19 July 2008
The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance
(NAILSMA) was awarded top prize in the Indigenous category at the
Banksia Awards ceremony in Melbourne last night.
The award was presented by the Environment Minister Peter
Garrett to NAILSMA Executive Officer Joe Morrison for the
Alliance’s Dugong and Marine Turtle Project.
Mr Garret recognised the Indigenous people driving the project
as the ‘front-line’ managers of the north Australian
coast where dugong and turtle remain abundant.
Mr Morrison said it was an honour to receive an award that
acknowledged the stewardship of Indigenous land and sea managers
across northern Australia for nationally and internationally
significant ecosystems.
“The project has taken a practical approach to dugong and
marine turtle management by creating new Indigenous ranger programs
and supporting existing ones,” said Mr Morrison.
“It demonstrates that having Indigenous people on country
managing their lands, delivering environmental benefits for all
Australian’s is an important asset for the national good.
“The project supports communities to combine Indigenous
knowledge with modern research and training to undertake management
activities such as mapping and monitoring populations and habitats,
tracking turtle migrations by satellite, and developing turtle and
dugong management plans,” said Mr Morrison.
The project brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders with scientists from across northern Australia to help in
the management and protection of the threatened marine species.
Project partners across Australia include the Northern Land
Council, Kimberley Land Council, Carpentaria Land Council
Aboriginal Corporation, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation
and Torres Strait Regional Authority.
The project is funded by the Australian Government.
To find out more about the NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle
Project, visit: www.nailsma.org.au/projects/dugong_turtle.html
For more information or to request images from the Project,
please contact Joshua Kitchens: 0405 349 496
