Media release - 24 September
2009 - Australia's Top End will have a huge
conservation corridor stretching from Kakadu's
stone country to the Arafura Sea, with the
declaration of two substantial new Indigenous
Protected Areas.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett today joined traditional owners
and Indigenous rangers from across the Top
End to celebrate the declaration of the
Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. The
IPA covers almost 1.4 million hectares of
spectacular stone and gorge country on the
Arnhem Land plateau adjacent to Kakadu National
Park.
The Minister also announced
a further $8.5 million investment by the
Australian Government in Indigenous Protected
Areas, with just over $6.3 million from
Caring for our Country and another $2.2
million from the Indigenous Land Corporation.
"Indigenous Protected
Areas are one of Australia's most successful
conservation stories - they protect Australia's
biodiversity while providing training and
employment for Aboriginal people doing work
that they love on their own country,"
Mr Garrett said.
"Warrdeken is home to dozens of unique
native plants and a host of threatened species
including the bustard, northern quoll and
the Oenpelli python - it also has a wealth
of fantastic rock art, rivalling Kakadu
in its splendour," Mr Garrett said.
"Tomorrow we'll
be celebrating the declaration of the Djelk
Indigenous Protected Area, more than 670,000
hectares sweeping from Warrdeken right though
to the Arafura Sea.
"More than 100
Indigenous clan groups have worked together
to declare Djelk's country as a protected
area.
"Their decision
will help protect threatened species - from
the marine turtles that breed on Djelk's
coastline and islands, the file snakes on
the seasonal floodplains through to the
world's richest variety of reptiles that
live on the sandstone plateaus."
Mr Snowdon said: "The
declaration of these two Indigenous Protected
Areas means much better conservation outcomes
which will benefit all Australians. As the
IPAs lie right next to the two million hectare
Kakadu National Park, we now have the opportunity
for rangers to work together to manage whole
ecosystems against the threats of climate
change and invasive pests. It's a phenomenal
wildlife corridor."
Mr Garrett said IPAs
were already working together with industry
in ground breaking carbon abatement partnerships
and they are engaging in collaborative scientific
research to become active participants in
a future biodiversity credit scheme.
"The IPAs are helping
close the gap of Indigenous disadvantage,
with communities reporting better health,
social cohesion and higher school attendance."
For full IPA funding, 2009-10: www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/funding09.html
