Aboriginal Australians have lived on the land for millennia, developing a strong commitment to look after it, as well as accumulating generations of traditional knowledge about the ecology. Whenever we buy land we seek to engage with the Traditional Owners to ensure they maintain access and a connection to Country. We value their insight, cultural perspective and collaboration.
We also invest in partnering with Aboriginal groups who are themselves landowners – often of vast estates. We help with developing and implementing Healthy Country Plans that seek to achieve conservation goals while creating jobs and livelihood on Country.
Our 24 active Aboriginal partnerships now encompass 7.6 million hectares of land being protected for conservation.
Established: 2014
Partnership area: 1.2 million hectares / 12,000 km²
Location: Arnhem Land, 450 km east of Darwin, 230 km east of Jabiru
Guruwiling (Arafura Swamp) is the largest freshwater ecosystem in Arnhem Land. We support the Arafura Swamp Rangers developing governance and administrative capacity as well as conservation planning.
Established: 2011
Partnership area: 6.6 million hectares / 16,000 km²
Location: 900 km north-east of Perth, 500 km south-east of Port Hedland
The Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area covers a section of the Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts that's roughly the size of Tasmania. Traditional Owners are the Martu people, whose ranger program employs locals from Wiluna and surrounds.
Established: 2014
Partnership area: 650,000 hectares / 6,500 km²
Location: Central-west Kimberley, north of Fitzroy Crossing
Bunuba Country includes Giekie Gorge, Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge National Parks. Their Native Title rights were recognised in 2012 and we're working with the Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation on their Healthy Country Plan.
Established: 2006
Location: Far North Qeensland
Cape York Peninsula is one of the largest ecologically-intact, tropical, Indigenous domains on earth and is home to more than 10,000 Aboriginal people from 50 diverse language groups. Since 2006 we've worked with the Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation on an over‑arching strategy, which included assessments and planning with clans (the Kaandju, Umpila, Lama Lama and Ayapathu) in the Coen sub‑region.
Established: 2009
Partnership area: 22,350 hectares / 223 km²
Location: Central-west NSW, 290km west of Dubbo
For Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people Mawonga Station is a significant part of their traditional Country. Through the Winangakirri Aboriginal Corporation, Mawonga was purchased on their behalf with funds from the Commonwealth Government National Reserve System program and the Indigenous Land Corporation. We've helped with the property purchase, ecological assessments and their management plan.
Established: 2015
Partnership area: 800,000 hectares / 8,000 km²
Location: Cape York, 300km north-west of Cairns, Queensland
The Olkola Aboriginal Corporation secured one of the largest transfers of Aboriginal freehold land when over 700,000 hectares was returned to them in 2014. We've supported development of a Healthy Country Plan and we're working together on a long-term project to protect the Golden-shouldered Parrot.
Established: 2007
Partnership area: 1.4 million hectares / 14,000 km²
Location: Arnhem Land, 230km east of Darwin, 30km east of Jabiru
We've supported the development and implementation of a plan of management for the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. This will ensure the sustainable management of the region for conservation, and the protection of important cultural sites under the direction of the Nawardekken Traditional Owners.
Established: 2011
Partnership area: 760,000 hectares / 7,600 km² (Uunguu Indigenous Protected Area, stages 1 and 2)
Location: North-west Kimberley, 600km north-east of Derby
The land and waters of the Wunambal Gaambera covers an incredible 2.5 million hectares of white sandy beaches, rocky escarpments and rugged gorges. We've helped create a Healthy Country Plan and support works on the ground.