Working for our country: a review of the economic and social benefits of Indigenous land and sea management

Executive summary This report examines the important and diverse economic and social benefits being delivered by Indigenous land and sea management through ranger groups and Indigenous Protected Areas across the country. The Australian Government ‘s Working on Country program has been running since 2007 and has funded the employment of 770 Indigenous Rangers across 108 groups, managing millions of square kilometres of land and sea country with an initial target of meeting 730 full-time-equivalent ranger positions by June 2015. The initial target was met in July 2014 and then exceeded to reach the current total of 770 full-timeequivalent positions nationally, with some additional support from the Indigenous Advancement Strategy. Rangers undertake environmental work on country for national benefit, such as management of cultural sites, fire regimes, biodiversity and feral animal and weed control. The program recognises the importance of Indigenous ownership of work plans and works with the local authority of Indigenous elders to design and implement day-to-day operations and longer-term priorities. Australian Government-supported Indigenous Ranger programs share a close relationship with another federal program—the Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) program, which was initiated in 1996. IPAs are voluntary arrangements between Indigenous communities and the Commonwealth Government, in which Traditional Owners are given responsibility for managing protected areas based on an agreed plan. Many, but not all, Indigenous Rangers work within IPAs. To date there has not been a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of these programs, primarily because many of the program benefits are ‘non-market’ and difficult to value. This report draws on the literature and case studies to build a balanced, objective picture of the economic and social benefits of Indigenous Ranger programs. The report explores the various factors underpinning the success of ranger programs and presents a compelling case for continued funding. While the focus of this report is on federally funded Indigenous land and sea management programs, the Kimberley section of the report examines both federal programs and state-based approaches that have been adopted by the Western Australian Government and the positive outcomes of these programs. Recommendations are presented that will build on the successes achieved to date in the Kimberley