Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan March 2005
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Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation KAANJU HOMELANDS Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers Cape York Peninsula INDIGENOUS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN March 2005 Prepared by: Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation Chuula, upper Wenlock River Central Cape York Peninsula C/- Post Office COEN Queensland 4871 Australia Phone/Fax: (+61) (7) 40603240 URL: www.kaanjungaachi.com.au E-mail: [email protected] ABN: 74 277 585 078 Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan “The deterioration of the land is felt by Pianamu (Rainbow Serpent), and under Kaanju law if proper land management is not carried out Pianamu will not allow the land to be sustainable.” David Claudie Kaanju Traditional Owner Chairman, Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation ©Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation 2005 i Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan KEY STATEMENT OF ASPIRATIONS q To conserve, protect and enhance the natural and cultural values of Kaanju Homelands for the benefit of current and future generations of Kaanju people. q To manage Kaanju Homelands in accordance with Kaanju laws and customs. q To reaffirm traditional Kaanju governance structures in relation to land and resource management on Kaanju Homelands. q To promote the recognition, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, of the Kaanju people as primary managers and decision makers for our homelands. q To develop and operate homelands-based community enterprises that incorporate sustainable land management principles. q To develop homelands-based projects, education and training that will improve the capacity and self-esteem of Kaanju people living on homelands. q To support Kaanju people in our permanent reoccupation of homelands. q To incorporate, where appropriate, traditional knowledge with western scientific processes providing beneficial outcomes for natural and cultural resource management policy and practice. ©Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation 2005 ii Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan Figure i: Map of Kaanju Homelands showing Clan Estates1 1 All maps in this document are indicative only. ©Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation 2005 iii Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan Figure ii: Map of Kaanju Homelands showing Proposed IPA Management Area ©Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation 2005 iv Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan Figure iii: Map of Proposed IPA showing Management Areas I, II and III ©Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation 2005 v Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Kaanju Traditional Owner Statement...................................................... i Key Statement of Aspirations ................................................................ ii List of Figures ....................................................................................viii List of Tables....................................................................................... ix List of Boxes ....................................................................................... ix Notes on Kaanju Orthography ............................................................... x Acknowledgements .............................................................................. x Acronyms and abbreviations ................................................................ xi SECTION 1: BACKGROUND TO THIS MANAGEMENT PLAN......................1 1.1 Plan overview................................................................................ 1 1.2 The IPA framework........................................................................ 2 1.3 Kaanju Homelands and proposed IPA ............................................. 4 1.4 Administrative arrangements and decision-making structure .......... 5 1.4.1 Kaanju Pama ...............................................................................................5 1.4.2 Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation ..............................................................5 1.4.3 Department of Environment and Heritage.....................................................6 1.4.4 Other interests in the proposed IPA ..............................................................6 1.4.5 Relevant legislation, plans and strategies .....................................................6 1.5 Collaboration and cooperation ........................................................ 8 1.6 Consultation process...................................................................... 9 1.7 IUCN management definition ....................................................... 10 SECTION 2: FOUNDATION FOR THIS MANAGEMENT PLAN.................. 11 2.1 Kaanju values .............................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Kaanju governance and land management philosophy ................................11 2.1.2 Kaanju cosmology and ecological knowledge ..............................................12 2.1.3 History.......................................................................................................13 2.1.4 Reoccupation of homelands ........................................................................14 2.2 Kaanju Homelands – A physical description ................................. 14 2.2.1 Location and climate ..................................................................................14 2.2.2 Topography................................................................................................15 2.2.3 Geology and soils .......................................................................................15 2.2.4 Catchments ...............................................................................................16 2.2.5 Flora ..........................................................................................................17 2.2.6 Fauna........................................................................................................21 2.3 Natural heritage values ................................................................ 23 2.4 Other values ................................................................................ 24 SECTION 3: MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND CAUSES ................................ 25 3.1 Setting the context ...................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Disruption of Kaanju land management ......................................................25 3.1.2 Non-Indigenous land tenure and management ...........................................25 3.2 Land management issues ............................................................. 28 3.2.1 Third party (visitor) access and use............................................................28 3.2.2 Pest species - Weeds and feral animals ......................................................29 3.2.3 Fire............................................................................................................33 3.2.4 Abandoned mines ......................................................................................34 3.2.5 Roads, vehicle use and inappropriate development.....................................35 3.2.6 Threats to water and soil resources ............................................................35 ©Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation 2005 vi Kaanju Homelands IPA Management Plan 3.3 Many visions and plans for the future of Kaanju Homelands...........36 3.3.1 Government .............................................................................................. 36 3.3.2 Conservation groups .................................................................................. 38 3.3.3 Research ................................................................................................... 39 3.3.4 Other Indigenous bodies ............................................................................ 39 3.3.5 Leaseholders on Kaanju Homelands ........................................................... 40 3.3.6 Commercial interests................................................................................. 40 SECTION 4: KAANJU LAND MANAGEMENT REGIME - PROGRAMS, MILESTONES AND ACTIONS ......................... 41 4.1 Land and resource management framework..................................41 4.1.1 Land and resource management programs................................................. 42 4.1.2 Core milestones......................................................................................... 42 4.1.3 Current projects and priority actions.......................................................... 43 4.2 Program A: Actions to promote and support Kaanju land and resource management, Kaanju governance and land tenure, and the reoccupation of Kaanju Homelands. ..............................................47 4.2.1 Milestones for next five years .................................................................... 47 4.2.2 Homelands development............................................................................ 47 4.2.3 Recognition of Kaanju governance and land and resource management practices and regimes................................................................................ 49 4.3 Program B: Actions to manage and control processes that threaten the sustainability of land and resources and the integrity of the Indigenous and natural heritage values of Kaanju Homelands. ......51 4.3.1 Milestones for next five years .................................................................... 51 4.3.2 Common actions........................................................................................ 52 4.3.3 Protection of significant Kaanju sites and landscapes.................................. 55 4.3.4 Biodiversity conservation