Australia are of alliances at the landscape scale and ensuring especially vulnerable to climate change and already there are ongoing commitments beyond the life of the naturally experience extreme climates with variable program. It is acknowledged that weed management rainfall. Caring for our Country investments aimed to programs can take up to 10 years to detect changes in prepare communities and environments to cope landscape conditions. Without long-term management with the effects of a changing climate. For example, plans, invasive species are likely to re-establish the Indigenous Fire Management Project helped boost populations. Land owners are significant caretakers the resilience of northern Australia’s savannas through of the land and it is crucial to gain their involvement in implementing a traditional fire management regime to environmental initiatives. Caring for our Country has prevent devastating wildfires and reduce the amount successfully united adjacent land owners in some of of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere. the most remote areas of Australia to work together Higher amounts of vegetation are being preserved as a towards a common goal of improving the quality of their consequence. Implementation of the savanna burning land and practices. Critical partnerships have been methodology will have long-lasting legacies for the formed and awareness raised in regional and remote environment and employment prospects in remote communities. In addition to Caring for our Country, regions in northern Australia. The methodology could the Australian Government’s Biodiversity Fund will be potentially even be applied in other countries. targeting investments in northern Australia to improve the condition, extent and connectivity of native habitats Building on progress and on a landscape scale, increasing carbon stores and resilience to climate change. The Biodiversity Fund is learning from experience— part of the Land Sector Package of the Clean Energy Phase II of Caring for our Future plan and is designed to complement Caring for Country 2013–2018 our Country activities. In the Sustainable Environment stream of the new Caring for our Country will continue to work towards phase of Caring for our Country, investments in Target long-term objectives in northern and remote Australia Areas will deliver strategic objectives to protect and by protecting ecological processes that support the conserve places and values of international and natural environments and sustainable development national significance, especially maintaining ecosystem of these areas. Experience has shown that effective services, protecting Australia’s conservation estate and partnerships and capacity building are essential for enhancing the capacity of Indigenous communities fulfilling long-term NRM outcomes in northern and to conserve natural resources. In particular, the remote Australia. Much of the work to date has management of World Heritage sites, the NRS and been focused on establishing these networks, Ramsar wetlands will be prioritised. The successful which can take a significant amount of time and effort. work already completed in northern and remote The Australian Government will continue to develop Australia will be built upon with targeted investments and maintain strong ties with local communities, in Central Australia; Cape York; the Kimberley; industry, Indigenous Australians, regional bodies, and urban waterways and coastal environments. farmers and land managers. The IPA program is a Key threatening processes will be addressed through successful model of building relationships between a continued focus on whole-of-ecosystem and Traditional Owners and government agencies as well as integrated approaches. It will be important to draw upon conservation and industry groups. As part of the NRS, and support the significant and unique knowledge, this network of relationships and protected areas acts skills and responsibilities of Indigenous communities. as a natural safety net against future environmental The ecological resistance of landscapes across the challenges, primarily climate change, drought and Target Areas will be enhanced through strategic fire declining water resources. These areas are planned for management, managing weeds and introduced and managed appropriately using the best available vertebrate pests, and protecting the ecological science and practices. In future, the IPA and Working and cultural values of waterways, wetlands, on Country programs will be more closely aligned to coastal environments and threatened species. integrate land and sea management and capitalise on the benefits of both initiatives. The Sustainable Agriculture stream of the next phase of Caring for our Country will invest in activities to ensure Australia’s natural resource base remains profitable, productive and resilient, including in northern and remote regions. The Australian Government will support a wide range of activities to increase the adoption of more sustainable farm and fisheries practices while increasing the capacity of land managers for improved NRM and addressing key issues which impact on agricultural production such as weeds and pests.

Further information about the new phase of Caring for our Country is available at: www.nrm.gov.au/about/ caring/overview.html.

