05/05/2005 - The new Wet
Tropics region's Aboriginal Natural Resource
Management Plan has been welcomed for its
focus on the integration of the three C's
- Country, Culture and Community , the Australian
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, said today.
Launched on Friday, the plan maps out the
Wet Tropics cultural and natural resource
priorities and provides a basis for investment
from the $1.4 billion National Action Plan
for Salinity and Water Quality. It is a joint
initiative of the Federal Department of the
Environment and Heritage, Federal Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and
the Queensland State Government.
Senator Campbell said the plan was the first
of its kind to specifically address the challenge
of maintaining cultural distinctiveness and
diversity in a rapidly changing landscape.
"The plan is an exciting collaborative
effort between Traditional Owners, government
agencies and regional research institutions
, that will help preserve and protect not
only the area's unique plants and animals,
but the customs, beliefs and languages of
the 18 Rainforest Aboriginal tribal groups
who live here," he said.
Senator Campbell said the plan made provisions
for responsible economic development of the
region's key industries of forestry, tourism,
fisheries and aquaculture.
"Many aspects of the plan deal with
managing the land and sea so young people
have better economic prospects, while maintaining
close ties to Country," he said.
"The Aboriginal Plan represents an historic
achievement by Traditional Owners to bring
national awareness to their pivotal role in
ecologically sustainable development in northern
Australia."
Senator Campbell said the plan identified
and addressed threats such as vegetation clearing,
wetland modification and altered fire regimes
that are affecting the sustainability of Australia's
unique Aboriginal rainforest cultures.
"There is an inseparable connection
between people and land in the Wet Tropics
that is reflected in this unique plan that
addresses not only threats to natural resources,
but to cultural sites and traditional values
as well," he said.
The plan was launched in conjunction with
Queensland Ministers for Environment, Desley
Boyle, and Natural Resources, Stephen Robertson.
