Case Study 7: Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area, Northern Territory

Case Study 7: Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area, Northern Territory

A site of significance

The Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is a sanctuary for biodiversity, home to dozens of endemic plant species and numerous threatened animals, including the bustard, northern quoll, black wallaroo, Arnhem Land rock-rat, and the Oenpelli python ⁰ . Additionally, it protects the federally listed Arnhem Plateau Sandstone Shrubland Complex and serves as the headwaters for major river systems, including the Katherine, East Alligator, South Alligator, Goomadeer, Mann, Liverpool, and Cadell rivers, making it critical for regional water health ⁰ .

Beyond its ecological importance, the Warddeken IPA is an unparalleled cultural landscape, with tens of thousands of rock art and occupation sites that provide evidence of Aboriginal habitation stretching back tens of thousands of years. These ancient rock paintings depict creation stories, daily life, and even early encounters with European settlers.

Management of the IPA

IPAs are areas of land and sea managed by First Nations groups to protect and conserve biodiversity and cultural values, in line with Traditional Owner objectives ⁰ . The Warddeken IPA consists of approximately 1.4 million hectares of stone and gorge country in West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory (NT) and was declared in September 2009 ⁰ .

The land belongs to Nawarddeken, who are Traditional Owners from at least 30 groups of the Bininj Kunwok language group ⁰ . Traditional owners of the Warddeken IPA established Warddeken Land Management Ltd. in 2007. As an Aboriginal-owned, not-for-profit organisation, it integrates traditional ecological knowledge with western science to safeguard one of Australia’s most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes.

Operating from ranger bases in the remote communities of Kabulwarnamyo, Mamardawerre, and Manmoyi in western Arnhem Land, the organisation employs around 150 Indigenous rangers annually on a casual basis. These rangers lead a range of initiatives, including fire management and carbon abatement, weed and feral animal control, rock art conservation, education, and cultural heritage management, ensuring the continued protection of both the environment and cultural traditions.

Fire management (Manwurrk)

Warddeken Land Management helps reduce wildfires and cut greenhouse gas emissions by using a mix of traditional and modern fire practices. Through the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (WALFA) project, they work with businesses and the government to offset 100,000 tonnes of emissions each year, with profits going back into Indigenous ranger programs. Led by Traditional Owners, over 50 rangers carry out controlled burns to protect the land and share cultural fire knowledge.

Animals and diversity management (Mayh)

The Warddeken IPA covers most of the West Arnhem Plateau, which is home to many unique plants, animals, and ecosystems. Rangers combine traditional knowledge with modern science to protect wildlife, including the endangered Arnhem Plateau Sandstone Shrublands Complex, which they manage through strategic fire practices. Long-term monitoring projects, including a large-scale mammal survey in 2017, help track biodiversity and guide conservation efforts in this ecologically and culturally significant region.

Feral animal management

Feral Asian water buffalo are the biggest threat to the delicate wetlands of the Arnhem Plateau, causing serious ecological and cultural damage. Since complete eradication isn’t feasible, Warddeken rangers use targeted feral animal control, removing over 2,000 buffalo each year through aerial and ground culling. The buffalo meat is then distributed to landowners, following customary practices and ensuring strong community support for ongoing management.

Rock art documentation and conservation (Kunwarddebim)

The Warddeken IPA contains some of Australia's most valuable rock art. To protect these sites, rangers survey and document them, often traveling by foot or helicopter, and install exclusion fences to prevent damage from feral animals like buffalo and pigs.

Benefits of the Warddeken IPA

There are several significant social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits generated by the Warddeken IPA for Nawarddeken Rangers, community members, government, and other stakeholders ⁰ .

The positive outcomes are largely driven by the time spent living and working on Country and the remoteness of the IPA. For rangers, key benefits include enhanced land stewardship, increased pride, and a stronger sense of identity. Community members benefit from having rangers and their families on Country and the revitalisation of cultural burning practices.