Indigenous Protected Areas - Funding
Applying for funding | Contacts | Frequently asked questions
Funding for Indigenous Protected Areas has been boosted to $50 million over five years through the Caring for our Country initiative. The first installment of that funding has already hit the ground, with the Government announcing more than $24 million to expand the work of Australia's 25 declared IPAs and help develop new ones. Full details are outlined in the Indigenous Protected Area funding summaries. A page of frequently asked questions and aswers can be found here.
Funding proposals can be submitted at any time for:
- Establishing IPAs on Indigenous-owned lands; or
- Establishing cooperative management arrangements over existing State and Territory government-managed protected areas.
We strongly advise all first-time applicants to discuss your proposal with the Indigenous Protected Areas section before you submit it. We are happy to help.
State and territory contacts
Marcus Sandford (NT and SA) : 02 6274 2791 | marcus.sandford@environment.gov.au
Luke Ingram (QLD and WA) 02 6274 2540 | luke.ingram@environment.gov.au
Kevin Mcleod (NSW, VIC, TAS) 02 6274 2513 | kevin.mcleod@environment.gov.au
If you have a specific question about submitting a proposal please forward the question/s in writing to Jenifer.Rahmoy@environment.gov.au.
Indigenous-owned Lands
Indigenous groups seeking funding to develop an IPA on Indigenous-owned lands should:
- Have secure tenure (e.g. freehold, deed-of-grant, leasehold) over the land where they wish to establish the IPA
- Have land which features high natural and cultural heritage values
- Have a clear intention to manage the land long-term for the conservation of its natural and cultural features
- Not intend to use the IPA for any land use that will degrade the natural or cultural heritage values
- Be able to manage and protect the IPA by legal or other effective means, for example:
- Traditional management practices can be effective means of management
- Customary law is recognised as a form of management which satisfies World Conservation Union guidelines
- Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation can protect IPAs, through agreements with appropriate government agencies.
State and Territory Government-managed Protected Areas
Indigenous organisations can apply for IPA funding to develop cooperative management arrangements over an existing protected area if:
- The Indigenous traditional owners and their Native Title Representative Body have demonstrated support for the application
- The State/Territory government agency which manages the area has demonstrated support for the application
- The State/Territory government agency has demonstrated a commitment to increasing Indigenous involvement in management of the area
- There is or will be a formal agreement developed as an outcome of the activities supported under the IPA initiative.
IPA Funding Applicants
The following bodies can apply for IPA funding -
Incorporated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, including:
- Land councils
- Community councils
- Land management agencies
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land trusts or representative bodies
If you are unable to access these documents, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
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