Today, I want to recognise and celebrate the deadly as First Nations women looking after their Country and communities, for the work they do tirelessly every day!
I want to highlight the women’s networks investing in women to come together, to have unity in struggles and create space to collectively work out ways to meet our local communities’ needs, to support First Nations voices and leadership in creating positive change.
Last week Leah and I had the lucky task of travelling to Yunbenun-Magnetic Island to spend two days working with an inspiring group of community leaders from across the Great Barrier Reef coast. Each community leader came with their region’s Community Action Plan, developed using the Conservation Standards and built on the shared values, knowledge, aspirations and priorities of people and groups protecting, restoring and advocating for the Reef in their local communities.
A good plan should record the decisions you make about what needs to happen to create the impact you are hoping to have. It is an important step, but only one in a continuous cycle. I asked our team of planners to reflect on what ‘good’ planning and a good plan can look like, summarised in this short video. We hope it is helpful and we encourage you to share it and use it freely.
Conservation Management has worked with Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) and their Indigenous Protected Area steering committees for the past year – to review existing plans for Walalkara, Apara-Makiri-Punti and Kalka-Pipalyatjara IPAs, and prepare them for the next 10 years.
“We are Strong Indigenous Women of the Northern Territory. We stand united as one strong voice. We commit to a network that gives us equal power to the rights of all our women. Strong women means healthy country.”
