Our Great North. Developing Northern Australia while retaining the world s greatest tropical savanna is possible here s a proposal.

Transcription

1 Our Great North Developing Northern Australia while retaining the world s greatest tropical savanna is possible here s a proposal Kimberley to Cape Australia s Great Northern Savanna 1

2 Our Great North Northern Australia is vibrant outback Australia. It s monsoon country, where people are closely connected to the land and where Australian Indigenous culture is strong. The vast open forest and grassland that sweeps across the North forms the world s largest intact tropical savanna. It spans 3,600 kilometres from the iconic landscapes of the Kimberley in the west, through the Top End, to the tropical rainforests and reefs of Cape York. The savanna encompasses the largest number of free-flowing seasonal rivers and associated unmodified shallow marine systems in the world, and so many unspoilt places we love. The intact nature of this savanna is essential to the day-to-day lives and economic activity of residents and visitors. Most traditional regional industries here grazing, tourism, horticulture, fishing and recreation depend on its productive, functioning ecosystems, and many others benefit from the multiple goods and services the savanna provides. Emerging industries based on its natural resources such as experiential tourism, carbon farming, wild harvest products, crocodile farming, aquaculture and educational products and services, are also being recognised as vital to a successful future for the North, and indeed for Australia as a whole. Despite its outstanding attributes, the savanna does not have a common name and there is no effective mechanism in place to safeguard its values. Our Great North

3 This document seeks to raise awareness of Northern Australia s unique savanna and to explain why it is wise to keep it intact and functioning. It offers a name for this significant asset and makes recommendations on how we might develop the North while maintaining its values. It suggests that, with foresight, we can lead the world in getting development right. Recommendations (see page 8 for more detail) 1. Embrace the possibilities of development that s socially, culturally and ecologically beneficial as well as economically prosperous, and set policy accordingly. 2. Support Traditional Owners to lead the way in sustainable development and conservation. 3. Energise collaborative, place-specific planning at landscape and local scales. 4. Develop a shared policy framework and refresh the approvals process for major projects, and reinvigorate the National Water Initiative across the North. 5. Lift the governance capacity of community-based institutions and strengthen community-led enterprise development and caring for country. 6. Heed science and local knowledge, and create a development and conservation report card. 7. Recognise the world s largest intact tropical savanna and celebrate it through a pan-northern stewardship partnership. Australia s Great Northern Savanna 3

4 Our Great North

5 Acknowledgements This paper draws from a range of sources including the: participants of the Northern Australian Futures Roundtable (Darwin 2014) joint submissions to the Green Paper, and to the Parliamentary Inquiry, on Developing Northern Australia, supported by multiple such as seafood, farming, Indigenous, NRM, research, faith, RDA, retail, environment and tourism, coordinated by Kimberley to Cape North Australian Indigenous Expert Forums and Expert Panel on Sustainable Economic Development (2012 & 13), the Kimberley Appropriate Economies Roundtable (2005), the Cape York Appropriate Economies Roundtable (2003) and similar consultative reports Kimberley to Cape Advisory Group (Australian Conservation Foundation, Minerals Council NT, Savanna Way Tourism, Kimberley Land Council, Greening Australia, Regional Development Australia NT, Territory NRM, Gulf Cattleman s Association Research Institute for Environment & Livelihoods at CDU, NT Farmers Association) and Connections group seminal publication The Nature of Northern Australia (Woinarski et al. 2007) book Beyond the North-South Culture Wars (Dale, 2014) and recent monsoonal North reports by Crowley (2015a & b) ideas in Canada s International Boreal Conservation Scientific Panel paper (2013) It also draws from many other reports, papers and conversations about the future of Northern Australia (see website). We would importantly like to pay respect to past, present and future Traditional Owners and Custodians of Northern Australia, and acknowledge their aspirations, rights and needs. We also recognise the generous support of the BK Dahl Trust, Earth Welfare Foundation, Melliodora Fund, Hayles Charitable Trust, South Endeavour Trust, Environment Centre NT, and the Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, and the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge hub, at Charles Darwin University. Please note that the views expressed here don t necessarily represent those of the above organisations or individuals. Thank you all. ISBN Kimberley to Cape Suggested citation: Taylor, C (2016) Our Great North, Kimberley to Cape Initiative, Darwin, Australia Australia s Great Northern Savanna 5

6 A note on Kimberley to Cape Kimberley to Cape is a philanthropicallyfunded initiative supporting development and conservation that strengthens communities and embraces natural and cultural values from the Kimberley to Cape York. It is guided by a multisector advisory group, administered by the Environment Centre NT and hosted by RIEL at Charles Darwin University. We want the North s savanna to be managed, used, protected and celebrated as the world s greatest tropical savanna and are working with organisations and individuals across the North and beyond to help make this happen. Please join us in this task. For more information please contact us at kimberleytocape@iinet.net.au or see Clare Taylor, Coordinator June 2016 Our Great North

