Badu rangers off to a great start

Badu Island in the Torres Strait have initiated their own ranger program employing three official Land and Sea Rangers to participate in land, sea and cultural resource management and community and visitor education.

The Ranger Program is one of many positive outcomes negotiated in connection with an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) between the native title holders for Badu Island, Mura Badulgal (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation, and the Australian Government over the establishment of a radar facility on Pumpkin Island (Koey Ngurtai).

The new Rangers, Horace Nona , Naseli Tamwoy and Jimmy Panuel, are involved in many activities on behalf of the native title holders for Badu Island, including land management, cultural resource management, fisheries surveillance and monitoring, tourist/visitor management, community education and liaison.

Since they began in March this year, the three have inspected beaches and roads for fallen debris and wildlife; addressed litter management on beaches, around swimming holes and at sea; and erected interpretive signage and fencing around culturally significant places.

The program is administered by Badu Island Council on behalf of Mura Badulgal, with the assistance of Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and the Regional Natural Resource Management Facilitator who provides capacity-building support and access to training.

Funding is provided for the program under the Natural Heritage Trust, the Indigenous Employment Program of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the National Landcare Program. TSRA Chairperson, Toshie Kris believes the program is unique in that it is driven by, and directly benefits, the Badu Island community and goes some way towards ensuring appropriate local management and protection of land and sea country.

Importantly, the project also pioneers an approach to Torres Strait Islander participation in activities that contribute to border protection and the achievement of strategic regional outcomes in collaboration with other agencies.

“The Ranger Program has demonstrated the Australian Government’s preparedness to work together with the native title holders in this community,” Mr Kris said.

“This will assist them in realising some of their aspirations for sustainable management of land and sea country.

“In this case, the Badu Island community has benefited by having three Land and Sea Rangers employed through its Council, which will also greatly enhance the community’s local capacity to support government agencies in their efforts to contribute to sustainable management of the Torres Strait environment,” Mr Kris said.

In the near future, the Badu Island Rangers may have the opportunity to become partners in a cross-regional project to address marine debris and ghost nets across northern Australia. They will also be involved in activities under the Torres Strait dugong and marine turtle management project which links in with the cross regional project being coordinated through the North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA).

This project will soon be underway in five participating regions, from the Kimberley, across the Northern Territory, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and Torres Strait.

“The Rangers have a broad charter of responsibility and although it’s early days, they have made some very good progress towards protecting their land and sea. With continued community support their positive impact on the environment can make a significant difference,” Mr Kris said.

—Article courtesy of Torres Strait Regional Authority, Photo: Torres Strait Regional Authority