Landmark Agreements Conserve Indigenous Treasures in Northern Australia

ARNHEM LAND, Australia -

The Australian Federal Government and traditional landowners signed the first of two agreements today establishing two immense and globally significant conservation reserves on indigenous lands in the Northern Territory of Australia. The second agreement will be signed tomorrow on-site.

Known as the Djelk and Warddeken Indigenous Protected Areas, the reserves are located in Western and Central Arnhem Land about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Darwin, and spans 20,432 square kilometers (7,889 square miles), more than twice the size of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

The reserves stretch from the high country of the Western Arnhem Land Plateau to the islands off the Northern Territory coast, and include sandstone gorges, pristine rivers, tropical savannah, and coastal wetlands. The area is of global significance for its natural and cultural values.

Under the new agreements, traditional landowners will continue to manage the reserves and will be assisted by the indigenous ranger organisations, Djelk Rangers and the Warddeken Manwurrk Rangers. The declarations will formalize and consolidate the more than 10 years of work to manage and protect their lands to international standards.

The declaration follows several years of consultation with members of more than 137 indigenous clans in the region and the development of detailed management plans. A core part of these plans is the re-introduction of traditional burning practices that have been found to cut greenhouse gas emissions by preventing large uncontrolled bushfires. Other management approaches include control of feral animals, particularly buffalo, which cause serious damage to the region’s wetlands.

Pew Environment Group and The Nature Conservancy have applauded the actions of the traditional landowners, the Australian Government, and the Djelk and Warddeken Manwurrk Ranger groups in protecting and managing this area.

“This is a major milestone for conservation in Australia. The region has remarkable natural and cultural value, including dozens of locally endemic plants and unique animals found no where else on Earth, thousands of rock art sites dating back 50,000 years, and spectacular scenery,” said Dr. Michael Looker, Director, Australia Program, The Nature Conservancy.

“All Australians owe a great debt of gratitude to the people of Western and Central Arnhem Land for caring for this jewel of Australia’s heritage,” said Barry Traill, Director, Wild Australia Program, speaking on behalf of the Pew Environment Group.

“We are honored to support the landowners, and the Djelk and Warddeken rangers in their management of the new reserve. We hope to continue to do so as they work with a range of partners to secure long-term funding for looking after this extraordinary area,” Looker concluded.

Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organization headquartered in the United States that applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life. www.PewEnvironment.org.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and more than 8.9 million acres in Australia. The Conservancy has helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.

Media Contacts:

In Australia:

Zoe Davies, The Nature Conservancy Australia Program, +61-418-873-237; on September 24 and 25, available by satellite phone at 0011-8816-514-44786; if dialing satellite phone from outside Australia, replace 0011 with the local IDD access code. zdavies@tnc.org

Esther Black, +61(0)2-8280-9109 or +61-410-729-594, Esther@essentialmedia.com.au

In Washington, DC:

Veronica O’Connor, Pew Environment Group, +1-202-540-6352, voconnor@pewtrusts.org

Sandra L. Rodriguez, The Nature Conservancy, +1-703-841-4227, srodriguez@tnc.org

Additional media materials are available. Please contact Esther Black or visit wildaustralia.org/media-releases

Source: Pew Environmental Group; The Nature Conservancy

In Australia: Zoe Davies, The Nature Conservancy Australia Program, +61-418-873-237; on September 24 and 25, available by satellite phone at 0011-8816-514-44786; if dialing satellite phone from outside Australia, replace 0011 with the local IDD access code. zdavies at tnc.org, or Esther Black, +61 (0) 2-8280-9109 or +61-410-729-594, Esther at essentialmedia.com.au, In Washington, DC: Veronica O’Connor, Pew Environment Group, +1-202-540-6352, voconnor at pewtrusts.org, Sandra L. Rodriguez, The Nature Conservancy, +1-703-841-4227, srodriguez at tnc.org