Joint Management

The Barmah-Millewa forest is located in the heart of Yorta Yorta traditional country. As the forest's traditional owners and caretakers, the Yorta Yorta want the forest to be better conserved. However, they do not currently have much influence over the management of Barmah-Millewa. The Yorta Yorta Nation never conceded the title to their traditional land and waters and has consistently fought for their rights to know of, negotiate over, and approve activities happening on their traditional country since these responsibilities were first seriously threatened in the mid 1800’s.

‘The decline in the health of the river system has led to a decline in the economic position of Indigenous people. There are less cod, yabbies, mussels, eggs, plants and animals. Less traditional food sources and reduced commercial opportunities mean a fall in the standard of living and greater reliance on welfare.’ (FCG, 2003)

Agreeing to joint management is an act of reconciliation and a show of goodwill by all involved. The Yorta Yorta cannot be considered to be simply another ‘stakeholder’ in the management of Barmah-Millewa - this term does not give sufficient emphasis to the extent of Yorta Yorta attachment to the area. The Yorta Yorta’s special connection to the Barmah-Millewa area should be recognised through their equitable representation and involvement in the management of their country.

We propose that the land titles to all Barmah-Millewa state forests and conservation reserves be returned to the Yorta Yorta Nation, and be given National Park status. Such a park would be leased to the Victorian and NSW governments for public use, and managed through a joint management agreement between the Yorta Yorta Nation, Parks Victoria and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Joint management of national parks involves a legal partnership between the Traditional Owners and a relevant government agency, which also represent the broader community. The agreements place an obligation on the Traditional Owners to share their country with visitors, but also mean that the Traditional Owners’ interests, rights and responsibilities are recognised over lands and waters.

There are many different joint management agreements in operation across Australia, each negotiated to suit the circumstances under which it operates. Joint management agreements over land cover many issues, explicitly addressing and outlining the roles of all stakeholders and procedures to be followed.

These issues in relation to Barmah-Millewa include:

• Management structure - A Board of Management would formulate and develop policy and management strategies, and would be involved on a daily basis in the Park management. The Yorta Yorta would form a majority (of voting members) on the Board, and thus be equitably represented and involved.
• Decision-making practice - Specific consultation, liaison and negotiation practices would ensure the Yorta Yorta have access to adequate resources and information from relevant government, scientific, and industry bodies.
• Broader community - Recreational and other low-impact uses are permitted in national parks and catered for with adequate funding for park management. Community and industry representation on the Board can ensure broader community interests are included in park operations.
• Cultural values - The cultural rights and interests of the Yorta Yorta would be given equal conservation status to the ecological values of the area.
• Environment - Plans of management to protect environmental values would include re-establishment of traditional methods of land management. The management plan would cover water rights flow and utilisation regimes, timber production and extraction, and stock grazing.
• Community development - Economic development opportunities such as eco-tourism and management services that eventuate from a national park listing will result in significant employment for Yorta Yorta and the wider community, making a jointly managed national park an important opportunity for the entire region.

Friends of the Earth recommends the following:

• That all remaining patches of native vegetation on public land in the Barmah-Millewa forest wetland ecosystem are to be returned to the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation under freehold title. This includes, but is not limited to, the Barmah, Millewa, Moira, Tuppal, Gulpa Island and Bama State Forests, Barmah State Park and Moira Lakes Flora Reserve. In the following recommendations, these lands will be referred to as ‘the targeted lands’.

• That prior to, during and after the process of returning the targeted lands to the Yorta Yorta, the Victorian and New South Wales state governments are to enter into negotiations with the Yorta Yorta to create a jointly-managed national park, Barmah-Millewa National Park (BMNP), encompassing the targeted lands

• A single board of management is to be established to manage BMNP, with the majority of seats allocated to the Yorta Yorta Nation.

• A new management plan for the BMNP is to be written, which incorporates relevant sections of the Management Plan for Yorta Yorta Cultural Environmental Heritage Project - Final Report (YYCC, 2001).

• Yorta Yorta people are to be employed in all aspects of park management.

Further information, and details on the more specific recommendations made by Friends of the Earth, go to our Submission to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s River Red Gum Investigation, December 2006.

References:
Farley Consulting Group (2003) Report to the Murray Darling Basin Commission: Indigenous response to the Living Murray Initiative.

Yorta Yorta Clans Group (1999) Final Report: Management Plan for Yorta Yorta Cultural Environmental Heritage Project.