North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd

23/06/2026

Harry Tamwoy sharing knowledge on the cottonwood tree 🙌🏾🍃

Harry is part of NAILSMA’s Protecting Country Against Invasive Species team, working alongside ranger groups across North Queensland to look after Country and build skills on the ground 👏🏾

12/06/2026

Last week, we hosted the Reimagining Conservation webinar: Cultural Licence to Respond, with more than 100 attendees joining the conversation.

⭐🎤We’d like to acknowledge and thank facilitator, Cissy Gore-Birch and guest speakers Barry Hunter, Chrissy Grant, Dr Cass Hunter, and Craig North for sharing their valuable insights on the role of cultural authority, Indigenous knowledge systems and leadership in shaping the future of conservation in Australia.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the important discussion. If you missed it, the recording is available🔗 in comments.👇🏽

09/06/2026

For 25 years, NAILSMA has existed to create lasting change for Traditional Owners – on Country, in communities, and across the policy, governance and land and sea management systems that impact our futures 🙌🏾✨

Our partnerships are our foundation. We work alongside Indigenous ranger groups and organisations to provide the support that is needed and requested.

NAILSMA’s PCAIS Regional Coordinator Harry Tamwoy says, “one saying that NAILSMA has is “Managing Country...Our Way and that’s one of the things we work with when we work with Indigenous ranger groups. We don’t dictate what they do but we actually work with them to manage Country their way.”

A big thanks to the Juunjuwarra Rangers for being an integral part of this story ❤️ Find out more about their work at www.jjcorporation.com.au and head to www.nailsma.org.au to learn more about who we partner with and how you can get involved.

More to come.

09/06/2026

Congratulations to all the Indigenous recipients recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List 👏🏾🎗️.

Among them is Eastern Kuku Yalanji and Mualgal Elder Chrissy Grant appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Chrissy has tirelessly worked to strengthen Indigenous rights, protect Indigenous knowledge and uphold Indigenous cultural authority. She is the current Chair of the Wet Tropics Management Authority Board and Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on World Heritage. Her leadership has had a profound and lasting influence across the Indigenous land and sea sector 🍃🌊

At NAILSMA, we are proud to have worked with Chrissy and have her expertise shape the way we undertake our work.

We congratulate Chrissy on this recognition, which is deeply deserved.

08/06/2026

Read the full article 👇🏾👇🏾

The Federal Budget has delivered renewed investment in native species protection, however Indigenous land and sea management leaders say it has fallen short of securing one of Australia's most effecti...

05/06/2026

🌟Congratulations to Dr Cass Hunter on being appointed to the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) Board.

Dr Cass Hunter, a Kuku Yalanji and Maluiligal woman who holds a PhD in quantitative marine science said, “This is a great opportunity towards advancing regional development and strengthening the system and connections towards lasting legacy change.”

As NAILSMA’s Director of Policy and Development, she is a valued member of our leadership team working to advocate for Indigenous rights and interests in policy that shapes land and sea management.

Dr Cass Hunter joins Ian Hamm Chairperson, Ms Jahna Cedar OAM Deputy Chairperson, and Directors Dr Heron Loban and Mr Marcus Stewart AM forming a dedicated and experienced ILSC Board.

02/06/2026

🗓️ REMINDER 🗓️

Don’t forget to secure your spot for our upcoming Reimagining Conservation webinar Cultural Licence to Respond.

Hear from an inspiring panel discussing the role of cultural authority, Indigenous knowledge systems and leadership in shaping the future of conservation in Australia 🙌🏾

Thursday 4 June 🕒 1:30pm - 3pm AEST

👉🏾 Register via link 🔗 in comments

This is the first of two webinars leading into the Reimagining Conservation Forum on Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Country this September 🌴🌊

02/06/2026

Indigenous people have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years. Today, Traditional Owners and Indigenous Rangers continue to deliver some of Australia’s most important outcomes for Country and culture.

Yet despite the critical role Indigenous land and sea managers play protecting biodiversity, managing fire and controlling invasive species 🍃🔥🐃, direct investment into the Indigenous organisations undertaking this on‑ground work remains far below what is needed.

NAILSMA has joined more than 400 scientists, young people, Indigenous leaders and conservation experts calling on the Australian Government to invest in nature ✊🏾

“The practice of looking after Country continues to be undermined by a lack of long‑term, structural investment in on‑ground operations. Effective stewardship requires stable, multi‑decade capital directly allocated to the people working on the ground.” NAILSMA CEO Barry Hunter said.

“As custodians of vast estates across northern Australia, Indigenous Ranger groups and Traditional Owners are constrained by short‑term, erratic funding and rigid grant structures that do not respect that wildfire, feral animals and invasive species are long‑term challenges.”

The open letter is calling for the Australian Government to invest at least 1% of the federal budget in long‑term, on‑ground conservation programs, including the Indigenous stewardship already delivering results across Australia.

Read the open letter via the link 🔗 in comments.

Biodiversity Council

29/05/2026

ALL IN 🌱TAKE ACTION MAKE CHANGE

This Reconciliation Week reminds us of the power in taking action together to make change.

Indigenous people make up 6% of the world’s population yet they manage 40% of the planet’s healthiest ecosystems on their lands, playing a critical role in achieving the world’s biodiversity and climate goals.

In Australia, Indigenous people manage more than 54% of the national reserve system through Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA). There are around 95 IPAs covering 108.5 million hectares of land and 7.7 million hectares of sea Country.

Locally and across the world, Indigenous people have always and will always take action to look after Country and the diversity of life that depends on it. All of our futures hinge on Country being healthy and biodiversity thriving.

When partnerships recognise and respect existing Indigenous leadership and knowledge positive change can be achieved.

This Reconciliation Week we invite you to take action and join Indigenous people in looking after Country to benefit all of us now and into the future.

27/05/2026

🐗 BUDGET MISSES OPPORTUNITY TO FUND INDIGENOUS INVASIVES PROGRAM 🐪

NAILSMA has welcomed renewed native species funding in this month’s Federal Budget, but remains concerned about a major gap in direct Indigenous investment to tackle invasive species and strengthen Australia’s biosecurity.

In recent years, the Australian Government has funded Indigenous ranger groups and organisations to protect Country from feral animals and weeds through the Indigenous ranger component of the Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program 🍃 💦 This funding is due to come to an end in 2027.

NAILSMA CEO Barry Hunter has called on the government to prioritise investment in Indigenous organisations in the coming year, warning a failure to do so puts at risk biosecurity capability in some of Australia’s most vulnerable and remote regions.

Read the full statement on our website. Link in comments 🔗