It is essential that the relationships already developed in Northern and Remote Australia northern and remote areas are built upon and extended in the next phase of Caring for our Country. These relationships are instrumental for increasing community capacity to implement on-ground activities in some of the most remote locations in Australia. The protection of the environment in these regions has flow-on effects for economic, social and cultural wellbeing and results in opportunities for economic development and, ultimately, stronger communities.

35 References

Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework: Indigenous Fire Management in Northern Australia www.environment.gov.au/land/vegetation/nvf/index.html. Final Report, July 2012.

Australian Collaborative Rangeland Information System Indigenous Fire Management in Northern Australia (ACRIS): www.environment.gov.au/land/rangelands/ Project: www.nrm.gov.au/projects/other-projects/ acris/index.html. special/fire-management/index.html. Accessed 16 April 2013. Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association (2009). Strategic management of Parkinsonia aculeate in the Indigenous Protected Areas: Georgina River Catchment—NT: www.barklylandcare. www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/index.html. org.au/4-Projects.html. Landcare: www.daff.gov.au/natural-resources/landcare. Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association (2009). Assets of the Barkly: a register of our valued landscape National Indigenous Ranger CyberTracker Project: www. features: www.barklylandcare.org.au/cms/file_library/ environment.gov.au/indigenous/cybertracker/index.html. Other/Other_44.pdf. National Reserve System: Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association: www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/index.html. www.barklylandcare.org.au. Accessed 16 April 2013. Northern Australia Fire Information: Cane Toad Threat Abatement Plan: www.firenorth.org.au/nafi2. www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ Protecting Mangarrayi traditional lands at Elsey Station: publications/tap/cane-toads.html. http://www.nrm.gov.au/projects/other-projects/landcare/ Accessed 16 April 2013. mangarrayi/

CAPAD (Collaborative Australian Protected Area Regional Landcare Facilitators: www.daff.gov.au/natural- Database): www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/ resources/landcare/facilitators. capad/index.html. Reporting on trends in improved land management Carbon Farming Initiative: practices: www.daff.gov.au/natural-resources/soils/ www.climatechange.gov.au/cfi. reporting-on-trends-in-improved-land-management- Closing the Gap: www.fahcsia.gov.au/our- practices. responsibilities/indigenous-australians/programs- Southern Gulf Fire and Weed Project: services/closing-the-gap. www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry/ DAFF (2013). Land Management Practice Trends in projects/qld/index.html#twoa. Australia’s Northern and Remote Agricultural Industries: Urbis (2012). Social Outcomes of Working on Country. www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/2278284/ Final Report for the Department of Sustainability, northern-remote.pdf Environment, Water, Population and Communities DSEWPaC (2012). Indigenous cultural and spiritual (DSEWPaC): www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ workingoncountry/publications/pubs/woc-social.pdf. values in water quality planning—Prioritising rock-holes of Aboriginal and ecological significance in the Gawler Wangamaty (Lower Daly) Landcare Group: Ranges, South Australia: www.environment.gov.au/ www.landcareonline.com.au/?page_id=6740. water/publications/quality/pubs/water-quality-planning- Accessed 16 April 2013. indigenous-d.pdf. Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/declared/ Act 1999 (EPBC Act): www.environment.gov.au/epbc. warddeken.html. Accessed 16 April 2013.

Weeds of National Significance: www.weeds.org.au/WoNS.

West Kimberley National Heritage place. www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/west- kimberley. Accessed 16 April 2013.

Western Desert Traditional and Contemporary Fire Project: www.centraldesert.org.au/resources/121015_ Country_Cultures_Future_Vol_01.pdf.

Weir, L.K., Stacey, C. and Youngetob, K. (2011). The Benefits of Caring for Country: A Literature Northern and Remote Australia Review. Prepared for the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS): www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry/ publications/pubs/benefits-cfc.pdf.

Witchelina: www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/getting- involved/case-studies/witchelina.html. Accessed 16 April 2013.

Working on Country: www.environment.gov.au/ indigenous/workingoncountry/index.html.

Yellow Crazy Ant Management Program: www.dhimurru.com.au/yellow-crazy-ant-management- program.html.

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