The Ganalanga-Mindibirrina Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) was dedicated in 2015 and covers all of the Waanyi Garawa Aboriginal Land Trust — over one million hectares in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. It includes long, snaking escarpments like the China Wall region and the broad basin of the Nicholson River (Ganalanga).
The Waanyi Garawa and Garawa Ranger groups work together and are based at the Robinson River community and Borroloola. Together they manage over 1.6 million hectares of Waanyi and Garawa country, which straddles the Northern Territory and Queensland border.
Ranger activities include the Gulf Fire Abatement Project and, working with fire management partners. A Raindance machine is used to eject incendiaries out of a helicopter as part of their early dry season burning programme. The remaining burning is done on-ground and involves senior Traditional Owners and young people using cool burns to protect important sites, habitats and infrastructure against wildfires.
The Waanyi Garawa and Garawa Rangers have also commenced cultural documentation of traditional knowledge associated with managing their country, and work to control nationally significant weeds such as parkinsonia and rubber vine.
State: NT - Arnhem Land region
Administration Organisation
Northern Land Council