Country-based management




Country is a term used by Aboriginal peoples to refer to the land to which they belong and their place of Dreaming.

Country can be used effectively as the basis of planning and management approaches for lands and waters, known as country-based planning and management. These approaches enable Aboriginal groups to express their own vision, values, strategies and actions for their country, irrespective of the various legislation, land ownership and other constraints imposed since European arrival. It can be a powerful tool to engage with government, land holders and others to build partnerships to achieve this vision (see examples below).

Evidence demonstrates that the ability to own, access and undertake practices on country is essential to sustaining and improving the wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples and delivering the benefits that cultural practices bring to the land. This is now recognised in Closing the Gap targets to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests to their lands and waters.

We promote country-based planning and management approaches to enable greater Aboriginal rights and interests in ways that protect Aboriginal people's cultural and intellectual property.

Banbai Rangers lead On-Country pilot

The Banbai Rangers and Guyra Local Aboriginal Landcare Council (LALC) have partnered to deliver an Aboriginal-led,
on-Country planning pilot in northern NSW.

The pilot aims to deliver a Country-based investment plan that identifies and targets Banbai values that can attract public and private investment. This plan will help to pro-actively address Banbai people’s aspirations to manage their Country and cultural values and determine how they do business with investment partners.

The pilot will showcase how Aboriginal knowledge and practice can be used as a critical input to support decision making for policy and improved natural resource management outcomes. It will provide an example that can be further applied or scaled-up in the region or other areas of NSW.

This pilot builds on previous Aboriginal-led case studies undertaken to explore cultural values in forests, including with the Banbai Rangers.

A vision for Banbai Country

Banbai Rangers are moving closer to completing a vision and plan for their Country.

Land management agencies and experts will soon join Banbai Rangers again following a successful workshop in April where a wealth of land managers and experts met to learn more about the Banbai Rangers’ vision and actions for healthy Country and community. Organisations included NSW Aboriginal Affairs, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation of NSW and Local Land Services.

Banbai Rangers have invited private land holders to join them at the next On-Country meeting in September to share their vision, and explore opportunities to work together towards healthy Country, including protecting Aboriginal heritage on private land.

Banbai Rangers invite you to view a short film on their work.

A cross-agency Aboriginal Advisory Group supports the Banbai Rangers and Guyra LALC in delivering the pilot, including NSW Aboriginal Affairs and agencies responsible for land management. Bhiamie Williamson, an Euahlayi man and Research Fellow at Monash University chairs the group.

The pilot is funded and supported by the Commission.

On-Country plans

Supporting guidelines