Country Needs People, a national non-profit supporting Indigenous Rangers, has welcomed the Liberal National Party's commitment to increase investment in the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Program.
Ewamian woman and General Manager of Ewamian Limited, Sharon Prior, highlighted the significance of investment for long-term sustainability.
"An increased investment in the Queensland Indigenous Land & Sea Program would bring great benefits for people, nature, and culture," she said.
"We need security so this successful program continues into the future. Sustainability isn't just about jobs."
Ms Prior emphasised the need for more investment in logistical and operational support.
"We need more investment in logistical and operational support, so our Indigenous Rangers are properly supported and have the equipment they need to manage wildfires, fight ferals and protect threatened species," she said.
Country Needs People chief executive Patrick O'Leary noted that Queensland has a successful state-funded program for community-based Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers.
"Queensland has a unique, highly successful state-funded investment in community-based Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers," said Mr O'Leary.
"Queensland's nationally leading Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program has run for 17 years and now supports over 200 local jobs across 47 remote and regional areas, providing a better approach to managing key environmental pressures."
"The LNP commitment to grow the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program over time means existing Indigenous Ranger jobs will be secure, and we can look forward to more growth into the future."
Led by a majority Indigenous board, Country Needs People is committed to Indigenous Land and Sea Management.
The program creates jobs in rural and urban areas, combining traditional knowledge with contemporary science to enhance land and sea management across Queensland.
Indigenous Rangers are involved in reducing feral animal impacts, controlling invasive weeds, managing fire, protecting threatened species, and conducting erosion repair, cultural site management, research, and monitoring. They also respond to extreme weather events such as flooding, wildfires, and cyclones.
Working alongside 50 Indigenous partners, the organisation advocates for and strengthens Indigenous Rangers to ensure Traditional Owners and their organisations receive proper support in delivering land and sea management across Australia.
Ms Prior oversees all on-Country operations, including their ranger team and the Talaroo Indigenous Protected Area.
"Ewamian Country is gulf savannah Country," she said.
"It's a very cultural landscape containing basalt plains, lava tubes, granite outcrops, sandstone ridges, and rock art as well as the Talaroo Hot Springs and many story places. Culture informs everything we do."
She explained that although ranger work focuses on Talaroo, some tasks are carried out in collaboration with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers.
"Ewamian Country covers 29,500 square kilometres, which is also our Native Title Determination area, as well as the Talaroo Indigenous Protected Area (31,500 ha)," Ms Prior said.
"Some of the biggest challenges have been bringing Country back to what it should be.
"Talaroo was severely degraded since colonisation due to pastoral activities."
She explained that after acquiring Talaroo, a five-year strategy was developed to remove cattle, but now they face the issue of feral cattle from neighbouring properties.
"Managing this issue is ongoing, and rangers work with neighbours to manage boundary fencing and floodgates, and from time to time mustering is done by our neighbours to remove cattle," she said.
Through their commitment to land and sea management, Indigenous Rangers are essential in restoring cultural landscapes and safeguarding a unique natural heritage for future generations.
