caring for our country

Achievements ReportCOMMUNITY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ENGAGEMENT 2008 –2013

Community, Skills, Knowledge

and EngagementThe capacity and participation of Indigenous people, volunteers and community groups in protecting and managing natural resources and environmental assets has been increased through engagement and access to relevant knowledge and skills.

Table of contents

Introduction

Outcome 1Improve urban and regional communities’ access to knowledge and skills to help them manage natural resources sustainably and protect the environment.

Case study: Indigenous partnerships in managing natural resources in south-west Victoria

Case study: SAGE community demonstration project, New South Wales

Case study: Building biodiversity resilience and connectivity in three priority catchments, Queensland

Case study: Coordinated response to on-ground control of mimosa, Northern Territory

Case study: Mawonga Indigenous Protected Area consultation project, New South Wales

Outcome 2Increase the engagement and participation rates of urban and regional communities in activities to manage natural resources and to help protect the environment.

Case study: Taroona foreshore native plant trial podcast and walkabout series, Tasmania

Case study: A strategic framework for biodiversity conservation, Western Australia

Case study: Moreton Bay oil spill environmental restoration program, Queensland

Case study: Volunteers protecting endangered shorebirds, New South Wales

Case study: Tasmanian Landcaring Grants program, Tasmania

Case study: Local Indigenous solutions for a global problem—ghost nets, Northern Territory and Queensland

Outcome 3Position all regional natural resource management organisations to deliver best-practice landscape conservation and sustainable land use planning to communities and land managerswithin their regions.

Case study: Developing collaborative multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve landscape-scale change in the Port Phillip and Western Port region, Victoria

Case study: South East Queensland Catchments—a community partnership, Queensland

Outcome 4Ensure the continued use, support and reinvigoration of traditional ecological knowledge to underpin biodiversity conservation.

Case study:Supporting the recording of traditional ecological knowledge in the Torres Strait, Queensland

Case study: Working on Country, National

Case study: Tjuwanpa Rangers, Northern Territory

Case study: Managing natural and cultural resources across the Central Land Council region, Northern Territory

Case study: Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Martu Ranger Program in the Western Desert, Western Australia

Case study: Reinvigorating the use of traditional knowledge in the dry tropics, Queensland

Building upon strong foundations with community engagement and awareness—Phase II Caring for our Country 2013–2018

References

IntroductionThe Caring for our Country initiative depended on successful partnerships to deliver projects and achieve outcomes and overall objectives for long-term environmental protection. Embedded in the majority of projects was the concept of increasing Community Skills, Knowledge and Engagement (CSKE). Consultation revealed that the initiative engaged a much broader audience than previous natural resource management (NRM) programs. These audiences included urban and coastal communities, Indigenous groups, schoolchildren and young adults, community and industry groups, businesses, regional NRM organisations, non-government organisations and all levels of government. The Caring for our Country initiative evolved over time and placed increasing priority on community engagement, recognising the important role of communities in implementing on-ground work and the need to ensure that capacity was built to continue progressing environmental activities after the end of the initiative. The cross-cutting nature of this priority area meant that it was funded indirectly through projects in other priority areas, and biophysical activities were underpinned by activities to enhance community skills, knowledge and engagement. To achieve long-term environmental outcomes at a national level, investing in people is as critical as investing in on-ground work.

Strategic outcomes assisted with guiding Caring for our Country investments that contributed to the community skills, knowledge and engagement national priority area:

By 2013, Caring for our Country will improve urban and regional communities’ access to knowledge and skills to manage natural resources sustainably and help protect the environment.

By 2013, Caring for our Country will increase the engagement and participation rates of urban and regional communities in activities to manage natural resources and help protect the environment.

By 2013, Caring for our Country will position all regional NRM organisations to deliver best-practice landscape conservation and sustainable land use planning to communities and land managers within their regions.

By 2013, Caring for our Country will ensure the continued use, support and reinvigoration of traditional ecological knowledge to underpin biodiversity conservation.

RM Consulting Group completed an independent evaluation of the community skills, knowledge and engagement outcomes that included interviews, surveys and site visits with selected project managers, regional facilitators, landholders, project participants and departmental program staff. In total, 132 groups or individuals across 44 projects were consulted (RMCG CSKE 2013). The intermediate nature of CSKE outcomes meant they were often not directly recorded by proponents. Due to the unique nature of Indigenous engagement, a separate evaluation was conducted by Urbis for the traditional ecological knowledge component of this national priority area (Urbis 2013). The extent of improved capacity and community stewardship of the land was measured by increased awareness of natural assets; increased participation in Caring for our Country activities; increased knowledge and skills; and actual attitude, behaviour and practice change.

High levels of community engagement and increased access to knowledge and skills facilitated greater capacity to protect and improve the condition of the environment in future and empowered landholders to confidently implement new practices. Participation in projects led to some shifts in attitudes and adoption of practices as participants were equipped with new knowledge. A range of unintended social and economic benefits also resulted from community engagement in the initiative, especially in small rural communities: from improved social connectivity and wellbeing to increased employability of individuals and boosts to local economies from the establishment of local industries. Stakeholder feedback indicated that there was strong support for Community Action Grants, Regional Landcare Facilitators, locally-based outposted officers, flexibility in delivery mechanisms and the opportunity to access longer-term funding to provide consistent and adequate support over longer periods of time. It was acknowledged that long-term funding must be provided because it takes time to build relationships and change practices. Furthermore, investments from Caring for our Country were often a basis for leveraging additional funding from other sources. While changing practices is generally a slow process, the Regional Landcare Facilitator program enhanced the speed and extent of practice change.

The first five years of Caring for our Country emphasised a number of important factors for successful community engagement in NRM. Most importantly, it is clear that a flexible and tailored approach is essential for each project given the diversity of projects, locations, target audiences and environmental issues. Some common principles that were crucial to engagement were the need to understand each community, offer continuous support over time, ensure participants had an appropriate mixture of skills and experience, adaptively manage projects and appropriately manage and recognise volunteers. Caring for our Country had some important legacies which are expected to generate ongoing community and environmental outcomes: instilling renewed vision and momentum for community groups; establishing new groups;

empowering land managers; creating ongoing partnerships and networks; and recording and sharing information, approaches and lessons learned. Partnerships provided access to a broader supply of knowledge, skills and resources and enabled projects to be delivered in more coordinated ways at larger scales. Engaging communities in the initiative had many positive environmental outcomes, such as reduced threats to environmental values, improved condition and extent of native vegetation and habitat and improved condition of rivers, wetlands and estuaries.

“There has been a maturity of how local and regional groups work together and add value, almost despite the competitive nature of the funding model”—Chair of a regional NRM organisation.

Outcome 1

Improve urban and regional communities’ access to knowledge and skills to help them manage natural resources sustainably and protect the environment.

Building knowledge and skills is an essential component of building individual and institutional capacity in NRM to achieve environmental outcomes. Increasing access to learning opportunities is an important first step. A range of different approaches and audiences, such as Indigenous communities and land managers, farmers and fishers, were targeted for this outcome. As a result of accessing new knowledge and skills, there were some noticeable shifts in attitudes and behaviours. Many landholders in agricultural industries adopted sustainable land management practices, while many urban and coastal residents adjusted their behaviour in their homes and recreational areas to protect the environment. There is also evidence of practice change within organisations: in a Communities in Landscapes project, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries adapted practices to manage for both biodiversity and agricultural production. Within the National Reserve System priority area, support was provided to Indigenous organisations to assist them to consider whether to declare their land as an Indigenous Protected Area. Through the sustainable farm practices national priority area, over 78 000 land managers and farmers were involved in over 1300 projects to improve their knowledge and skills in managing natural resources and environmental assets. Activities included field days, workshops, on-farm demonstrations and distribution of information using traditional and electronic media. Changes in attitudes, behaviours and practices are intermediate outcomes to achieve long-term environmental outcomes.

The Caring for our Country initiative increased urban and regional community access to knowledge and skills in managing natural resources. Access was enhanced by:

bringing people together to share knowledge, skills and experiences

providing access to technical specialists

translating technical information into a usable format

providing formal education opportunities

recording and sharing traditional ecological knowledge

building partnerships and networks.

