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COMMUNITY GRANTS

MANAGING & PROTECTING
KEY CULTURAL & NATURAL ASSETS

The NT is known for its magnificent natural landscapes and seascapes

and deeply significant cultural values. The Arnhem Land Plateau rock art galleries are renowned as the most complex and extensive body of rock art in the world.


Our deserts, savannas, woodlands, monsoon forests and wetlands are still largely intact. Despite this, the environmental and cultural assets of the NT are under increasing pressure. Threatening processes that impact on these assets include inappropriate fire regimes, feral animals, climate change, weeds and overgrazing by domestic livestock.

GOAL

Within ten years, 75 per cent of sites of cultural and natural significance are being managed cooperatively, based on knowledge of values, threats and the best management practices

There has been a drastic decline and loss of many of our native species in the NT. The most concerning aspect of this environmental deterioration is the decline of terrestrial mammals. In the NT, we understand that all landholders have an interest in and responsibility for maintaining natural and cultural assets. Therefore, it is essential that landholders are being supported through adequate resources, knowledge and capacity to manage these assets.

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One of the key pressures affecting cultural assets is the loss of Aboriginal knowledge and access to ancestral land and waters. This is in part due to a lack of appropriate resources and support for Traditional Owners to be able to access and manage country. Of great concern to Aboriginal people is the potentially negative impact of development activities on sacred sites. Management of cultural sites and landscapes needs to be driven by and address the values and concerns of, the relevant Traditional Owners.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO

  • Implement the Action Plan for Priority Threatened Species in the NT (2015-2025) linking on-ground action to current knowledge by providing funding and partnerships with land managers

  • Identify Sites of Conservation Significance at risk and implement additional conservation efforts supporting management of cultural values

  • Facilitate stewardship of high value conservation areas through schemes such as Territory Conservation Agreements and Indigenous Protected Areas

  • Develop adaptation plans for the impact of climate change on vulnerable ecosystems

  • Support traditional ecological knowledge projects such as mapping, documentation, access and management of Aboriginal culturally significant sites and landscapes

HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS

With increased availability and utilisation of biodiversity data, stakeholders can more effectively monitor and understand change in ecosystems. Communications and analysis of where natural values are declining and detection of trends in biodiversity and habitat health will also help target appropriate management actions.

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  • Assess the number of active management plans being implemented in Sites of Conservation Significance

  • Determine the number of people involved in collecting biodiversity data and utilisation of data to influence management activities

  • Survey of NRM stakeholders on understanding of likely impacts of climate change on ecosystems

  • Calculate number of cultural sites actively managed on all tenures and satisfaction of traditional owners of cultural exchange and opportunities to visit country and actively manage sites and landscapes

REGIONAL CULTURAL & NATURAL PLANS

There is a different emphasis relevant to its people, environments and industries for the four major regions in the Northern Territory.

 

Click on your region to see your regional cultural and natural assets management plan.

 

CLICK ON REGION

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