NT: Aboriginal community signs 2nd largest IPA in Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
NT: Aboriginal community signs 2nd largest IPA in Australia

A vast desert wetland .. a hotspot of biodiversity in the Top End .. has become the
Northern Territory's largest Indigenous Protected Area.

Today .. the Lagamanu community at Tanami .. about 800 kilomters south west of Darwin
.. has signed an agreement with the federal government and Central Land Council.

The IPA covers 40-thousand square kilometres .. and includes a broad range of environments
.. from arid savanna plain to desert wetlands.

Central Land Council director DAVID ROSS says several mining leases are in the area
.. and will be environmentally managed by the local rangers .. coordinated by the by traditional
owners.

The Wulaign rangers also control weeds and feral animals .. .. aid regeneration of
the land .. and protect wetlands and cultural sites.







The Northern Tanami Indigenous Protected Area takes in the northern half of the Central
Desert Aboriginal Land Trust (ALT) and the southern third of Hooker Creek ALT.

It extends west to the boundaries with Yingualyalya .. Purta and Mount Frederick ALTs

.. and east to the edge of Karlantijpa North ALT.

AAP RTV tr/paz/bart

KEYWORD: TANAMI (DARWIN)

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