Some of the achievements for improving access to knowledge and skills included:

landowners committing to four years of involvement in benchmark soil testing, farm planning, agronomist mentoring and advice, soil training, and field days in a sustainable farming and soil project in north-east Victoria

land managers near Mackay in Queensland participated in a Reef Catchments survey to determine community perception of the condition of the O’Connell River and conservation priorities for their own properties

broadacre farmers attended a program of events run by the Bugs and Biology Farmer Group to learn about alternative approaches to managing soil health

participants were involved in a horticultural community demonstration site run by Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening Eurobodalla (SAGE)

in the Mangarrayi Indigenous community in the Northern Territory, cultural camps are held approximately three times a year to transfer traditional ecological and cultural knowledge between community members and generations.

Indigenous partnerships in managing natural resources in south-west VictoriaIn south-west Victoria, the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority received funding from Caring for our Country to work in partnership with the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to record and implement ecological knowledge. The project was adapted over time to meet the needs of stakeholders. It strengthened existing relationships and

offered opportunities to share and promote traditional and contemporary land management practices. A participatory approach was based on mutual respect between all participants and included a strong governance structure to ensure that approval of all aspects of the project was gained from the full board of the Indigenous organisation. Taking time to establish workable governance arrangements was very valuable. Traditional Owners strengthened their capacity to classify and record information and then shared knowledge with NRM agencies and individual landowners. Information was validated by academics, agencies and landholders.

There were extensive capacity-building efforts at the beginning of the project. Indigenous field officers were involved in every activity, including flora and fauna surveys, heritage works and natural resource activities. On-ground works were undertaken to preserve cultural heritage of fish traps and stone houses, while other activities restored stony rise wetlands and manna gum woodlands and controlled weeds and pest animals. An extension toolkit was developed to facilitate communication between Indigenous and non-Indigenous land managers as well as common understandings of land management. The toolkit is expected to be valuable in facilitating the ongoing cultural exchange of knowledge. The project has made a substantial contribution to regional development in south-west Victoria. It also facilitated strong linkages with the Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation and the Budj Bim Rangers Program. Lessons learned about governance and Indigenous engagement are being shared outside the region, and the formation of relationships will be a lasting legacy of the project.

“Farmers are very practical people—until they could see it, they weren’t convinced it would work”—project manager.

Caring for our Country funded networks of state and territory outposted officers, Regional Landcare Facilitators and the National Landcare Facilitator to support regional organisations, community groups and land managers to better manage natural resources and access knowledge and skills. The initiative supported the existing grass-roots Landcare network to create awareness of environmental stewardship and implement actions, linking local communities with governments and industry. There are over 6000 Landcare and Coastcare groups across Australia, composed of local community volunteers who undertake tangible actions such as tree planting (Landcare 2013). Regional Landcare Facilitators played a central role in maintaining continuity of contact with stakeholders and building trust and relationships in their communities. These facilitators assisted communities with accessing NRM knowledge and skills and provided accessible information and training opportunities to Landcare groups. They acted as a known contact point, which facilitated quick responses to issues and the ability to capitalise on emerging opportunities. Funding also assisted with connecting different groups together, which often requires time, effort and expenses.

Caring for our Country has supported awards and conferences in each state and territory and in 2010 and 2012 supported national Landcare conferences as an opportunity to bring Landcare, farm system and other community groups together to share information on new and innovative approaches to NRM and sustainable agriculture. Case studies and information on award nominees and winners are promoted through Landcare Australia Limited’s website.

They are also used in the Landcare In Focus lift-out that features quarterly in the Rural Press newspapers, with a distribution of over 100 000 copies, to demonstrate best practice. The 2012 National Landcare Conference was attended by almost 600 delegates from across Australia and for the first time it featured live streaming of keynote speakers and panels to over 250 visitors. The #landcareconf12 Twitter hashtag was created to enhance delivery of key messages. It has encouraged more interaction and online conversation amongst Landcare stakeholders, with over 900 social media mentions.

Community participants made up the majority of conference registrations, followed by other professionals (local, state or Australian Government and industry; also including non-government organisations such as Greening Australia, Landcare Australia Limited and State Landcare Associations), regional NRM bodies (e.g. Catchment Management Authorities) and international delegates.

The National Landcare Conference 2012 plenary sessions rated well, with speakers such as David Suzuki and the ‘Landcare to Lunchbox’ panel receiving a satisfaction rate of over 90 per cent. The session provided insights from panel members on the role that Landcare may have in responding to national and global sustainability issues centred on the balance of sustainable food production. The ‘Landcare to Lunchbox’ session featured scientist and environmentalist Tim Flannery, Woolworths representative Andrew Hall, medical practitioner and nutritionist Carole Hungerford, farmer and National Farm Federation President Jock Laurie and food and wine personality Lyndey Milan.

SAGE community demonstration project, New South WalesSustainable Agriculture and Gardening Eurobodalla (SAGE) was a community-driven initiative which received a Caring for our Country Community Action Grant to implement an innovative trial using treated effluent in food production. Small- to

medium-scale landholders increased their knowledge and skills in sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices.

A success of the demonstration project was that it utilised the most effective media for the target audience by offering a mixture of theory, practical work and social interaction through field days and workshops.

The trial methodology of organic ‘wicking beds’ was an affordable and water-efficient means for food production and was adopted by many participants. Reduced water consumption means there is now more water available in the environment for fauna and flora species and natural ecological processes.

“It is important to learn and build on what you know. You have to accept that things don’t always go to plan. You need to adequately resource a project to enable some flexibility to accommodate the unexpected.

We are in the process of documenting our experiences and the process and approach we used for engaging with Indigenous communities and getting them involved in on-ground activities. We intend to share this with our industry”—project manager, Reinforcing grassland ecological values in the Merri Valley, VIC.

“About 15-30 farmers have invested in new machinery ... there is evidence of practice change in the broader community.

Farmers connect to other farmers more than they do the technical specialists or other parties ... others in the region will listen to them and will model their farm management on those in the region that are doing well”—project manager, Adapting to dry times: farmer-to-farmer learning, NSW.

There is evidence that adults learn well when their knowledge and experience is acknowledged and they are encouraged to learn from others. Adult learning principles were applied to many projects, offering informal learning opportunities that were self-directed, relevant and practical. The Caring for our Country initiative employed a range of different approaches to bring people together—for example, by establishing formal or informal community groups and implementing on-ground works using working bees, field days, workshops, farm tours and social events. Demonstration sites and trials were another practical educational tool to improve access to knowledge and skills. Providing access to technical specialists and extension staff was also an effective method for increasing access to knowledge and skills, particularly for farmers. It was important that these technical experts were familiar with local areas, independent from commercial interests and trusted and respected by the relevant communities. Communication products were useful for addressing some of the barriers to adopting new practices. In many cases, technical information was translated into a usable format that could be readily understood by target audiences—for example, case studies with real-life experiences of landholders and farmers.

Building biodiversity resilience and connectivity in three priority catchments, QueenslandReef Catchments is responsible for restoring rivers, coastal and marine environments; improving land management; and encouraging shared responsibility of catchments in the Mackay Whitsunday region of central Queensland. Caring for our Country provided funding to deliver a project to restore the condition and connectivity of the priority O’Connell catchment and engage with the local community. Issues included bank erosion, in-stream habitat loss, water quality decline and barriers to fish passage.

Reef Catchments worked with landholders to plan river restoration activities that met their needs and the water quality objectives of the O’Connell catchment. The proponent spent considerable time on understanding their community and priorities, commencing with a social research survey of land managers. The survey included identification of the barriers and benefits to implementing river restoration, finding that landholders tended to be willing to participate if there was a mixture of private and public benefit, including funding for on-ground works. Reef Catchments used the results from the survey to identify property-scale and ecological priorities.

The proponent utilised specialist expertise by partnering with the Australian Rivers Institute to establish a demonstration site and with the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines on an ecological monitoring program. The demonstration site featured engineered ‘log jam’ structures to stabilise streambanks and change the flow of the river to recreate habitat for fish species. The site was an important tool for conveying how on-farm behaviours and practices can affect catchments. Ecological monitoring examined the effects of the log jams on fish communities, diversity and movement, and the condition of in-stream and riparian habitat.

