Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62[ 15 ] 5. Indigenous Rangers A great success story delivering multiple benefits The cornerstone of Ranger Parks are Indigenous rangers, recruited from local communities, whose traditional cultural practices have cared for our land for over 50,000 years. Indigenous rangers are uniquely suited for management of the Ranger Parks. Many have a deep, cultural commitment to their country and can combine traditional knowledge with modern science to bring about conservation on a large scale. It’s a new way forward to manage and protect the Outback places that make Western Australia so special. Existing Indigenous ranger programs in areas of the Kimberley and other parts of Australia are a proven success. They offer real jobs and opportunities for sustainable economic independence in remote areas where jobs are often hardest to find. Recent reports show that ranger programs are producing unmatched results for Aboriginal people.13 Rangers undertake difficult but vital work caring for nature and tackling the pressing challenges of damaging wildfires, uncontrolled feral animals and noxious weeds. Not only are they successfully protecting and managing our shared natural heritage but they are also transforming remote communities and offering hope to younger Aboriginal people. What do rangers do? Indigenous rangers undertake a wide range of work, combining western scientific and traditional Aboriginal knowledge. Much of the rangers’ core business in Ranger Parks will involve managing major threats to wildlife, protecting cultural heritage and maintaining infrastructure. Following established trends elsewhere in Australia, the rangers may also offer cultural tourism opportunities or secure government contracts to deliver services in remote locations. Ranger work includes: • managing fire and preventing wildfires • monitoring and protecting threatened species • controlling invasive species – feral animals and weeds • biosecurity surveillance • tourism management and growth • restoring, mapping and protecting cultural heritage sites. Ranger groups funded by the federal Working on Country program, which began in 2007, currently employ nearly 800 rangers and manage millions of hectares of land. 64% of these rangers were managing threatening processes such as feral animals. 41% were managing weeds of national significance – weeds that present a serious threat to Australian agriculture and ecosystems. And 35% of rangers were working to protect threatened species. 14 Additionally, almost half of the existing Indigenous ranger groups in Australia have progressed to delivering services on a fee-for- service basis. Nyangumarta Rangers on country in the Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area, Western Australia. Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation “Integral to the success of ranger programs has been that they are led by the local community and supporter by community ownership and actions.” - David Mackenzie, The Pew Charitable Trusts