1 November 2007
The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance
(NAILSMA) received accolades for a unique dugong and sea turtle
management program at a ceremony held at Parliament House in
Darwin, October 2007.
The program is the first of its kind in Australia and is founded
on the Traditional Knowledge and expertise of Indigenous Saltwater
People. Driven by the concerns of Traditional Owners for
maintaining healthy populations of dugong and sea turtle, the
NAILSMA Project brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous
coastal managers to look after these internationally
significant animals.
The Australian Government Coastcare Award was accepted on behalf
of the Dhimurru, Anindilyakwa and li-Anthawirriyarra Rangers
from the NT and other ranger and community groups across north
Australia by Project Coordinator Rod Kennett and Dhimurru Director
Djawa Yunupingu.
“We are working together across north Australia
to make sure our children will benefit from the sea resources
our ancestors enjoyed”, Mr Yunupingu explained.
North Australia is one of the last great strongholds for dugongs
and marine turtles on the planet and they are important natural and
cultural resources for Australia.
Traditional Owners know the long distance migrations of
these animals’ means the responsibility for managing them
extends beyond the boundaries of their own traditional lands and
sea estates.
Executive Officer of NAILSMA, Mr. Joe Morrison explains more
about the project.
“Building a network of Saltwater People across north
Australia in partnership with researchers, government and industry
is an important part of the NAILSMA project. These partnerships
bring together Traditional Knowledge and western science for better
understanding and management of dugong and marine turtles.
“NAILSMA’s approach is proactive, involving habitat
monitoring and restoration, rescuing stranded wildlife, tagging
turtles and monitoring nests; recording and sharing traditional
knowledge about turtles and dugongs, their habitats and behaviours;
and educating and raising awareness about the need to look
after turtles and dugongs”.
Project partners across Australia include the Northern Land
Council, Anindilyakwa Land Council, Kimberley Land Council,
Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Balkanu Cape York
Development Corporation and Torres Strait Regional Authority.
The NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Project is funded by the
Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust. The Alliance
is now in the running for a National Landcare Award, to be
announced in Canberra next year.
