Joint Management
Photo at right: Ranger Jason Barnetson with Traditional Owner Lesley Jampijimba Foster.
Joint management involves a partnership in which the Northern Territory Government, represented by the Parks and Wildlife Service works together with Aboriginal Traditional Owners to manage parks.
Responsibility and decision-making is shared in so that:
- the natural and cultural heritage of parks is conserved
- visitor enjoyment and other public benefits are provided
- Traditional Owners’ benefit and their interests are taken into account.
Joint management is not new to the Territory. Gurig National Park has been jointly managed since 1981, and and Nitmiluk National Park since 1989.
In 2003, the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act provided for the settlement of outstanding land and native title claims affecting twenty-seven parks and reserves. By the time legal arrangements are completed later in 2007, the total number of jointly managed parks in the NT will be 32, about one third of the parks estate.
In 2005 the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act was amended, setting out the principles and objectives for joint management of these parks.
The benefits expected to come out of joint management include:
- Improved land management, using indigenous traditional knowledge together with scientific approaches.
- Richer visitor experiences from increased opportunities for interpretation of indigenous culture.
- Social development and economic opportunities for Traditional Owners, their families and communities.
- Recognition of Traditional Owners rights and interests and respect for Aboriginal people’s aspirations and desire to express traditional connections to country
Joint Management Stories
These articles provide more information about some of the activities taking place across the Northern Territory in joint managed parks. Select a story from the right hand menu.