Engagement and transfer of knowledge to landholders in the O’Connell catchment was successful at increasing participation in river restoration activities. Personal contact with individual landholders allowed the proponent to build up trust within the community and demonstrate their willingness to listen to and accommodate concerns. Reef Catchments will continue to

work with landholders in future to support long-term river restoration objectives.

Coordinated response to on-ground control of mimosa (Mimosa pigra), Northern TerritoryWith funding from the Caring for our Country initiative, several groups were brought together to manage mimosa (Mimosa pigra), a Weed of National Significance, in the coastal floodplain of the Daly and Moyle catchments in the Northern Territory. Participants included pastoral stations, Indigenous ranger groups, Territory NRM, the Northern Land Council and the Northern Territory Government. A key feature of the project was the coordinated approach to weed control by various land managers.

Mimosa infests around 16 500 hectares of the targeted area and threatens the habitat of waterbirds and 10 threatened species, including the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Through this project, land managers within the catchments gained new knowledge and skills to manage mimosa by participating in on-ground activities and training courses. Collaborative activities reduced the impact of mimosa by controlling outlier infestations, strengthening containment lines and controlling core infestations to prevent further spread of the weed.

In addition to positive biophysical outcomes, the project successfully built the capacity of land managers to manage mimosa in future by bringing them together and equipping them with new knowledge and skills. Land managers have already independently coordinated control activities such as aerial spraying. Caring for our Country funding assisted with employing a dedicated project coordinator within Territory NRM who facilitated the participation of project partners. Despite the huge geographical scale of the project area, limitations in communication and the difficulties associated with the wet season, the project has made great advances in reducing the impact of mimosa and building land manager capacity to control it in future.

A number of projects offered formal education opportunities to increase knowledge and skills in managing natural resources sustainably.

These opportunities could also assist with developing professional skills for future employment: in many cases, professional development helped individuals to find paid work. Partnerships were an effective approach for increasing access to knowledge and skills by injecting additional knowledge, experience and resources into Caring for our Country projects. Partnerships facilitated the transfer of skills and knowledge between community groups, government agencies, Indigenous communities and non-government organisations.

Projects were most successful when proponents had the appropriate level of skills and experience to run effective engagement campaigns and relate to target audiences. In cases where these skills were sourced externally, it was essential that the source was respected and trusted by local communities.

Mawonga Indigenous Protected Area consultation project, New South WalesCaring for our Country aimed to expand Australia’s National Reserve System, including Indigenous Protected Areas, through partnerships with other organisations. In 2010–11, Caring for our Country funding of $948 039 (GST exclusive) was used to facilitate an innovative partnership which not only helped expand the National Reserve System but also generates significant environmental, socio-economic and cultural benefits for the Winangakirri Indigenous people.

The Indigenous Land Corporation worked with the Winangakirri Aboriginal Corporation to jointly fund the purchase of Mawonga Station in central New South Wales with the aim of returning formal ownership and management of the land for conservation to the community.

A key focus of the Mawonga project is protecting habitat for the nationally listed vulnerable malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) and areas of important habitat for other threatened species. Caring for our Country funding is also supporting a two-year consultation project to facilitate the declaration of Mawonga as an Indigenous Protected Area. Additional funding and support for ongoing land management has been contributed by the non-government organisations Bush Heritage Australia and the NSW Nature Conservation Trust.

The Winangakirri Aboriginal Corporation are working closely with neighboring pastoralists and land managers to identify and manage potential threats across the landscape and across different land tenures. Using this experience, the proponent is also developing a practical conservation land management course that is tailored to the needs of Indigenous communities. The organisation aims to train 10 individuals over the next two years and is hoping to offer ongoing land management training and multi-site delivery options in partnership with New South Wales agencies in future.

“We have used technology to resonate with school-aged children. The website and app are stimulating, interactive and exciting.

[The experts’] passion and enthusiasm rubbed off on the kids and the experts were able to transfer their knowledge to the students in a way that they could understand”—project manager.

Outcome 2

Increase the engagement and participation rates of urban and regional communities in activities to manage natural resources and to help protect the environment.

Community participation and engagement rates were particularly targeted through Community Action Grants and regional base-level funding allocated to regional NRM organisations. Community Action Grants provided small grants to community groups to undertake projects with a focus on protecting and improving local natural resources and environmental assets. Groups that received a Community Action Grant were required to address the community skills, knowledge and engagement national priority area and at least one other priority area from biodiversity and natural icons, coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, and sustainable farm practices. This direct funding increased the participation of Indigenous, urban and regional communities in environmental protection. Community Action Grants have funded 1530 projects to a value of $26.6 million (GST exclusive), which were delivered by 1293 community groups and engaged over 100 000 volunteers across Australia between July 2009 and June 2012. $711 million was provided through regional base-level funding from 2008 to 2013. Following the allocation of a Community Action Grant, Monarto Zoo in South Australia experienced a sustained increase in the number of volunteers and commitment of volunteer time. The volunteering program increased from five volunteers contributing two to three hours per week to between 11 and 15 volunteers contributing up to one day per week. In addition, greater numbers of school groups now come regularly to the zoo and participate in on-ground works. Increasing engagement and participation rates was a component of broader long-term visions for most groups involved in Caring for our Country.

The engagement and participation rates of urban and regional communities were increased by:

establishing networks and partnerships

building knowledge and skills

providing incentives

establishing new community NRM groups

expanding and diversifying existing NRM groups

implementing on-ground works.

Some of the achievements for increasing the engagement and participation rates of urban and regional communities in NRM included the following:

Agreements with private land managers were established through the Environmental Stewardship Program to manage threatened ecological communities, including box gum grassy woodlands, weeping myall woodlands, peppermint box grassy woodlands and iron-grass natural temperate grasslands.

The threats posed by cane toads (Bufo marinus) were reduced through community engagement projects, resulting in community volunteer action days, the removal of cane toads in north-west Australia and increased early detection in northern Australia.

A large amount of land was baited as part of the Tasmanian Fox Eradication Program, involving many property owners.

Farmers undertook activities to improve environmental assets and increase native vegetation condition and connectivity, such as through the Environmental Stewardship Program.

Land managers participated in activities to increase the adoption of sustainable land management practices in northern and remote Australia, including managing pest animals and weeds, adjusting seasonal stocking rates to reduce soil erosion and improving horticultural practices.

404 projects assisted around 47 000 farmers to adopt more sustainable farm management practices to reduce the risk of soil acidification and erosion and increase the carbon content of soils.

Establishing networks and partnerships provided access points for engaging new audiences, as different organisations appeal to different people. Partnerships fostered increased participation rates through a diversity of activities and offering more coordinated approaches with consistent advice. Strong relationships were developed between the Merri Creek

Management Committee and the Indigenous Wurundjeri people in a project to rehabilitate native grasslands in the Merri Valley in Victoria. Paid staff and facilitators played an essential role in developing and maintaining networks and partnerships. Successful partnerships tended to clearly articulate roles and responsibilities and share knowledge. The feral camel management project in northern and remote Australia assisted stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of feral camel impacts and preferred management options. Another project led by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) brought together many technical experts and organisations to develop a biodiversity conservation framework for the high conservation area of the Southwest Australia Ecoregion. It took time and effort to establish strong relationships and compromises were often required. For example, partners compromised by installing environmentally friendly dams for watering stock in the Communities in Landscapes box-gum woodlands project in New South Wales.

Taroona foreshore native plant trial podcast and walkabout series, TasmaniaWith support from a Caring for our Country Community Action Grant, the Taroona Environment Network delivered a project to educate local school students and the broader community about the environmental values of the Taroona foreshore in Hobart, Tasmania.

The coastal foreshore of Taroona provides critical habitat for several threatened species, including the vulnerable eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii gunnii), endangered forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus) and the endangered swift parrot (Lathamus discolor).

