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[ 23 ] 7. Working with the community Working to protect our shared heritage For over a century, the former pastoral lease properties proposed here as Ranger Parks have been an important part of regional communities. The Create Ranger Parks proposal intends that they will remain so in future. The most effective way to protect the natural and cultural heritage of these properties is by continuing the community tradition and collaborating with neighbours, volunteer and community groups and other stakeholders. One foundational principle of the Create Ranger Parks model is respect for the knowledge of Traditional Owners, pastoralists, government agencies and scientists. It will be important to develop management processes to ensure knowledge is shared and management is collaborative. Local knowledge and involvement Many pastoralist neighbours have been critical of the Western Australian Government for poor management of the former pastoral lease properties. A 2010 parliamentary inquiry prompted by these concerns found that relationships with neighbouring pastoralists were poor in many areas and that the properties and local people would benefit from a high level of community involvement.30 Creating Ranger Parks will allow a fresh start. Good neighbour relationships will become a top priority and a key performance indicator for Ranger Park managers. This will entail respecting local knowledge, ensuring that neighbours have a voice in shaping management priorities and collaborating to meet shared goals. The Create Ranger Parks model envisions active involvement by neighbours and other locals in park management processes. This is considered important for tapping into local knowledge and integrating Ranger Parks into local communities. Recognising that the proposed Ranger Parks are part of a mosaic of properties with varying land uses, the model includes a commitment to contribute to local and regional strategies, particularly where on and off- park biosecurity goals overlap with conservation priorities. Effective management of feral animals, weeds and fire on Ranger Parks will also reduce the damage on neighbouring properties. Although the priorities in managing for nature differ to some extent with managing for livestock, park managers and neighbouring pastoralists could benefit greatly from working together on shared goals. Feral camels, for example, can be a major scourge for both pastoralists and park managers in dryer areas, and tenure-blind cooperative approaches make sense to benefit the whole landscape. Aboriginal cultural sites An important focus of Ranger Park management will be protecting Aboriginal cultural sites and natural values important to Traditional Owners. Although the Ranger Parks will be managed by Indigenous rangers, other Aboriginal people will need to be consulted to ensure that the right people are involved in management decisions to protect the Ranger Parks’ 466 registered Aboriginal sites. Magnifying impact through the community Under the Create Ranger Parks model, the involvement of other groups and stakeholders – such as four-wheel drive clubs, conservation groups, the tourism industry and science organisations – will be encouraged and nurtured. Such relationships have the potential to boost protection of natural and cultural values and to realise the potential of Ranger Parks for providing recreation and tourism opportunities. Four-wheel drive clubs have a long history of contributing to track maintenance and preserving cultural sites in remote areas, including within proposed Ranger Parks. Conservation groups and scientists, including citizen science groups, will continue to help reveal and manage the outstanding natural values of these properties. And tourism bodies will be vital for developing tourism strategies and helping enhance Ranger Parks for visitors.