Developing Joint Management
The Parks and Wildlife Service and Traditional Owners are developing joint management in a range of ways. The Service works closely with the Central and Northern Land Council who have a vital role in assisting Traditional Owners and representing their interests. The joint management program across the NT includes:
Training and Employment
Apprentice Ranger Program
The Parks and Wildlife Service currently maintains places for 20 ranger apprentices. Programs run for up to three years and require completion of a Certificate 3 in Conservation and Land Management. Support and mentoring is also provided to complete Certificate 4.
Flexible Employment Programs
A structured program throughout the jointly managed parks offers Traditional Owners paid casual work in a range of areas from on-ground activities such as weed and fire management to the development of interpretative materials. Consequently it is suited to both men and women of all ages. It aims to build capacity in both individuals, community ranger groups and partner organisations so that Aboriginal people can benefit from future contract opportunities in land management projects, or building and maintaining park facilities and infrastructure.
On the job and accredited training are important components of FEP which will assist in enabling community ranger groups and individuals to successfully undertake specific park management activities via a fee for service or cost recovery basis. In the Katherine area Traditional Owners for Flora River Nature Park were granted a contract for fencing, boat ramp construction and campground maintenance. In Gregory National park work crews have also been contracted for weed control, fire management and walking track maintenance. In the Alice Springs region community ranger groups, individuals and Aboriginal organisations have been involved in routine park management activities and successfully tendering for Park management contracts.
As partnerships strengthen and skill levels increase the Flexible Employment Program continues to provide economic opportunity for traditional owners of Jointly Managed Parks while also making an important contribution towards NRETAS commitments to Territory 2030.
Developing Tourism and Other Business
Joint management brings opportunities for Traditional Owners to benefit from businesses on, or associated with parks. Where Traditional Owners have an interest, the Parks and Wildlife Service works with tourism development officers from other agencies in helping Traditional Owners explore options and take steps towards establishing viable businesses.
Joint Management Plans
Photo at right: Traditional Owners and Parks and Wildlife staff working on the Joint Management Plan for the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve.
The Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act says that the joint management partners must prepare a Joint Management Plan. The focus of joint management plans is the shared vision for how a park will be managed and provides a number of opportunities for Traditional Owners to have their management aspirations reflected in the Plans. The planning process works out how the objectives and principles of joint management including how community interests will be achieved through shared decision-making. The principles of good governance are an important element of the Plan and will drive the way in which the Joint Management Committee oversees the implementation of the Plan.
Through meetings and workshops Park planners, rangers, Traditional Owners and land council staff work together to prepare draft plans for public comment. Over the last 2-3 years the following plans have been completed, are currently out for public comment or are being developed of development:
A Joint Management Plan for Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve came into operation in June 2008.
The following parks and reserves have Joint Management Plans in preparation:
| Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve | completed – being implemented | |
| Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) Conservation Reserve | completed – being implemented | |
| Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve | tabled in Legislative Assembly | |
| West MacDonnell (Tyurretye) National Park | awaiting handback | |
| Watarrka National Park | awaiting handback | |
| Trephina Gorge Nature Park | final stages before public comment | |
| N’Dhala Gorge Conservation Reserve | final stages before public comment | |
| Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve | final stages before public comment | |
| Flora River Nature Park | final stages before public comment | |
| Gregory National Park | out for public comment |
Building the Capacity of the Partners
Successful joint management is built on trust and respect between the joint management partners. This trust and respect is built from sharing information, understanding and points of view. This happens through Parks staff and Traditional Owners working together on park management programs, during joint training activities, employment initiatives, planning camps, and meetings of joint management decision-making groups, The partners recognise that building strong partnerships will take time and will need dedicated effort and training.
All Parks and Wildlife Service staff are required to complete Introduction to Aboriginal Culture training and once stationed on the jointly managed park will undertake specific cross cultural training developed by the Traditional Owners so that rangers can become familiar with and respect cultural rules relating to the park. More specific training is provided to rangers in applying joint management principles and increasing their capacity to recognise the opportunities that joint management presents to enrich both their work lives and the lives of Traditional owners. On-country camps and culture days led by Traditional Owners are also very good for developing both the partners’ skills in working together. These camps and culture days have been held for many parks across the NT and will become a regular feature of how joint management is undertaken.
A range of booklets, videos and posters have been prepared to improve understanding about what managing parks involves and the benefits and responsibilities of joint management. This includes a professionally produced video entitled “Welcome to Joint Management”. Over the next few years many of the joint management committees will develop new community education and interpretation material that will be available for visitors.
Governance relates to how the joint management partners organise themselves to achieve the shared vision for a park through a vision for a strong partnership. It includes all aspects of partnership, communication, planning and decision-making. It includes recognition of the interests of others in the management of a park. Each jointly managed park has a joint management decision-making group whose membership includes representatives from the wider Traditional Owner group and the Parks and Wildlife Service. Developing effective governance requires particular skills in governance on the part of both partners. Together with the Northern and Central Land Councils the Parks and Wildlife Service is developing and rolling out a governance development framework. It encompasses all the skills and processes that will be necessary for joint management partners to deliver effective joint management, ranging from basis cross-cultural awareness through to advanced aspects of governance such as policy development.
Special attention will be given to monitoring and evaluating governance. An approach to joint management monitoring and evaluation has been developed in conjunction with the Charles Darwin University. Performance will be measured using indicators relating to the satisfaction of the joint management partners and stakeholders, and the achievement of annual work plans. Gaps in management effectiveness will be readily identified and remedied through the governance development program.