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Ensuring the long-term protection of Cape York Peninsula - 24/05/07
"This is our Ngaachi, our land. We don’t own the land, the land owns us. Our rivers and country have to be protected to conserve biodiversity and our culture. We are all in this together. That’s why it’s good we have a cooperative agreement with The Wilderness Society. It’s about sitting down, talking through the issues and working together to protect the environment as told to us by our Ngaachi." - David Claudie, Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation.
David Claudie and Anthony Esposito by the Wenlock River on Kaanju homelands.
Photo: The Wilderness Society Collection
The Wilderness Society and our cooperative partner, Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation, along with our allies in the conservation movement, have released a new statement aimed at a comprehensive conservation strategy to protect Cape York Peninsula. This strategy is based on the continuing and central role of the region’s Indigenous traditional owners.
We are seeking to protect the Cape from harmful and unsustainable land use and the effects of climate change, and to ensure that this place of global environmental significance is properly valued and looked after.
We recognise the unique connection to country and depth of ecological knowledge that the area’s Indigenous people possess. Accordingly, their rights and interests, and their ecological knowledge and management expertise are vital to the future of the Cape
“Cape York Peninsula – Ensuring its long term protection” is our contribution to a conservation agenda for this extraordinary environment. It outlines the foundations of a healthy future for the Cape, including the role of protected areas, the importance of vegetation management and of protecting wild rivers, the need for active land management and environmental enterprise, and the opportunities afforded by recognition of the region’s world heritage values.
Our shared vision adds to our continuing dialogue and long history of work with indigenous communities on Cape York.
We are also committed to the great economic potential of Indigenous land and water management on the Cape, where people are strongly supported in managing country to protect climate, water, biodiversity and other natural and cultural resources, as well as developing enterprises that compatible with maintaining ecological processes and natural values.
Download a copy of “Cape York Peninsula – Ensuring its long term protection" (PDF, 2.4mb)
Read more about The Wilderness Society's work with indigenous communities on Cape York Peninsula (PDF, 0.1mb)
Visit the Kaanju Ngaachi website to find out more about the Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation and their conservation strategy and homeland development.