in Cape York, Qld
have provided Aboriginal groups with training
in Healthy Country Planning and then
provided support as they manage their lands
for conservation. A Healthy Country Plan
identifies key natural and cultural values and
sets out strategies and actions for protecting
those values while mitigating threats. A team
of Umpila people from Cape York Peninsula
attended training and then worked with their
entire community to develop the region's first
Healthy Country Plan.
and Healthy Country Planning coach, says:
many passionate people who wanted to see
things happen but no way to capture all the
ideas and work through a logical framework
of what to do, why and when. Now we are
filled with confidence that our objectives
and strategies will deliver the cultural and
biodiversity outcomes we have planned for
and we will be working on our country looking
after all the things that are important to us."
with Umpila people in the long-term
implementation of their plan, which
covers an area of over 250 000 hectares
of Aboriginal freehold land that links the
spectacular McIllwraith Range and the
Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
producing a dynamic regional partnership
in central Victoria around our Nardoo
Hills and J C Griffin reserves. The Victorian
Regional Reserve Manager, Jeroen van Veen,
is working with Department of Environment
and Primary Industries, the North Central
and Wimmera catchment management
authorities, Wedderburn and Kara Kara
conservation management networks,
Dja Dja Wurrung traditional owners,
Trust for Nature and other organisations
to achieve a coordinated, integrated
approach to protecting and reconnecting
the fragmented grassy woodlands.
relationship with the Dja Dja Wurrung
people with the completion of a cultural
assessment at both Nardoo Hills and J C
Griffin reserves. We will be working together
on protecting and promoting the cultural
significance of the Bush Heritage reserves.
Bush Heritage has also joined with the
traditional owners in preparing funding
applications for important natural resource
management projects.
was established by Bush Heritage and
the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and
is jointly managed.
being used to finance conservation
work by local farmers. For an annual
payment, each farmer commits to
managing an agreed portion of their
land to achieve specific conservation
outcomes. The required actions are
set out in a stewardship agreement.
period of about ten years, with the
option to extend the agreement in
periods of five years' duration for as
long as the two parties agree and as
long as the conservation outcomes
are being delivered. Farmers are
enthusiastic about this new scheme
because the MCF provides certainty
that their efforts will be resourced for
the long term. Currently, the demand
from land owners is outstripping the
fund's capacity.
been generously supported by Sidney Myer
Fund, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation,
John T Reid Charitable Trusts and an
anonymous donor.
agreement, Midlands, Tas.
Photograph by Matt Appleby
(left) leads Umpila healthy country planning.
Photograph by Emma Ignjic
Photograph by Jeroen van Veen