Indigenous Desert Alliance

Yesterday Minister Tanya Plibersek announced an Australian first, the development of an Indigenous-led National Recovery Plan for the Tjakuṟa! The Plan brings together Indigenous Knowledge and scientific research about Great Desert Skinks into a single document that aims to motivate and educate people about the most important actions needed to save this culturally significant lizard from extinction. This film tells the story of 13 Indigenous desert ranger teams from the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia who used their expert tracking skills throughout March 2023 to find 90 burrow sites and collect scientific data as part of this new recovery plan for Tjakuṟa. Establishing a national monitoring program across the distribution of the Great Desert Skink is an important first step in the recovery plan. The information will be used to monitor how the Tjakuṟa population changes over the next ten years. The IDA would like to thank all the Indigenous ranger teams, Traditional Owners and partners who are working together to look after the Great Desert Skink, also known as Mulyamiji, Tjakuṟa, Tjalapa, Warrana and Nampu. Palya! Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Rangers Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation Rangers Tjamu Tjamu (Aboriginal Corporation) RNTBC - Kiwirrkurra Rangers Walungurru Rangers Warburton Rangers Tjakura Rangers Watarru Rangers Wiluna Martu Rangers Parnngurr Rangers Kaltukatjara Rangers Warakurna Rangers Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area Rangers Newhaven Rangers Ngalurrtju Rangers Parks Australia Threatened Species Commissioner Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub Central Land Council Ngaanyatjarra Council - Aboriginal Corporation Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Bush Heritage Australia Desert Support Services Australian Wildlife Conservancy Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia Walkatjara Art Film by Kerenza Sunfly #conservation #biodiversity #australia

Rare opportunity to work with rangers on desert and sea country in Ceduna! The IDA is looking for a Field Officer based in Ceduna or surrounds. The role will directly support ranger programs operating in the desert, on the ground, based on their specific individual needs. For more information on the role, and how to apply, head to the IDA website: https://lnkd.in/gBHc2t-r

Last week over 50 rangers and Traditional Owners from 8 Kimberley ranger teams came together in Broome, to participate in the second annual Northern Deserts Fire Working Group. The group discussed the year that was in fire, how to continue to better engage Elders in fire operations, heard from the old people that they are happy with the direction the ranger work is heading in, listened to traditional and cultural fire practice yarns, and how to wrap everything up with effective reporting... all before lunch! Rangers and TOs then split into small working groups with neighbouring teams to yarn up about how they can work better together on shared country. Overall lots of good collaboration and yarning up together! "Having that connection between groups, working together, makes us more stronger," said Lynette Wildridge, Nyangumarta Ranger. The fire work of the ranger teams is informed by the collaborative Pirra Jungku-Warlu (Great Sandy Fire and Biodiversity) Project. Read more about this project here: https://lnkd.in/g5Vs7Z8s Thanks to all who attended and support this globally important work, and to Nyangumarta for hosting at their office space. The Northern Deserts Fire Working Group is supported by the IDA along with the Kimberley Land Council and Environs Kimberley.

Another moment for the recipients of the 2024 IDA Ranger of the Year Awards! 👏🏾 ⭐ Emerging Ranger of the Year (Female) – Hayley Mulardy, Karajarri Traditional Land Association Rangers ⭐ Emerging Ranger of the Year (Male) – Daniel Dickenson, Muru-Warinyi Ankkul Rangers, Central Land Council ⭐ Ranger of the Year (Female) – Eunice Woods, Tjakura Rangers, Central Land Council ⭐ Ranger of the Year (Male) – Clifford Sunfly, Ngururrpa Rangers, Desert Support Services ⭐ Senior Ranger of the Year (Female) – Alice Nampijinpa Henwood, Warlpiri Ranger Team, and Kuyu Pungu (Expert Tracker) with the Reading the Country team, Central Land Council ⭐ Senior Ranger of the Year (Male) – Charles Coleman Snr, Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation Rangers ⭐ Ranger Coordinator of the Year – Priscilla Reynolds, Goldfields AC Rangers ⭐ Collaboration of the Year – Reading the Country Pilot Project, North Tanami Rangers and Warlpiri Rangers from the North and South Tanami IPAs with the Walungurru Rangers Read the full profile on each recipient, on Desert Stories now 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/ggSYYqGW

Applications for 2025 Ranger Exchanges are now open! Ranger exchanges are designed to facilitate connection between desert rangers, while providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge and skills. Desert mob have been involved in over 20 ranger exchanges over the past decade, playing a huge part in keeping the desert connected. To apply for a 2025 ranger exchange, email exchanges@indigenousdesertalliance.com To read about previous exchanges, and find more information, visit the IDA website: https://lnkd.in/grn9Wekq The photo in this post was from a 2024 ranger exchange about Nganngi (frogs) between APY Rangers and Wirajuri and Walgalu Rangers to Mt Kosciuszko. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gipMdNty

"Preserving First Nations cultural heritage is vital to keeping the story of our nation alive." – Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy. Congrats to Anangu Ngurraritja Traditional Owners and the community on this great news. https://lnkd.in/gngyJUPN

Looking back on Day 3! The morning kicked off with Birriliburu, Ngururrpa, Ngurra Kayanta, Ngaanyatjarra and Spinifex Ranger Teams yarning up about their fire work on country. Then, plenty of workshops to choose from like Reading the Country, learning about camera trapping, and using the 3D fire simulator tool, among many more. All wrapped up with some live music down at the oval with the Mutitjulu Band! What a ripper three days you mob. Palya!

ICYMI Good yarn about desert rangers and the IDA Conference this week. ❤️ 💛 🖤 Read here: https://lnkd.in/gbzc4m97

That's a wrap on the 2024 IDA Conference! Thanks you mob for a deadly three days of connecting up together. Can't wait to do it all again in 2026! The IDA would like to thank the sponsors of the 2024 IDA Conference – BHP, The Nature Conservancy, Westpac, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, the Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water, and the BHP Foundation.

"I would like to encourage other girls to go after their dreams, be a listening ear, stay open minded and ... take action.” - Eunice Woods, Tjakuṟa Rangers. 🖤💛❤️ https://lnkd.in/gVZ5yN9b