In this project, the proponent developed information products to raise awareness such as a native plant trail podcast, a smartphone application and an education ‘walkabout’ which included interpretive signage to display and communicate the natural features of the coast. All of these products were developed by the local community and school students in cooperation with relevant experts.

The project primarily engaged primary and secondary school students, local experts such as marine biologists, botanists and historians, an Indigenous representative and the local council and Landcare group. The experts worked with school groups to ensure that the information products were accurate. For instance, students were involved in editing the digital media.

Keeping the project within the community built greater awareness of the Taroona environment and fostered a greater sense of ownership and excitement in protecting the coastline. Learnings from this project have also been the catalyst for developing three other trail podcasts around Hobart.

Building knowledge and skills of urban and regional communities was central to achieving increased participation in many Caring for our Country projects. Raising awareness and knowledge of the significance of local assets, and building skills to manage threatening processes to these assets, generated increased community participation in the initiative. The ability to address complex NRM issues over broad areas is strongly dependent on communities having appropriate skills and knowledge. Through the Caring for our Country initiative, knowledge and skills were built in various ways, including formal and informal educational opportunities such as forums, training, workshops, field days, working bees, social events, mentoring and general communication. A range of organisations facilitated these activities, including education institutions, government agencies, non-government organisations, community groups, schools and individuals. Participating in events and projects had unintended social outcomes in that it enhanced connectivity within communities. In the Communities in Landscapes project mentioned above, several awareness-raising events were held and six cross-property conservation planning groups were formed. Training, workshops, demonstration properties and field days attracted landholders and land managers, while small grants engaged individuals, community groups and local councils to deliver activities such as revegetation, development of seed banks, and construction and installation of nesting boxes for woodland birds. The project also promoted Threatened Species Day to many children from different schools.

“One of the more successful aspects of the Caring for our Coast program was the NSW Coastal Volunteers Forum. The forum allowed coastal communities to share knowledge, experiences and achievements”—project manager, Caring for our Coast, NSW.

“The social side of Landcare is often forgotten or unmeasured. However, having an environmental activity to do gives communities a chance to get together, share hope in often trying times and work towards a common goal. This is the social ‘glue’ that helps keep communities going after drought, flood, fire or other challenges”—Regional Landcare Facilitator.

A strategic framework for biodiversity conservation, Western Australia

WWF Australia received funding from Caring for our Country to deliver a strategic framework for conserving biodiversity in the Southwest Australia Ecoregion in Western Australia. The project involved engagement with local stakeholders and technical experts, and promotion of the framework to raise awareness of environmental values and threats within the region, aiming to shift the focus from research to on-ground action. WWF engaged with over 100 experts and 58 different organisations.

The south-west corner of Western Australia is internationally recognised as a biodiversity hotspot and has a high number of endemic native species. In consultation, WWF developed an overarching planning framework to share knowledge and information about the region to focus on actions needed on the ground. The framework covers nearly 700 000 square kilometres and was presented at a touring ‘roadshow’ to increase general awareness of the region and the framework. In the process of developing the framework, WWF acted as a broker to share information between the many organisations and individuals that research and manage the region. The framework focused on objectives and practical actions rather than raw data.

The project has resulted in dramatic improvements in the level of cooperation between stakeholders in the south-west region of Australia. This network continues to operate even after the delivery of the framework. A major legacy is that much data and information is now freely available to share and is being used by many groups and organisations to support their own planning and on-ground work. The profile of the region has also been raised and it has been prioritised as a critical area for investment in the next phase of Caring for our Country.

Moreton Bay oil spill environmental restoration program, QueenslandIn response to a damaging oil spill in the Ramsar site of Moreton Bay in 2009, Caring for our Country allocated $2 million to rehabilitate coastal areas after the initial emergency clean-up response. South East Queensland Catchments coordinated a range of community-driven environmental projects which were delivered by partners. The project involved many participants and volunteers and attracted additional in-kind contributions. It increased the capacity of several community groups, with volunteers undertaking the majority of restoration activities such as dune stabilisation with protective fencing, erosion control, revegetation and environmental monitoring of water quality, shorebirds and frogs.

Moreton Bay has extensive mangrove and tidal flats which support a rich diversity of fish, crustaceans and migratory and wading birds. Many of these species are nationally and internationally protected. Seagrass beds also provide food and habitat for fish, crustaceans and protected species such as the dugong (Dugong dugon), the nationally endangered loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), the vulnerable hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) and the vulnerable green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Furthermore, the site contains Indigenous cultural heritage and has evidence of past fishing and food-gathering practices. As a result of the Caring for our Country investments, thousands of plants were propagated and planted, existing vegetation was rehabilitated, protective dune fencing was installed, thousands of birds were identified and extensive areas of land were subjected to pest animal control.

The rehabilitation efforts after the oil spill transferred knowledge and skills in data management, cultural heritage, bird and frog identification and reef monitoring. Training workshops were held to provide knowledge on caring for coastal ecosystems. This training equipped volunteers with greater capacity to care for coastal ecosystems. Traditional Owner Elders were also engaged to record historical and cultural ecological knowledge. A knowledge collection and storage protocol was developed, with less sensitive knowledge added to a community-based database and culturally sensitive knowledge being retained by Traditional Owners. Information will be used to better inform coastal management planning and conservation. The database will prevent information from being lost as people leave the area or retire.

“There has been an increase in capacity of community groups to undertake on-ground works and environmental monitoring—knowledge has been increased and the amount of people with an interest in conservation has increased as a result of the project.

Existing groups were able to solicit new members as well as engage one-off volunteers.

If you want to reach a broad range of people you need to give them options; not everyone can do the hard yakka stuff”—program manager.

Economic or social incentives also generated increased engagement and participation in environmental activities. Economic incentives could take the form of grants, subsidies, stewardship payments or competitive tenders, while social incentives could be recognition, training or social networking activities. Where appropriate, incentives encouraged innovation or assisted landholders to adopt practices that may otherwise have been economically infeasible. Economic incentives were generally most effective when combined with other approaches, including social incentives and building knowledge or skills.

Another strategy for increasing participation in activities was the establishment of new voluntary community-based NRM groups. It was important that these groups were self-directed and had strong community ownership. These groups provided a non-threatening and local forum for community members and distributed information, skills, technical expertise and financial support to target issues of shared importance. For example, two new Coastcare groups were formed through one project in the Eyre Peninsula to protect shorebirds. The Aboriginal Women’s Network was established in New South Wales in 2008 with seed funding support from Caring for our Country. It is a community-based group which aims to increase the participation of Indigenous women in natural resource and cultural heritage management activities and leadership roles. The network runs a biennial conference to strengthen relationships in relevant fields, raise awareness and transfer natural resource and cultural knowledge. The Aboriginal Women’s Network also established an online networking site, mentoring program and improved the engagement of Indigenous women by the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advisory Committee.

“The Sustainable Farming Groups are based on sub-catchment areas and meet on a quarterly basis to discuss and learn about topics of interest such as native seed collection or tree planting. They are relatively small groups (10–15 farmers) and have a strong social element, focused on farmers sharing experiences and learning from each other”—project manager, Water quality improvements in the Great Lakes, NSW.

Community-based groups were able to mobilise volunteers and engage new volunteers where required. Caring for our Country supported existing groups to expand their social engagement to reach new audiences and diversify their activities to address new and emerging environmental threats. New audiences included schools, Indigenous communities and urban residents. Expanding the engagement boosted existing capacity to deliver NRM. A culture of peer mentoring developed in many communities, with more experienced community members or farmers offering information and support to others. In 2011, Caring for our Country supported the third Mungo Youth Conference, a forum to engage schoolchildren and educate them about the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area in south-western New South Wales. The region has rich history, with evidence of significant environmental change and Indigenous habitation dating back around 42 000 years. A diverse audience, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous students from schools in Victoria and New South Wales, attended the conference. Students were connected with Traditional Owners, Elders, scientists, parks staff and pastoralists to learn about culture and conservation in practical ways and to then present their new knowledge at the conference. The conference was a powerful model for engaging students with Australia’s natural heritage.

