Understanding conservation outcomes – Northern Tanami
Indigenous Protected Area
The research
Through a case study of the Northern Tanami Indigenous
Protected Area, Jane Walker is examining how Aboriginal
management interests challenge and promote protected area
conservation outcomes.
The research asks:
• What values and objectives are
important to Aboriginal people involved in protected area
management?
• What processes are required for effective
management? and
• What are the regional and national
priorities and standards for protected area management?
Case study: Northern Tanami Indigenous Protected
Area
The Northern Tanami IPA covers over 40 000 km² and is
managed from the remote Warlpiri community of Lajamanu, 900 km
north-west of Alice Springs. The IPA supports Aboriginal landowners
to manage the natural and cultural values of their lands.
Why this research?
• Protected area management policy and
practice in Australia has often ignored the interests and values of
Aboriginal people
• More recently the role of Aboriginal
people in managing protected areas has become better recognized and
formalized through structures such as Indigenous Protected Areas
(IPAs)
• IPAs promise much: they enhance Aboriginal
control in management, recognize the cultural, spiritual and
economic significance of land to Aboriginal people and support
economic and social development
• However relatively little is still known
about the values and objectives important to Aboriginal people
managing these lands and how these relate to national protected
area conservation agendas
Click here to
view a map of the Indigenous Protected Areas already declared
across Australia.
Expected Outcomes
• increased understanding and recognition
of Aboriginal land management practices
• improved understanding and adoption of
cross-cultural partnerships and management processes
• promotion of more equitable and effective
policy and support for Aboriginal land managers
Participants
Jane works mostly with senior Warlpiri women from the community
of Lajamanu. Other participants include:
• Traditional Owners and community
members from the Warlpiri and Gurindji language groups
• Wulaign Rangers
• Central Land Council (CLC)
• The Australian Government Department of
the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)
Research Links
• The findings from this research help
inform the Livelihoods inLand™ project
• The Northern Territory Research and
Innovation Board (NTRIB) and Desert Knowledge CRC fund this
research
• The Central Land Council (CLC) and The
Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) provided in-kind support
