A total funding pool of $2.3 million will be available this year for new and ongoing projects that support Aboriginal land and sea management, the Northern Territory Government today announced.
Eligible organisations are being invited to apply for the Land and Sea Management Fund and Ichthys LNG Coastal Management Offset grants as part of its Aboriginal Ranger Grants Program.
Minister for Parks and Rangers, Selena Uibo said the grants have delivered outstanding results for the Territory such as coastline marine debris collection and improved fire and weed management on country.
“Our Territory Labor Government continues to invest in Aboriginal rangers to support employment on country and strengthen land and sea management in both scientific and cultural ways,” said Minister Uibo.
“Aboriginal rangers are so valuable for caring, managing and protecting country – that’s why we have invested $22.9 million through Aboriginal Ranger Groups and continue to jointly invest $2.3 million with INPEX this year.
“Our ranger programs deliver long term environmental, economic and social development outcomes and are internationally recognised as best practice natural and cultural resource management models.”
She said the Aboriginal Ranger Grants program offers increased employment on country, better local decision making by Aboriginal rangers on country and building of strong Aboriginal leadership, organisational governance and capacity.
Projects that increase employment outcomes, partner with businesses, industry and the Government and non-Government sector in innovative ways and increase climate change adaptation and knowledge are encouraged under this grant program.
The grants are available for activities including:
o feral, fire and weed management
o management of threatened and iconic species
o cultural management (protection of cultural sites and knowledge)
o training and skills development
o development of governance structures
o environmental and ecological monitoring and evaluation
o innovative projects that build Aboriginal land management capacity and capability
Capital and project funding under the Ichthys LNG Coastal Management Offset must be linked to matters of national environmental significance as listed in the grants program guidelines.
The Guidelines for the grants program are available on the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security web site: https://depws.nt.gov.au/programs-and-strategies/aboriginal-ranger-grants-program.
