Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) allow the traditional owners of the land to protect their sacred sites, landscapes and flora and fauna.

Brewarrina fish traps

The Brewarrina fish traps are a well-documented example of how Aboriginal people have cooperatively managed resources in the Darling River at Brewarrina.

Brewarrina Ngemba Billabong

The rivers, lakes and floodplains of the Brewarrina Ngemba Billabong (.pdf 606kB) on the Barwon River were declared an IPA in 2010.

For almost 100 years this land had been the site of the Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission, used to house local Aboriginal people whose land was taken for grazing. It is currently used to train young people in land management and will eventually be developed into a recreational area for all to share.

Watch Diane Kelly reflect on her life on the Barwon River.

Saving sea turtles

Watch how the conservation of sea turtles is managed in Mapoon Aboriginal community, Cape York Peninsula.

A Sea Country Plan shows Indigenous knowledge and modern science working together to help conserve and manage sea turtles in east Arnhem Land.