The Djelk Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is a 6,700 km2 (2,600 sq mi) area stretching from central Arnhem Land plateau to the Arafura Sea extending west and east of Maningrida in the Northern Territory of Australia, managed by Bawinanga Rangers.[1][2]
IPAs are areas of land and sea Country managed by First Nations groups for biodiversity conservation and cultural outcomes through voluntary agreements with the Australian Government. These areas for part of Australia's National Reserve System.[3]
Dedicated in 2009, the Djelk IPA encompasses the land of 102 clans of at least 12 language groups.[1]
Around 30 ranagers now implement cultural and natural resource management plans across the IPA. This includes surveillance and monitoring of fishing activities, fire and weed management, animal monitoring, water monitoring and cultural heritage management.[4]
The area forms part of the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (WALFA) Project that uses customary Indigenous fire management to reduce CO2e emissions released through wildfires, selling offset contracts.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Djelk IPA and Bawinanga Rangers | NIAA". www.niaa.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Smith, Tamati (24 August 2022). "How Star Wars and a friendly group of girls broke down Jonah Ryan's barriers to becoming a ranger". National Indigenous Times.
- ^ "Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) | NIAA". www.niaa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Djelk Rangers". NAILSMA. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Lipsett-Moore, Geoffrey J.; Wolff, Nicholas H.; Game, Edward T. (2018-06-08). "Emissions mitigation opportunities for savanna countries from early dry season fire management". Nature Communications. 9 (1): 2247. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04687-7. ISSN 2041-1723.
- ^ "ALFA NT | Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Northern Territory". www.alfant.com.au. Retrieved 2024-09-22.