Caring for our Country projects provided opportunities for individuals to get involved in delivering on-ground works, a practical element that encouraged participation. The physical and practical nature of these works provided an immediate sense of contribution and involvement. The social element also enabled participants to build new networks and facilitated the transfer of knowledge and skills. Community groups and regional NRM organisations often offered these opportunities to participate in on-ground works—for example, with the Tasmanian Landcaring Grants program. Recognition of volunteers and community organisations was essential for maintaining ongoing enthusiasm and participation, acknowledging the value of their contributions and celebrating achievements. Recognition could also take the form of references to prospective employers and providing professional development opportunities.

Volunteers protecting endangered shorebirds, New South WalesA Caring for our Country Community Action Grant supported volunteers in the Mates of the Manning community group to manage threats and monitor endangered shore-nesting birds near Taree in New South Wales, including the nationally protected little tern (Sterna albifrons). Little terns are migratory species that fly all the way from Japan to breed in Australia over summer and are protected under international migratory species agreements.

Mates of the Manning facilitated a vast improvement in community behaviour around nesting sites and increased the stability of the little tern colony. Without funding and dedicated volunteers, the protection and monitoring of the birds would not be possible. The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has recognised the efforts of volunteers by offering training and networking events to ensure they are skilled and continue to be engaged in conducting this important work.

“We have seen a vast improvement in the behaviour of people around the shore-birds sites as a result of the educational activities. People are aware of the little tern habitat and behave appropriately around the sites now.

We have fledged [the stage when birds are sufficiently developed for flight] more birds than anyone else in NSW. We average 100, but it can get up to 200. The colony size is now stable”—community volunteers.

“A thank-you event was held at the end of the project and everyone was invited. Volunteers give up their time to do this work and it’s very important to recognise and be respectful of that and part of that process is thanking people properly”—program manager, Moreton Bay oil spill environmental restoration program,

QLD.

Tasmanian Landcaring Grants program, TasmaniaLandcare Tasmania partnered with Wildcare Inc to deliver a program in Tasmania between 2009 and 2012 to increase community engagement and participation by engaging community groups and individuals to deliver a wide variety of small-scale environmental projects on private and public land. The proponents received $906 768 from Caring for our Country, providing funding to over 200 volunteers and 122 landholders to improve their knowledge and skills and conduct work on improving native habitat, particularly weed management. Groups that were involved in project delivery became part of the network led by the proponents. Projects ranged from weed control in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, coastal education initiatives on King Island, feral cat management in the Tamar Valley, tussock control in priority areas and the construction of an enclosure for rehabilitation of raptors.

The proponents used their existing networks effectively to generate interest from groups across the state. Facilitators worked with groups to identify opportunities and develop their projects more efficiently—for example, by assisting groups to access other funding programs or in-kind support if the projects did not match the priorities of the grants program. Grants were also used to leverage additional funding or investments of time and effort by local communities. For example, the Pipe Clay Coastcare group received a grant to manage the Weed of National Significance, serrated tussock (Nassella trichotama), which was instrumental in extending their work on controlling blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) and boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) in a nearby foreshore area.

A project led by Tamar NRM received funding to engage the local community to deliver a feral cat management program within the Georgetown area on the north-east coast of Tasmania. Community members directly participated in monitoring traps: releasing any native species that were unintentionally captured and advising Tamar NRM when a feral cat was trapped to allow humane destruction. This direct participation helped communities to view some of the native species that were being protected and learn about the extent of the feral cat problem. There is still strong local support for the project and growing community-led pressure for responsible cat ownership. The model of community engagement is even being adopted in other communities.

The demands of running a large and complex program helped Landcare Tasmania and Wildcare Inc to enhance their internal capacity by developing skills in program management and strengthening relationships with community groups. A technical and scientific committee oversaw the grant applications process to balance technical rigour with increasing community engagement and participation. The one-on-one engagement offered by facilitators was critical to quality of projects and ensured that community participation was a strong focus. The strengthened capacity of the proponents and community groups has positioned them well for delivering future NRM programs.

“The main legacy of the Tasmanian Landcaring Grants program is the reinvigorated network of community-based NRM groups across Tasmania”—project manager.

Local Indigenous solutions for a global problem—ghost nets, Northern Territory and QueenslandCaring for our Country invested in an already successful program run by an alliance of Indigenous communities to remove marine debris from the coastline of northern Australia. The region contains high-value ecosystems that are threatened by lost, abandoned or discarded fishing nets, otherwise known as ‘ghost nets’. Ghost nets can cause the death of protected marine species such as turtles, dugongs and dolphins as well as damage important habitat for other migratory species.

The GhostNets Australia program is managed by the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group and has resulted in the removal of thousands of ghost nets by Indigenous rangers from coastline in northern Australia. Caring for our Country funding assisted with training Indigenous rangers to undertake this retrieval and conduct monitoring. Volunteer groups were also engaged to help remove debris. A partnership with the CSIRO allowed GPS mapping of the location of existing nets, sites that had been cleared and indications of where there were likely to be future problems. Furthermore, the proponent collaborated with international stakeholders in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to reduce the source of some of the nets.

The ranger program transferred cultural knowledge between clans and the broader community. Funding also supported increased engagement with Indigenous women and children, primarily through an arts program which hosted highly successful workshops and art exhibitions featuring the marine debris.

“We have cleaned up decades of accumulated rubbish and debris in about 70 per cent of the Gulf region”—project manager.

Outcome 3 Position all regional natural resource management organisations to deliver best-practice landscape conservation and sustainable land use planning to communities and land managers within their regions.

Caring for our Country worked in partnership with Australia’s 54 regional NRM organisations to deliver integrated projects at the regional level. These regional organisations were provided with annual base-level funding until June 2013, enabling certainty and continuity in planning for the future and boosting the capacity of communities to deliver environmental activities. With base-level funding, regional bodies provided support and access to knowledge and skills for their local communities and acted as advocates for the broader Caring for our Country initiative. These bodies partnered with a range of community groups and local and state governments to deliver region-wide outcomes. A review of regional NRM organisations and over 500 stakeholder bodies found that, through support from Caring for our Country, these organisations have built strong relationships with stakeholders, provided leadership and are often the key source of information for NRM. The review also found that the organisations are well positioned to lead regional planning processes in cooperation with communities and land managers in their regions. Improved land use planning will assist with delivering best-practice landscape conservation. In order to gauge the roles of regional NRM organisations, RM Consulting Group conducted four site visits and received responses to an online survey from 14 regional bodies.

Multi-year base-level funding to NRM organisations encouraged increased capability in:

regional planning

community engagement and partnerships

program delivery.

Regional organisations play a lead role in developing regional plans for catchments and natural resources that incorporate community priorities. Caring for our Country is widely viewed as assisting with developing organisational capability in regional planning, including engaging with stakeholders over long periods of time, establishing agreed objectives and targets and developing coordinated management responses. Strong engagement processes helped capture local knowledge in plans and built community ownership and participation in catchment management programs. The development of partnerships has made it easier to manage different stakeholder expectations about complex environmental issues. Regional planning processes are increasingly shifting to community-based approaches in recognition of the need to include community aspirations in NRM and to directly engage local people in activities. NRM is dependent on volunteers to deliver actions, especially in vast landscapes across Australia.

Community engagement and development of partnerships underpins much of the work of regional NRM organisations. Relationship building helps enhance regional capacity to deliver activities, facilitates collaborative planning processes and enables the most efficient and effective delivery of objectives by coordinating collective efforts, sharing knowledge and leveraging resources. These regional bodies play an important role in harnessing and propelling community engagement in issues of common concern. In many cases, there is no other appropriate organisation to fulfil this coordination role. Coordination of multiple stakeholders in conservation projects can be essential to the success of projects, particularly when there are diverse interests such as government agencies, farmers, public land managers, community groups and Indigenous communities. The continuity of investment from Caring for our Country regional base-level funding has allowed organisations to execute coordination roles much more effectively. In the survey conducted by RM Consulting Group, regional bodies reported that partnerships have strengthened the capacity of community groups in project design, project management, and monitoring and reporting. This enhanced capacity is leading to higher-quality projects and more effective delivery.

