Culture and Conservation Based Economy

In August, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance's (NAILSMA) facilitator Hugh Wallace Smith gave a presentation to the National Water Commission about the Indigenous community water facilitators network, explaining how the project is helping to build a conservation and culture-based economy in Northern Australia.

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance's (NAILSMA) Hugh Wallace Smith said the Indigenous community water facilitators network is helping NAILSMA realise its vision of building a culture-based economy.

In a presentation about the Commission-funded project and its achievements, Mr Wallace Smith explained that a culture-based economy was one that builds on Indigenous culture, knowledge and connection to country.

It also supports their ongoing maintenance whilst creating genuine opportunities for employment, income and business development.

The Indigenous community water facilitators network works in 6 key catchment areas in northern Australia where development is likely. The facilitators work to develop water networks in these areas and facilitate the integration of Indigenous interests with other stakeholders' interests. They also work to advance Indigenous engagement in research and management and act as a vehicle to ensure community interests are articulated at a Policy level.

Mr Wallace Smith discussed the many achievements the network has clocked up since its formation and then detailed its planned future outputs.

By next year Mr Wallace Smith said the network will have:

• developed and begun the implementation of regional water strategies and better practice engagement guidelines
• developed and begun the implementation of governance and decision making guidelines
• developed an Indigenous water database
• monitored and evaluated the network
• reported on experiences, lessons learnt and future recommendations
• completed collaborative research projects and published papers
• developed Indigenous guidelines for water planning.

For more information, or to download a copy of the presentation, click here.