Country-based Aboriginal natural resource management

Read how Aboriginal communities lead planning, decision making and cultural care for their lands and waters through Country‑based approaches and partnerships.
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Looking after Country

What Country‑based management means

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

Country‑based planning and management supports Aboriginal groups to:

  • express their vision, values and strategies for Country
  • guide how lands and waters are managed across different tenures
  • work with government, landholders and others to achieve shared outcomes.

Being able to own, access and practise culture on Country is essential for Aboriginal wellbeing. It also supports healthier lands and waters. This is recognised in Closing the Gap targets to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ legal rights and interests in their lands and waters.

We support country‑based approaches because they:

  • strengthen Aboriginal rights and interests
  • protect Aboriginal cultural and intellectual property
  • embed cultural knowledge in natural resource management.

Access the Fact sheet – Aboriginal Country‑based planning and management

Banbai Rangers lead on-Country pilot

About the pilot

We supported the Banbai Rangers and Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council to deliver a Whole of Country Plan and 10‑year Investment Strategy (2023–2033).

This pilot showed how Aboriginal leadership, cultural knowledge and a tenure‑blind approach can guide effective land and water management.

The process:

  • captured the Banbai community’s vision for Country and culture
  • used cultural values to guide land management across multiple tenures
  • brought together government, non‑government and community partners
  • strengthened cultural practices, community resilience and cultural integrity.

Project partners included NSW Aboriginal Affairs, Local Land Services, Forestry Corporation of NSW and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Other participants included private landholders, state‑owned corporations, Australian Government agencies, community groups and neighbouring First Nations.

The Banbai Rangers were supported by:

  • Dr Bhiamie Williamson (Euahlayi), Monash University
  • Mr Oliver Costello (Bundjalung), NSW Net Zero Commissioner
  • Dr Michelle McKemey, Melaleuca Environmental Consultancy Services
  • Dr Mal Ridges, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

What the pilot delivered

The evaluation found the pilot to be a leading example of Aboriginal‑led, whole‑of‑Country planning that could be scaled across NSW.

Watch video

View the trailer here:

2:39

Trailer - Banbai Whole of Country Plan

Read transcript
Video transcript

Trailer - Banbai Whole of Country Plan

The Banbai are mountain people whose Country runs along the top of the great dividing range and east of the fall country near Gaira.

We've always had lots of ideas, but although we've had great support from various organizations over the years, it's been hard to implement the big picture stuff. 

We began talking about ways we could develop a plan moving forward to best manage all of Banbai Country.

Yep. This process is really enabling aboriginal people to create a vision that can go with all the other vision we have for the landscape.

And it's an inspiring vision. You know, this is a vision that has people doing culture in the landscape so that living culture becomes part of the landscape. 

Yea. Back in nineties, all our partners, the day they came outta here, you know, like a majority of them had a feeling, a special feeling we need to be on Country and why we need to protect it.

Because our ancestors are here, their knowledge is still on what read and and we need to keep it alive, keep it protected.

Link to the full video

Video (full) - Banbai Whole of Country Plan  

Sharing the plan

The Banbai Rangers and Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council launched the plan at Wattleridge Indigenous Protected Area.

The videos supporting the launch share the Banbai Rangers’ journey and show how cultural knowledge shaped key stages of the process.

Implementation of the plan will now begin, with ongoing involvement from:

  • land management agencies
  • policy makers
  • private landholders
  • community partners across the region.

Where we go next

We will:

  • work with the Banbai Rangers to showcase their plan and investment strategy
  • support the work streams outlined in the plan
  • collaborate with partners to increase Aboriginal leadership in natural resource management
  • help government identify opportunities to strengthen Aboriginal rights and interests across NSW.

Other on-Country plans and resources

Example plans include:

Example guidance material includes:

Related information

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