Regional NRM organisations are involved in both leading and working with partners to deliver programs and projects. Caring for our Country investments have supported many large-scale projects which have demanded a high level of project management and engagement with numerous stakeholders. Regional organisations have strengthened their capacity in these areas with the support of continuous annual funding assistance, creating a strong foundation for any future investments. Successful program and project delivery was characterised by tailoring to the needs of target audiences, utilising best management practices, having access to relevant technical expertise and being well managed in accordance with project management and monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks. Many organisations are increasingly using social science tools to capture information about their target audiences in order to design projects appropriately for their audiences.

Developing collaborative multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve landscape-scale change in the Port Phillip and

Western Port region, VictoriaThe Port Phillip and Western Port region of Victoria contains productive farmlands and diverse natural ecosystems. Western Port is a Ramsar wetland which supports threatened plant species such as the vulnerable dense leek-orchid (Prasophyllum spicatum) and protected birdlife such as the fairy tern (Sterna nereis) and critically endangered orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster). The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority received regional base-level funding from Caring for our Country to deliver integrated projects across the region. The agency is responsible for preparing and implementing a Regional Catchment Strategy. It played a central coordination role, uniting multiple stakeholders at a landscape scale and developing highly valued project management skills: the agency has coordinated six major environmental projects in the last three years on behalf of a range of other groups.

One major project administered by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority is the Grow West initiative, which aims to rehabilitate 10 000 hectares of land through revegetation, protecting remnant vegetation and comprehensive pest animal and weed control. These works will assist with improving the stability of land by reducing salinity, erosion, and sedimentation; increasing habitat for native flora and fauna; increasing vegetation connectivity; and improving the condition of waterways. The continuous support offered by the proponent has helped to develop the capacity of community groups to deliver on-ground actions. Secure funding from Caring for our Country was important due to the fluctuating nature of corporate support.

The organisation has learnt several lessons through their experiences, including the importance of choosing projects that will

appeal to partners and generate enthusiasm to become actively involved, and avoiding duplicating the roles provided by other partners. Multi-year funding has allowed the Catchment Management Authority greater flexibility to adapt projects over time, which has resulted in overall better outcomes. The organisation offers governance and project management advice and works to build the capacity of other groups across the catchment—for example, by adapting the Grow West model to suit other biolink projects.

South East Queensland Catchments—a community partnership, QueenslandSouth East Queensland Catchments is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation which helps to build a sustainable community that cares for the natural resources and biodiversity of South East Queensland. Caring for our Country supported the organisation with regional base-level funding to deliver integrated projects in the region.

A core activity of the organisation is to engage with an extensive network of around 250 partners, including Landcare, industry, catchment and community groups, research organisations, Traditional Owners and individual landholders. Their approach is strongly focused on working with communities to develop capacity to manage natural resources. With funding from Caring for our Country, South East Queensland Catchments successfully led the community-based environmental restoration program after the oil spill in Moreton Bay. This coordination demonstrated the strength of their community and organisational partnerships, which were effectively mobilised in a timely manner to protect the important environmental values of the Moreton Bay Ramsar site.

South East Queensland Catchments engages with partners at the strategic level through a Members Association and at the operational level through Community Partnerships Managers. These forums are central for building and maintaining strong links with relevant stakeholders and communities. The Members Association is composed of various member organisations and provides strategic advice from a community perspective and harnesses local community involvement in projects. A network of eight Community Partnerships Managers is central for building and maintaining strong links with communities. These engagement staff all live within their communities and converse with local members and landholders on a daily basis, offering a central access point for advice and information, supporting collaboration, and conducting monitoring and evaluation of on-ground activities. Stakeholder surveys demonstrate a high level of support for Community Partnership Managers.

Caring for our Country regional base-level funding was fundamental in enabling the organisation to maintain a network of Community Partnerships Managers, coordinate regular programs across the region and build community capacity in NRM. With secure funding over an extended period, South East Queensland Catchments was able to concentrate on sourcing additional investments. Maintaining a focus on community relationships allowed the organisation to respond quickly and efficiently to emerging environmental issues, capitalise on opportunities as they arose and advocate priorities for their region. Investments from the Caring for our Country initiative assisted regional NRM organisations to build capacity in sustainable land use planning, community engagement and program delivery. This capacity will ultimately enable best-practice landscape conservation and the transfer of knowledge and skills to communities and land managers within regions. Another aspect of capacity-building was the generation of renewed interest and motivation to become involved in activities.

Community capacity and active engagement underpins the achievement of long-term environmental outcomes.

“One in seven Australians lives in South East Queensland. If we can change their views on natural resource management, it will benefit the whole of Australia”—CEO of South East Queensland Catchments.

Outcome 4.

Ensure the continued use, support and reinvigoration of traditional ecological knowledge to underpin biodiversity conservation.

Traditional ecological knowledge has significant environmental benefits and harnessing the significant knowledge, skills and responsibilities of Indigenous people was essential for achieving Caring for our Country outcomes for biodiversity. For many Indigenous people, culture and ecology are intertwined and cannot be separated. Over five years of the initiative, Caring for our Country exceeded the outcome for ensuring traditional ecological knowledge continues to be used, supported and reinvigorated for biodiversity conservation. Indigenous participation simultaneously delivered environmental outcomes as well as having social, cultural and economic benefits. A range of activities were undertaken, including mapping cultural sites and assets, recording traditional ecological knowledge and recording traditional language. Recording and sharing this knowledge helped facilitate intergenerational transfer and broader dissemination of knowledge about Australia’s natural resources. Indigenous groups were also involved in a wider array of NRM activities across national priority areas, particularly as histories of displacement often eroded knowledge and continuity of culture. Caring for our Country provided a pathway for developing valuable partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, promoting sustainable land management practices and preserving and utilising traditional ecological knowledge. Furthermore, Indigenous participation in the initiative contributed to the commitment by all Australian governments to Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

“Traditional ecological knowledge is an important aspect for managing the Australian landscape. Knowledge exists which would assist in floods, bushfires, drought ... and vegetation and fauna management”—survey response from a project participant.

“It has given [Indigenous participants] the ability to speak with pride. They were shy to start with ... we can now see the way they carry themselves ... the pride is there ... achieving by doing is lifting confidence”—project participants.

The Working on Country program provided funding to Indigenous ranger groups to undertake environmental activities to achieve Caring for our Country objectives, building on traditions of caring for country. The program provides training and career pathways for Indigenous people in land and sea management, and facilitates a partnership approach to deliver environmental outcomes. The program’s target to train and employ over 690 rangers in managing and conserving the natural and cultural features of Indigenous lands and waters, including Indigenous Protected Areas, by June 2013 has been met. The Australian Government has committed to expanding the program to support up to 730 Indigenous rangers by June 2015 in recognition of the high demand for the positions and multiple benefits. Caring for our Country provided funding for long-term projects with the aim of supporting Indigenous aspirations to care for country, offering nationally accredited training and career pathways for Indigenous people in land and sea management and facilitating a partnership approach to deliver environmental outcomes. Training and employment opportunities were particularly valued in regional and remote areas where options are more limited and built capacity for future self-sufficiency beyond the life of the program. Ecological knowledge was incorporated in several management mechanisms, including Indigenous Protected Areas and savannah burning in northern Australia.

Supporting the recording of traditional ecological knowledge in the Torres Strait, QueenslandThe Torres Strait Islands have a diverse mixture of communities, languages, cultures and traditions. Caring for our Country funded the Torres Strait Regional Authority to develop a regional database to record traditional ecological knowledge and support the engagement of communities in land and sea management in the Torres Strait. The database builds on a scoping study completed in 2009 and was piloted with the Boigu Island community. The database will include geospatial data on local natural resources and cultural and natural values.

A Project Steering Committee was established to facilitate community engagement and guide the delivery of the project. The database was designed in consultation with the Boigu Rangers, the Boigu Ranger Working Group and a Native Title representative group and includes data custodianship, protocols, intellectual property and a knowledge guardianship kit.

Recording the traditional ecological knowledge will support regional NRM, especially in relation to culturally significant and nationally protected species such as dugongs (Dugong dugon) and turtles. The development and implementation of the database will increase Indigenous participation in biodiversity conservation and assist with maintaining culture, as it will be

accessible to the relevant Torres Strait communities.

