Joint media release: Indigenous rangers to gather for national conference on land and water management

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians

Registrations are open for the Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa (Strong Country) Land and Water Management Forum, to be held on Larrakia Country (Darwin) from 27 to 29 August 2024.

This will be the first time Indigenous land and water managers from across Australia have come together to share knowledge on the effective management of Country in over a decade.

Over 3 days, the Forum will be an opportunity for Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) providers to build stronger connections, while gaining skills and knowledge under the theme Healthy Country, Healthy Water, Healthy Communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have actively managed lands and waters for millennia. Combining First Nations knowledge and expertise with conservation training delivers important cultural, environmental, social and economic development outcomes.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation are partnering to deliver the Forum, which will also focus on strengthening sector governance and building organisational capacity and capabilities.

This event builds on the Australian Government’s commitment to double the number of Indigenous rangers by 2030 and establish 10 new Indigenous Protected areas.

Indigenous rangers and IPAs provide social, cultural and economic benefits for communities, while protecting the environment and boosting Australia’s regional economy.

More information on the Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa Forum is available here.

Quotes attributable to Minister Burney: 

“The Indigenous Ranger Program plays a vital role in the restoration and preservation of our precious land and water systems, while also boosting jobs and economic development opportunities for Indigenous communities.

“The Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa Forum provides an opportunity for Rangers and other Indigenous conservation leaders together to share traditional knowledge and practices that protect Australia’s diverse lands and waters.

“The Forum will focus on the role of Culture, technology, collaboration and planning in Indigenous land and water management – complementing the Albanese Government’s work to double the number of Indigenous rangers by 2030.

Quotes attributable to Minister Plibersek:

“First Nations people have actively managed Country for 65,000 years.

“That’s why we’re empowering First Nations communities on the ground to protect Australia’s environment, while also supporting local jobs and economic development.

“We’re ensuring First Nations people are at the forefront of conservation efforts, investing more than $230 million to expand Indigenous protected areas and $1.3 billion to support the successful Indigenous Ranger Program.

“This forum is a fantastic initiative - we all have so much to learn from Indigenous land and water managers about how we can better protect the diverse lands and waters of this country.”

Quotes attributable to Joe Morrison (CEO Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation)

“Land, water, and people are entwined, and this represents the unique Indigenous connection to Country across Australia.

“At the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, everything we do is designed to benefit Indigenous people and their Country.

“We’re proud to be a partner of the DangkalGwo’yal-wa Forum and continue to work in partnership with Australia’s first peoples to achieve their aspirations for their Country and families.”