More than 20 Indigenous Rangers and other Traditional Owners converged on Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 15th November for an event marking 25 years of Indigenous Protected Areas.
There are currently 84 Indigenous Protected Areas in Australia, covering over 94 million hectares of land and sea Country, which now contribute to over 50 per cent of Australia's reserves on lands.
Indigenous Rangers are on the frontline, protecting environment and culture across vast, remote swathes of land from the impacts of climate, extreme weather events, invasive species, and biosecurity.
Indigenous Rangers and Traditional Owners journeyed from the Great Sandy Desert, Tiwi Islands, SE Arnhem Land, the Kimberley, SW Victoria, northern NSW, and Far North Queensland to present a new film - Indigenous Protected Areas – Keeping Country Strong - and to discuss the challenges ahead with Labor, Liberal, Greens and independent MPs, crossbench senators, and Ministers.