In the NT, the Northern Land Council’s Caring for Country community-based ranger programs are aiming to manage Aboriginal-owned land and sea natural resources sustainably: the terrestrial jurisdiction covered is currently about 170 000 sq kms and the coastal/intertidal zone covers about 85 per cent of the NT total. About 35 community-based ranger programs are
underway, providing activity for about 300 Aboriginal people with funding coming mainly from the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme and Natural Heritage Trust. Some community-based rangers are also engaged in additional commercial utilisation of wildlife
like crocodile eggs and hatchlings.
Ranger programs focus on the eradication of noxious weeds, like mimosa, and the management of feral animals and pests, including crazy ants, cats, pigs, horses, donkeys and buffalo.
An informal institution, the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance has evolved to integrate activity across the tropical savanna. Some alliances are emerging with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service to test feral animals for disease, and community-based ranger programs could play an important role in eco-services delivery and in bio-security in remote and underpopulated regions.
This is a case where the customary is delivering private and public good: community, regional
and national benefits are generated and are also assisting Australia meet international obligations in biodiversity conservation.
Source: Altman 2004, pp523-524
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