“Protecting cultural sites helps biodiversity. It is not in isolation”—project participant.

Working on Country, NationalThe Australian Government introduced the Working on Country program in May 2007 to fund positions for Indigenous rangers throughout Australia as part of the Closing the Gap initiative. It supports Indigenous aspirations in caring for country and provides opportunities for Indigenous people to deliver environmental services that protect and manage Australia’s environmental and heritage values. Working on Country projects are led by the local community and are underpinned by community ownership and action. Traditional Owners and local communities are involved in the design, development, implementation and leadership of projects to ensure they align with the needs and interests of the community and benefit the environment.

Working on Country is supported by the Australian Government as an ongoing program. Working on Country directly contributes to Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage by increasing economic participation, enhancing safe and supportive communities and improving governance and leadership. Following the success of this program, it was expanded to support training and employment for over 690 Indigenous rangers to June 2013, increasing to 730 rangers by June 2015.

Working on Country funding is allocated from the community skills, knowledge and engagement national priority area of Caring for our Country, yet the program also indirectly contributes to other priorities. Indigenous rangers are:

managing some of Australia’s important World Heritage areas, including the Wet Tropics of Queensland and the Gondwana Rainforests

sharing traditional ecological knowledge and land management practices

controlling Weeds of National Significance and feral animals

protecting and monitoring threatened plant and animal species

managing fire

caring for significant wetland areas and marine environments

protecting important cultural places, including rock art sites, rock holes and historic buildings

conducting junior ranger programs and back-to-country trips and engaging with schools and communities to share information

developing partnerships with researchers and non-government and government agencies to strengthen their work.

Indigenous Protected AreasCaring for our Country supports the establishment and declaration of Indigenous Protected Areas, the development of cooperative management arrangements for existing areas and consultation projects for potential new areas. Indigenous Protected Areas are land or sea regions in which Traditional Owners have entered into a voluntary agreement with the Australian Government to manage and protect important natural and cultural values. The declared areas make a significant contribution to biodiversity conservation and currently comprise almost 25 per cent of Australia’s National Reserve System. Caring for our Country provided $50 million for Indigenous Protected Areas over five years, including for already declared areas and consultation projects to declare others.

The goals of the Indigenous Protected Areas program are to support:

Indigenous land owners to develop, declare and manage Indigenous Protected Areas on their landsas part of Australia’s National Reserve System

Indigenous interests to develop cooperative management arrangements with government agencies managing protected areas

the integration of Indigenous ecological and cultural knowledge with contemporary protected area management practices.

A range of traditional ecological knowledge activities were undertaken in Caring for our Country projects. Indigenous Land Management Officers were employed by the Australian Government to support Indigenous organisations and groups to access funding and deliver projects. The integration of traditional ecological knowledge with the rest of the initiative had several key private and public benefits. It provided cultural affirmation and acknowledgment of the value of such knowledge, preserved the knowledge from being lost, facilitated cultural dissemination, generated interest and participation of Indigenous groups in the Caring for our Country initiative and allowed Indigenous Australians to access their country.

These factors, and participation itself, had positive outcomes for individual and community wellbeing through the strengthening of culture, identity and ties to the land. Projects included:

mapping cultural assets and sites such as travel routes, meeting places, story locations and song lines

recording knowledge through photographs, books, video and digital recordings, electronic databases and geo-spatial tracking

recording traditional language such as names for plants and animals

bus trips for Elders to access country and cultural camps

activities for engaging young people in learning on country

employment of cultural recording officers to record and store knowledge

dissemination of knowledge to local Indigenous communities or more broadly—for example, by speaking at community meetings or presenting papers at conferences.

“The best things: the mapping, preserving history. We found sites they knew about but didn’t know where they were. When camping they found paintings. They have enjoyed most being out in the bush”—project stakeholder.

In one project, the Merri Creek Management Committee received funding from Caring for our Country to engage members of the local Indigenous communities to share knowledge about grassland management practices in the Merri Valley, Victoria. The proponent had previously been unable to implement this engagement without appropriate funding. As a result, strong and enduring relationships have developed and it has led to frequent exchanges of ecological management information to protect and enhance significant grassland ecological communities on the fringe of Melbourne. Many Caring for our Country projects facilitated innovative processes to capture and record traditional ecological knowledge and share the outcomes with younger generations of Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people. For example, in the Roper River region of the Northern Territory, Mangarrayi Elders worked with an artist to map their lands with traditional place names, story lines and cultural sites. Three books with compilations of song lines have been compiled to date and a reference library with archival material has been established. One project manager stated, “we wish we had done this years ago—we are losing our Elders ... now there are only two left”.

“We encourage a family picnic and talk of what they know. The Elders convey what they know across the generations. Rituals are no longer practiced and bush tucker not used. But what remains is transmitted. We celebrate what is left rather than what has been lost”—project stakeholder.

One project developed a traditional language map and a DVD containing 19 short stories which captured traditional knowledge. The DVD is part of a broader knowledge project which targeted education for schools, tourists and national boards of Indigenous organisations. National Indigenous TV bought a licence to run the DVD on their network, transferring stories and information to television audiences. Indigenous people were trained in monitoring and managing the impacts of feral camels in northern and remote Australia. Traditional knowledge about cultural sites was combined with new methods such as motion-activated cameras, helping to provide better understanding of animals that are dependent on the water sources.

This understanding helps maintain an ongoing commitment to managing feral camels which will facilitate future feral camel management. In the Rangelands of Western Australia, successful partnerships with Indigenous communities, Traditional Owners and ranger groups gathered traditional ecological knowledge to inform landscape management such as fire control.

An important legacy of the Caring for our Country initiative was facilitating the intergenerational transfer of ecological knowledge which will benefit cultural continuity as well as Australia’s precious natural resources. In some projects, Elders accompanied younger generations onto country to educate about culture and the environment.

Tjuwanpa Rangers, Northern TerritoryIndigenous Australians have long sought to have their traditional knowledge valued and land and sea country work recognised as paid employment. The Tjuwanpa Rangers were supported with 15 paid positions under Working on Country and played an important role in biodiversity conservation. The rangers were based at Hermannsburg/Ntaria in the Northern Territory and managed approximately 390 000 hectares across five Aboriginal Land Trusts south-west of Alice Springs.

The Tjuwanpa Rangers conducted nationally significant environmental research and survey work and commercial land management contracts for the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service and a number of other clients. The rangers received formal qualifications in conservation and land management, including using cybertracker technology to monitor biodiversity. The information collected is scientifically robust and can have national application.

The rangers engaged in feral animal control and fire and weed management, including:

controlling one of the most significant infestations of athel pine (Tamarix aphylla), a Weed of National Significance, in central Australia at the headwaters of the Finke River

discovering the largest known population of the endangered Slater’s skink (Egernia slateri slateri) extending the range of the endangered marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops), locally known as itjari-itjari

removing prickly pear and buffel grass that were threatening native habitat.

In conjunction with their biophysical work, the rangers played an important mentoring role for other Indigenous land management groups in Central Australia, travelling regularly and sharing their extensive skills with others.

Managing natural and cultural resources across the Central Land Council region, Northern Territory The Central Land Council in Alice Springs received funding from Caring for our Country to support ranger groups in delivering environmental outcomes in outlying communities of the region. Recognising the importance of traditional ecological knowledge, the project provided opportunities for the input of Elders in determining priorities, planning and on-ground work. The project emphasised Elders and rangers working together to record traditional ecological knowledge and enhance intergenerational transfer, which was supported in a practical way by including younger generations on trips back to country.

Consultation with Elders informed priorities for the project, including feral animal management, soil, water and vegetation management, and management of visitors. As part of these activities, traditional ecological knowledge provided by Elders was recorded using video, photographs and voice recording. As well as preserving information, this multi-media approach created material for teaching younger generations about managing natural and cultural heritage of their traditional country.

Elders also collaborated with the Central Land Council Fire Officer to conduct burning activities to reduce fuel loads and regenerate important bush food areas; provided guidance to rangers on cleaning out important rock-holes; and worked with rangers and anthropologists to develop Cultural Heritage Management plans.

