$75 million funding boost for Torres Strait Land and Sea Rangers

A $75 million funding agreement to be delivered over seven years has been signed by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and the National Indigenous Australians Agency today (23 December 2021).

TSRA Chairperson Napau Pedro Stephen AM said the investment would support local jobs, for local people caring for land and sea across the region.

“Land and sea management has been central to Torres Strait culture and way of life for thousands of years and will continue to be an important part of our region’s future,” Mr Stephen said.

“This long-term funding agreement provides certainty to the people of the Torres Strait for protecting and preserving our environment now and into the future.

“TSRA has proudly delivered the rangers program since 2009 and this investment will support our forwarding planning for jobs, infrastructure, equipment, training and capacity-building,” he said.

The funding will also support actions under the Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait (2016-2036) – a guiding framework for enabling Torres Strait communities to continue to sustainably manage and benefit from their land, sea and cultural resources into the future.

Mr Stephen said the ranger program helps preserve iconic landscapes and cultural heritage by combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation practices.

“On-country ranger activities include pest and weed control, marine debris management, surveillance and monitoring, dugong and turtle management, seagrass monitoring, cultural heritage site protection, and traditional ecological knowledge recording, management and environmental compliance patrols,” he said.

“TSRA rangers also provide an important link with community – working with stakeholders including Traditional Owners, Registered Native Title and Prescribed Body Corporates across 13 islands to deliver natural and cultural heritage management.”

For more information about the TSRA Land and Sea Rangers visit www.tsra.gov.au/the-tsra/programmes/env-mgt-program/managing-our-islands-and-sea-country/land-and-sea-rangers