"There's always going to be something out there damaging the environment and if you don't have enough people out there, you're not going to deal with that. If you've got more rangers, you'll get the rivers going, grow reeds on the edge and along with the river pebbles they'll purify the water. And we're making oxygen for everyone by planting more trees out here on the Coorong."
- Ngarrindjeri Land and Progress Association Working on Ruwe (Country) Ranger Brian Goldsmith
We couldn't agree more with Brian - country needs people - and we're really pleased to have the Ngarrindjeri Land and Progress Association add their support to the call for more Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas for the long term.
NLPA Working on Ruwe (Country) rangers have been bringing country back to life by growing and planting around half a million trees on Ngarrindjeri country in South Australia for more than five years.
The aim of the revegetation program is to restore the cultural health of Ruwe (Country) by enhancing existing vegetation, habitat and cultural values. The Working on Ruwe (Country) Program also carries out bird, animal and bushland monitoring as well as the management of pest plants and animals.
The program’s vision and management framework adheres to and respects Ngarrindjeri laws and traditions as passed on by Ngarrindjeri Creation Ancestors and the Old People. These laws and traditions are reflected in the Vision Statement and Goals of the Ngarrindjeri Nation Yarluwar-Ruwe Plan: Caring for Sea Country and Culture (2006) and the goals of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority Inc. (NRA).
"I do this work for all of us, not just for the Ngarrindjeri community," Brian said.
The Ngarrindjeri Land and Progress Association joins 33 other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and the Pew Charitable Trusts, an international organisation working in Outback conservation, in the Country Needs People alliance.