In the words of a ranger at an Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies conference in Canberra in 2011, “traditional ecological knowledge projects are really good because everyone gets involved. It helps old people to get out on their own country and ... helps the younger kids to build their strength and knowledge of their own country”.

Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Martu Ranger Program in the Western Desert, Western AustraliaKanyirninpa Jukurrpa was funded through Working on Country to support ranger teams to provide natural and cultural heritage management and protection services within the Martu native title area. Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa employed coordinators, a senior cultural advisor, rangers and some casual employees to carry out project activities such as managing the impact of tourism on the natural and cultural heritage values within the project area, managing fire to prevent high fuel load fires and managing threatened species and weeds.

Given that the Martu native title determination area covers 13.6 million hectares in the remote east Pilbara region, trips back to country were a central component of this project. To ensure these activities were culturally appropriate and that traditional ecological knowledge was utilised, cultural advisors were employed to provide guidance to ranger teams for on-ground environmental activities. To ensure intergenerational transfer of knowledge, Elders were able to speak for particular parts of country and younger people frequently accompanied the rangers to carry out activities. For example, young students travelled onto country to be taught animal tracking skills by Elders.

The project has led to video and sound recordings and written records, as well as on-country mentoring by Elders. As a result, Martu people have developed a store of materials which can be used by future generations to ensure that traditional ecological knowledge is incorporated in future land management practices. Importantly, Elders have also passed on skills and knowledge to younger generations through fieldwork activities.

Reinvigorating the use of traditional knowledge in the dry tropics, QueenslandProjects funded by Caring for our Country in the Burdekin NRM region involved working with the region’s Traditional Owners

to reinvigorate and support the use of traditional ecological knowledge in NRM. The NQ Dry Tropics provided governance and technical support for planning, training and other resources.

In collaboration with the Manbarra, Nywaigi, Wulgurukaba, Bindal, Juru and Gia Traditional Owner groups, NQ Dry Tropics produced a document to provide direction in sea management: Caring for our Coast Community Resource Book. The document outlines the aspirations of the Traditional Owners for the management of their sea country and information on dreaming stories, paintings and culturally significant sites to be considered in NRM.

A cultural heritage knowledge information system was created in collaboration with the Juru, Jannga and Gudjal peoples, helping to capture and store traditional ecological knowledge for inclusion in the management of natural resources.

On Palm Island, a country-based management plan was created for the Manbarra Traditional Owners. The plan involved sharing and recording traditional ecological knowledge, offering a strategic direction for future partnerships with regional NRM organisations.

Invigorating traditional ecological knowledge was an important part of Caring for our Country and was applicable in communities that had limited continuity of culture, where knowledge had been lost or where there were limited opportunities to practice traditional knowledge on country. Indigenous Australians also participated in broader NRM and cultural heritage projects across other bio-physical national priority areas, often featuring a combination of traditional and contemporary knowledge. For example, an Indigenous Ecological Knowledge program delivered by Territory NRM funded several on-ground projects in the Northern Territory which integrated traditional and mainstream environmental activities. Other natural resource projects involving Indigenous people were the management of Indigenous Protected Areas such as Boorabee and the Willows in New South Wales, a major carbon offsetting project at Fish River in the Northern Territory, cane toad abatement projects in northern Australia, and cybertracker monitoring throughout Australia. Many of the bio-physical benefits included improved management of weeds and feral animals, enhanced water quality, protection of waterholes and wetlands, revegetation and enhanced habitat for fauna, soil erosion controls, identification of turtle and dugong feeding grounds, and management of threatened species.

Building upon strong foundations with community engagement and awareness—Phase II Caring for our Country 2013–2018

The legacy of Caring for our Country investments has been enhanced capacity and knowledge of communities for managing natural resources. Community groups have renewed vision and momentum from their participation, and ongoing partnerships and networks have been developed. Many of the collaborative relationships have persisted even after the completion of projects and are a valuable resource for the design and implementation of future projects. Land managers are also more confident, capable and empowered. New community groups have formed and attracted a wider volunteer base. To varying degrees, each project documented and shared information, approaches and lessons learned. Often this information, including technical monitoring data, was made publicly available for others within the NRM sector. Freely accessible information will help inform better decision making in future.

“Caring for our Country has generated co-investment opportunities to support the delivery of significant outcomes”—Chair of a regional NRM organisation.

Existing community groups established a baseline capacity within their local communities and have a stronger level of knowledge, skills and experience to continue to pursue long-term goals. It is reasonable to expect that these achievements will generate ongoing community and environmental outcomes. Increased capacity and maturity has allowed community groups to compete competitively for alternative funding sources, which has reduced dependence on funding from the Australian Government. A range of lessons were learned about community engagement in the first phase of Caring for our Country. Given the diversity of projects, locations, target audiences and issues, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, and flexibility was required to tailor approaches according to community aspirations and needs. Adaptive management was important to accommodate changing circumstances, as there is often inherent uncertainty in projects involving people and the natural environment. Many stakeholders noted that the flexibility to adapt projects was a strength of Caring for our Country.

A range of responses, from local actions through to integrated landscape-scale conservation projects with a focus on managing entire ecosystems, are needed to deal with challenging issues. The next phase of Caring for our Country will continue to emphasise community engagement and participation to build skills and knowledge for NRM, focusing on providing information and social infrastructure to sustainably manage local environments. In particular, one of the strategic objectives of the new Sustainable Environment stream is to enhance the capacity of Indigenous communities to conserve and protect natural resources (see table below). Community Environment Grants will be available for local groups to take action to conserve and protect the environment. Funding will also be provided to regional NRM organisations to deliver environmental outcomes. The Sustainable Agriculture stream of Caring for our Country will invest in building the capacity of

communities to ensure successful outcomes for sustainable agriculture and healthy, productive landscapes. The Australian Government recognises that community groups and organisations, landholders, and Indigenous people make valuable contributions to the health and resilience of the environment.

Overview of the Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment stream

Strategic objectives Investment themes

Maintenance of ecosystem services, including ecological and cultural values, now and into the future

protecting the Great Barrier Reef

conserving and protecting species and ecosystems (Matters of National Environmental Significance)

restoring and maintaining urban waterways and coastal environments

building NRM community skills, knowledge and engagement.

Protection of our conservation estate

building the National Reserve System

protecting Ramsar sites and values

protecting World Heritage sites’ outstanding universal value and integrity

building NRM community skills, knowledge and engagement.

Enhanced capacity of Indigenous communities to conserve and protect natural resources

building Indigenous peoples’ capacity for NRM

building NRM community skills, knowledge and engagement.

References

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (2011). The Benefits Associated with Caring for Country—Literature Review: www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry/publications/benefits-cfc.html.

Allen Consulting Group (2011). Assessment of the economic and employment outcomes of the Working on Country program: www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry/publications/woc-economics.html.

Coastcare: www.coastcare.com.au/.

Commonwealth of Australia. One Place, Many Stories: Our Country: www.nrm.gov.au/resources/publications/our-country.html.

Inovact Consulting (2011). community skills, knowledge and engagement in Regional Natural Resource Management: National Staff and Stakeholder Survey Report: http://nrmonline.nrm.gov.au/catalog/mql:2645.

Landcare (2013): www.landcareonline.com.au/.

National Native Title Tribunal: www.nntt.gov.au/news-and-communications/media-releases/pages/was_martu_people_achieve_native_title_re.aspx. Accessed 10 April 2013.

RMCG CSKE (2013). Caring for our Country: Evaluation of community skills, knowledge and engagement Outcomes Review of Key Community and Natural Resource Management Level Achievements. RM Consulting Group for DSEWPaC. http://nrmonline.nrm.gov.au.

Working on Country: www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry/projects/index.html. Accessed 10 April 2013.

WalterTurnbull (2009). Working on Country Evaluation Report: www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry/publications/woc-evaluation.html.

Urbis (2013). Evaluation report of indigenous participation in delivering the community skills knowledge and engagement priorities under the caring for our country program. Urbis for DSEWPaC. http://nrmonline.nrm.gov.au.