Badu Land and Sea Profile RANGER GROUP Rangers 2015 MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES LAND • Native plants and animals • Burning• Land patrol • Weeds • Native nursery • Revegetation • Coastal management (beach patrol) OVERVIEW • Uninhabited island management Traditional island name Badu SEA • Crocodiles Western name Mulgrave • Turtle and dugong • Marine debris Western Islands Cluster Maluilgal Nation • Sea patrol • Seagrass Monitoring Local government TSIRC & TSC Registered Native Title Mura Badulgal (TSI) PEOPLE • Traditional ecological knowledge Body Corporate (RNTBC) Corporation RNTBC • Traditional and cultural sites • Community involvement Land type Continental Island • Visitor management Air distance from • Research support 49 Thursday Island (km) Area (ha) 10222 KEY VALUES Indicative max length (km) 11 CLIMATE CHANGE RISK Indicative max breadth (km) 13 Vulnerability to sea level rise (+1.0m) Very Low Max elevation (m) 190 Sea level rise response options Very High Healthy sea Marine water Coral reefs Seagrass Dugong Marine turtles Coastline length (km) 49 ecosystems quality meadows Population 783 (2011 ABS Census) Area of island zoned 162 development (ha) Subsistence Healthy land Sustainable Coasts Mangroves Coastal birds fishing ecosystems human settlements and beaches and wetlands Area of disturbed / 213 (2.1%) / undisturbed vegetation (ha/%) 10009 (97.9%) Supporting the Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait COMMUNITY OVERVIEW FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS Badu is a large (10,222ha) continental island in the The Badu community is highly reliant on air transport, Recent land and sea management achievements include: Near Western Cluster of the Torres Strait about diesel powered electricity generation and barge transport of supplies and materials to and from the community. 49km north of Thursday Island (Waiben). Badu ○ Community-based dugong and turtle management plan in place Renewable energy options will be explored to reduce (population 783) is the second largest community ○ Ranger group established and Rangers implementing activities under Working on Country plans carbon emissions and work towards energy independence. in the Torres Strait, behind Thursday Island. ○ Community participation in the Sustainable Horticulture Project, including the establishment of a school garden and The community is located on the south eastern of community fruit tree planting the island. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ○ Ranger training and participation in intertidal and sub-tidal seagrass monitoring activities The shape of Badu is roughly square, measuring Mura Badulgal Rangers engage with the community approximately 11km by 13km. The topography ○ Ranger and RNTBC participation in the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) project, including training in the through frequent community notices and ranger talks, alternates between rocky mountainous outcrops use of the TEK database system community participation in ranger activities, and an annual and sandy ridges covered with scattered forest ○ Marine debris monitoring and management activities, including removal of ghost nets community celebration and report back. This ensures and light scrub areas (highest point 190m). Low land and sea management activities remain relevant to ○ Feral animal management, weed mapping and management lying regions of the island contain both swamps community priorities. and mangroves. More than 97% of Badu is covered in undisturbed vegetation. MAIN THREATENING PROCESSES CLIMATE CHANGE PROFILE SOME OF BADU’S IMPORTANT Native title is recognised over Badu Island and is ANIMALS & PLANTS The main threatening processes affecting the Mura Climate change in the Torres Strait will involve a warming held in trust by the Mura Badulgal (Torres Strait Badulgal land and sea management area relate to climate of air and sea temperatures, rising sea levels, more severe Islander) Corporation RNTBC. change, the spread of pest plants and animals, and weather events, ocean acidification and some changes declining water quality (including marine debris and to rainfall patterns, evaporation, wind and ocean currents. increasing sedimentation). These changes are predicted to have long-term impacts LAND AND SEA MANAGEMENT AREA on all of the region’s key values across the Land, Sea and People themes. Badu has a ‘very low’ vulnerability rating The Mura Badulgal land and sea management area LAND AND SEA MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES to sea level rise and a ‘very high’ response options rating includes a number of uninhabited islands, reefs and (there are good options to move to a safer site on the marine areas (see map) covering approximately 444,211 ha. Seventeen management priorities under the themes of Emerald Monitor Eastern Curlew island). A rise of 300 cm will need to occur before regular Photo: Tim Vickers, Wikimedia Commons Photo: Terry Reis Part of the land and sea management area is shared with Land, Sea, and People are identified in the Mura Badulgal inundation becomes an issue. For more information Moa and Mabuiag. Working on Country Ranger Plan. There are 3 Ranger positions (as at 2015). The Mura Badulgal Rangers will on climate change, please see the Torres Strait Climate continue to work closely with Change Strategy 2014-2018. the community on priority TURU CAY projects including dugong TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE GARIAR REEF and turtle management, protecting significant cultural The Badu community is working to protect Traditional MABUIAG ISLAND ANUI REEF sites, preserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for future generations. The Ecological Knowledge, and TEK system enables communities to access information Buzamaar Cheilocostus potierae KUIKU PAD REEF Photo: Melinda McLean Photo: David Fell managing pests and fire. for their own cultural maintenance; support sustainable community based environmental management approaches; and allows Indigenous Rangers’ planning FURTHER INFORMATION BADU ISLAND DUGONG AND TURTLE and on-ground cultural and natural resource management For more information, visit the MANAGEMENT activities to be informed by Ailan Kastom (Island Custom). MOA ISLAND The Mura Badulgal Island TSRA website at http://www.tsra.gov.au and the SKETTY BELLE SHOAL community are actively Torres Strait eAtlas http://ts.eatlas.org.au/ts MATU (WHALE) ISLAND HOVELL SHOAL COMMUNITY HORTICULTURE implementing the Mura LONG REEF Badulgal Dugong and Turtle The Badu community has an active food producing ULUI WARRAL COOK REEF Management Plan 2011-2016, community gardening program in place to preserve (WEST) ISLAND (HAWKESBURY) ISLAND TRAVERS that is built on the vision: traditional gardening skills and support greater community ISLAND Turtle and Dugong Management Area NORTH TORRES REEF self-sufficiency in food production. The Mura Badulgal Mura Badhulgau (Badu) “To develop sustainable FANTOME REEF SOUTH TORRES REEF TWIN ISLAND Rangers have played a role in the community nursery Badu-Mabuiag management and use of Badu-Moa NORTH WEST REEF including the propagation of native plants for revegetation REEVES SHOALdugong and turtle resources VARZIN SHOAL NUMI (ROUND ISLAND) ISLET projects. This map is based on existing dugong and turtle management areas and shows the general areas of operation for community-based within the sea boundaries of the land and sea Rangers. Best available information (including traditional place names) has been used at the time of publication. This Mura Badulgal nation.” map is indicative only and not intended for native title purposes..