Project 4.9.1 - Indigenous landscapes of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

Project Leader:  Dr Michael Wood, James Cook University 

Contemporary Indigenous natural resource use across the Wet Tropics is poorly understood and often ignored in regional planning and management processes.  This gap in existing knowledge is flagged as a critical issue in Caring for Country and Culture (the 'Aboriginal Plan'), Australia’s first dedicated Indigenous Natural Resource Management (NRM) plan for a multi-tenured region.

Project 4.9.1 will improve our understanding of past, current and potential Indigenous natural resource use of the Wet Tropics leading to the incorporation of Indigenous ecological values and practices in regional environmental planning and management schemes.  In identifying the nature, limits and impacts of Indigenous resource use this Project will assist both Traditional Owners and regional resource agencies in the development of culturally-appropriate country-based management strategies.  The Project will dovetail with country-based planning and cultural mapping exercises initiated by the Aboriginal Rainforest Council (ARC) and FNQ NRM Ltd.  The project will build upon existing research, capacity-building and Indigenous engagement strategies, notably the Aboriginal Plan, initiated by the Rainforest CRC and regional Traditional Owners.

Key objectives of this Project are to:

• Understand Indigenous natural resource use within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area through the completion of reviews and comparative assessments;

• Optimise Traditional Owner engagement and knowledge in natural resource management; and

• Enhance opportunities for building capacity in Traditional Owner groups for engagement in research and management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.