Protecting Sacred Sites within the Northern Territory.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport has been created in recognition of the important link between the Territory's greatest assets - intact natural environment and authentic cultural traditions.
We assist with the resolution of land claims, process and facilitate applications for community living areas on pastoral properties, provide appropriate information and assistance in respect of native title applications and a range of ad hoc Aboriginal land issues and process permit applications for public servants to enter Aboriginal land and seas to provide Government services.
Thousands of people every year visit Aboriginal land in the Top End of the Northern Territory, for a holiday, to visit family and friends, or to work. If you want to travel through Aboriginal land, it is important to plan your trip well in advance to avoid disappointment. Different permits and different conditions apply.
Aboriginal people have occupied the lands of the Northern Territory for upward of 60,000 years and have left many traces of their culture and occupation across the landscape. The Territory contains a rich and diverse range of Aboriginal cultural heritage places, many of which are highly significant to contemporary Aboriginal culture.
Since 1981 when the first jointly managed park, Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, was established the Parks and Wildlife Service has entered into joint management arrangements with indigenous Territorians in several parks and reserves. The aim being to protect the biological diversity of the parks whilst still serving visitor and community needs for education and enjoyment.
Approximately 100 years before European settlement (1788), the northern shores of Australia were visited by Monsoon traders from the eastern part of (modern day) Indonesia. Marine products such as trepang (a holothurian), turtle-shell (from the hawks-bill), pearls and timber were collected.
The Northern Territory Heritage Register lists all the places and objects that the Minister has declared under the Heritage Conservation Act 1991. It also includes details of interim conservation orders, conservation management plans and heritage agreements.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts is the lead agency in relation to the Natural Heritage Trust in the Northern Territory, including receipt and distribution of Natural Heritage Trust funding. The community programs branch in the Natural Resource Management Division of this Department administers the Trust in the NT, provides support to community groups, industry and government who receive Natural Heritage Trust funding.