Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program
We are pleased to be partnering with the Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to deliver the Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program.
This $4m Australian Government funded program is supporting Indigenous Ranger Groups in northern Australia to undertake Indigenous led on-ground pest and weed management to protect biodiversity and cultural values.
The program complements the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program; will contribute to achieving the objectives in the Threatened Species Action Plan; and the growth and empowerment of Indigenous Ranger operations in northern Australia.
Invasive species management is a fundamental part of the day-to-day operations of Indigenous Land and Sea Managers across northern Australia. This program invests directly in the capability of Indigenous organisations to manage threats posed to culture and Country.
The program employs Regional Coordinators to support capacity building activities identified by ranger groups. Regional Coordinators are based in Broome WA, Darwin NT and Cairns QLD.
Funding will also be directed to projects, determined through a prioritisation process.
Meet the Team
Angie Reid - Senior Project Coordinator
Angie has been researching and working alongside Traditional Owners in remote northern Australia for the past 9 years. Originally from the USA where she worked as a fire ecologist, Angie came to Australia in 2015 to do a PhD studying the connection between large feral and native herbivores and Indigenous fire management in the North Kimberley and Arnhem Land. Following her studies, she worked in the Great Sandy Desert as the Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area Coordinator for 3.5 years - helping to establish a new land management program and ranger team, whilst also carrying out work to mitigate impacts of feral cats and camels on threatened species and important cultural areas. Angie is excited to continue working with Indigenous rangers to build capacity in remote northern Australia and protect country against invasive species.
Alex Ernst - Regional Coordinator NT
Originally from Tasmania, Alex has been working with Indigenous Ranger Groups for over a decade now. Alex started his commercial helicopter career in Arnhem Land, conducting land management activities with ranger groups before moving into various other roles including ranger coordination and project support within Indigenous organisations. In 2019 Alex became the Maningrida Learning on Country Coordinator, before going on to work as Ranger Coordinator at Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation. During this time Alex has also been working in collaboration with CSIRO to focus on invasive species research projects.
Harry Tamwoy - Regional Coordinator QLD
Harry is of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent from Injinoo and Badu Island. Having spent close to two decades working and managing programs within Indigenous communities in northern Australia, Harry’s career has taken him from roles within National Parks Association to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, and more recently the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Management Program with the Department of Agriculture Fishery and Forestry. Harry’s new role with NAILSMA will see him continue his important work within the biosecurity sector, whilst also supporting his passion for empowering Indigenous peoples.
Jackie Wemyss - Regional Coordinator WA
Jackie has been working and living in West and Central Kimberley remote communities for 13 years, working for Traditional Owners in community development and Indigenous land management projects through Indigenous ranger programs. For Kimberley Indigenous land management, one of the many priorities for Traditional Owners is to keep Country as it always has been, and a major threat to this priority is invasive species and their environmental impacts. Jackie has worked with Traditional Owners on various land and sea Healthy Country Plans and sees feral animal and weed management as a great opportunity to make real changes to the landscape, with Indigenous rangers leading the way.
The intended program outcomes are to support Indigenous Ranger Groups in northern Australia:
- protect biodiversity and cultural values from pests and weeds, providing employment and skills development.
- access training and development opportunities that improve rangers’ effectiveness in managing pests and weeds, reducing the impact of pests and weeds on Country.
- participate in knowledge transfer opportunities, extending intergenerational knowledge transfer and Indigenous rangers’ effectiveness.
- strengthen governance and risk management to effectively mitigate risks, in particular Work Health and Safety (WHS) risks, in undertaking pest and weed control activities and comply with applicable jurisdictional laws and policies regarding WHS and pest and weed management.
This program is strongly aligned with NAILSMA’s 10-year strategic plan to support the development of a thriving Indigenous Land and Sea Management Sector.
Project Funds
Following the merit-based assessment process, 8 projects involving 21 Indigenous Ranger Groups have been approved. NAILSMA is working with lead organisations to progress delivery of projects.
| Project Title | Indigenous Organisations | Other Partner Organisations | Amount Funded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing an indigenous led regional feral pig strategy for Arnhemland | Mimal Land Management (Lead Organisation), Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation, Warddeken Land Management, Northern Land Council - South East IPA (Numburindi Rangers and Yugul Mangi Rangers) | National Environmental Science Program, Charles Darwin University | $407,000 |
| NE Arnhem Land Feral Animal Control | Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (Lead Organisation), Dhimuru Aborignal Corporation | Paladin Firearm Solutions | $118,000 |
| Aerial survey and control for Siam Weed (Chomoleana odorata) in Western Top End | Northern Land Council (Malak Malak Rangers and Bulgul Land and Sea Rangers; Lead Organisation), | Weed Management Branch NTG | $110,000 |
| West Arnhem mimosa (Mimosa pigra) and West Arnhem/Croker/Cobourg Siam weed (Chomoleana odorata) survey and control | Northern Land Council (Garngi Ranger Group; Lead Organisation) | Weed Management Branch NTG | $25,000 |
| Indigenous Ranger capability building through strategic feral pig, cat and pest plant management on Country in the lower Gulf of Carpentaria | Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (Gangalidda & Garawa Rangers, Normanton Rangers and Wellesley Islands Rangers; Lead Organisation), APN CapeYork | $330,000 | |
| Knowledge about feral pig and cattle populations on Country | Yuku Baja Muliku Landowner & Reserves Ltd (Lead Organisation), Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation, Normanby Rangers, Melsonby Rangers | Southern Cape York Catchments | $320,000 |
| Protecting Country Project | Gunggandji Land and Sea Rangers (Lead Organisation), Djunbunji Limited | $10,000 | |
| Capacity building to manage feral herbivores in the Kimberley | Karajarri Traditional Lands Association (Lead Organisation), Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation | Bush Heritage Australia | $330,000 |
The Guide provides information on the program and application process. Almost $2 million has been allocated to projects equally shared across WA, NT and QLD. Limited funds are still available for capacity building activities. Groups engaged under the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program are eligible.
Interested Indigenous Ranger Groups are encouraged to contact Regional Coordinators to discuss capacity building activities. Contact details below:
NT - Alex Ernst: alex.ernst@nailsma.org.au
QLD - Harry Tamwoy: harry.tamwoy@nailsma.org.au
WA - Jackie Wemyss: jackie.wemyss@nailsma.org.au
Senior Project Coordinator - Angie Reid: angie.reid@nailsma.org.au