Indigenous Protected Areas - Funding
Applying for funding | Contacts | Indigenous Protected Area funding summaries
Applying for funding
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 33 declared IPAs and help develop new ones. Full details are outlined in the Indigenous Protected Area funding summaries.
Funding proposals can be submitted 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
Jenifer Rahmoy (QLD and WA) 02 6274 1724 | jenifer.rahmoy@environment.gov.au
Luke Ingram (NSW, Vic and Tas) 02 6274 2540 | luke.ingram@environment.gov.au
Indigenous-owned lands
Indigenous groups seeking funding to develop anIndigenous Protected Area 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 theIndigenous Protected Area for any land use that will degrade the natural or cultural heritage values
- be able to manage and protect theIndigenous Protected Area 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 Indigenous Protected Area initiative.
IPA funding applicants
The following bodies can apply for Indigenous Protected Area 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.