The Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) was dedicated in 2006. This IPA spreads across the Groote Eylandt Archipelago in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It covers around 300,000 hectares of land which includes Groote Eylandt, Bickerton Island, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by another 700,000 hectares of sea country.
Sacred places, songlines and traditional resources on land and sea have been recognised within the IPA and are highly valued by Traditional Owners. The Anindilyakwa Rangers manage the Archipelago's land and sea country according to customary and contemporary practices, and under the direction of senior Traditional Owners.
Work includes:
- keeping the islands pest free (there are no cane toads or introduced grazing animals)
- controlling feral cats
- monitoring threatened species (such as the northern hopping mouse, northern quoll and sea turtles)
- controlling weeds
- collecting marine debris.
Importantly, the rangers also manage cultural heritage sites and document cultural knowledge. Both the men and women ranger groups educate young people ‘two ways’:
- teaching them traditional culture
- contemporary conservation management.
State: NT - Arnhem Land region
Administration Organisation
Anindilyakwa Land Council