7 Contents Synthesis of recommendations 8 Introduction 10 Why keep the North intact? 1. An intact savanna is part of Australia s identity An intact savanna is part of Australia s rich Indigenous culture and important to most Indigenous people in the North An intact savanna provides lasting jobs and income streams An intact savanna is an investment in the future An intact savanna supports outstanding native flora and fauna which, in turn, support us An intact savanna advances our ethical standing as a nation An intact savanna safeguards the places we love across the North 22 How can we develop the North while retaining an intact savanna? 1. Let s embrace the possibilities of development that is socially, culturally, ecologically and economically beneficial, and set policy accordingly Let s support Traditional Owners to lead the way in sustainable development and conservation Let s energise collaborative planning at landscape and local scales Let s develop a shared policy framework and refresh the approvals process for major projects, and reinvigorate the National Water Initiative Let s lift the governance capacity of community-based institutions and strengthen community-led enterprise development and caring for country Let s use science and local knowledge, and create a development report card Let s recognise the world s largest intact tropical savanna and celebrate it through a pan-northern stewardship partnership 40 Final words and next steps 42 References, photograph and diagram credits 44 Key messages 46 Australia s Great Northern Savanna 7

8 Synthesis of recommendations 1. Embrace the possibilities of development that is socially, culturally and ecologically beneficial as well as economically prosperous, and set policy accordingly. Government agencies, in collaboration with other relevant organisations, to: a. Work with communities to articulate the purpose of developing the North, who and what development should benefit, and what values need to be maintained. b. Based on a and other recommendations here, host a biannual exercise to explore and report on alternative Northern development and conservation scenarios. c. Set government and industry policy to reflect results. 2. Support Traditional Owners to lead the way in development and conservation. Indigenous support organisations, government agencies and other relevant organisations to: a. Support Traditional Owners to articulate their aspirations for their land and to work towards these. b. Promote Indigenous leadership of and participation in collaborative northern development processes. c. Support sustainable Indigenous enterprises that create lasting and meaningful employment choices. d. Ensure free, prior and informed consent before progressing development or conservation proposals. e. Respect protocols and needs around consultations, timelines and Traditional Knowledge. Our Great North 3. Energise collaborative planning at landscape and local scales. Planning, management and other relevant bodies to: a. Linked with 1b, work with interested communities to scope and prioritise regional and local development and conservation options and translate results into land-use plans. b. Host an annual review and report on progress. 4. Develop a shared policy framework and refresh the approvals process for major projects, and reinvigorate the National Water Initiative across the North. Government agencies, in collaboration with other relevant organisations, to: a. Establish a development policy framework based on agreed principles and compatibility criteria to attract good projects. b. Ensure development approvals are based on robust multi-criteria analyses, clear risk assignments, bonds and insurances, offsets, and effective transparency and compliance mechanisms. c. Reinstate a national, or establish a Northern, Water Commission to reinvigorate implementation of the National Water Initiative.

9 5. Lift the governance capacity of community-based institutions and strengthen community-led caring for country and enterprise development. Indigenous support organisations, government agencies, business and others to: a. Strengthen governance structures that empower local people to embrace development and conservation, and to grow training and jobs. b. Build the capacity and coordination of community organisations, Indigenous organisations and local governments across the North. c. Secure, strengthen and expand Indigenous ranger initiatives and triple Indigenous ranger jobs. d. Support effective regional natural resource management bodies. 6. Heed science and local knowledge, and create a development and conservation report card. Management and research agencies to: a. Show how development decisions are based on best available science and local knowledge. b. Invest in research, development and extension based on two-way learning. c. Collaborate to create and publish an annual development and conservation report card using indicators reflecting community values. d. Link the report card to the North s clean, green credentials and use it to promote this advantage. 7. Recognise the world s greatest tropical savanna and celebrate it through a pan-northern stewardship partnership. All relevant agencies and organisations to collaborate to: a. Agree on a name for the world s largest intact savanna, for example the Great Northern Savanna. b. Identify how to better support and expand the land management and conservation efforts of pastoralists, Indigenous land holders, defence and other managers. c. Establish a connected network of multiple tenure land that is internationally recognised for its conservation and sustainable use achievements through a pan-savanna partnership - engage partners, develop a common agenda, identify shared measures of success, raise funds and undertake mutually reinforcing activities. Australia s Great Northern Savanna 9

10 Introduction Northern Australia offers an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable development and conservation, and it s vital that we, as one of the few stable, relatively prosperous nations in the tropics, make the most of this. In the North, unlike in southern states and other countries, we still have the choice to secure the savanna s outstanding natural and cultural heritage values, while increasing economic prosperity. The current push to develop the North provides a unique chance to embrace enduring industries and leading practices that will safeguard the savanna for future generations to use and enjoy. Northern Australia is home to the world s largest intact savanna, one of our planet s last great natural systems alongside the Amazon rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. More than this, it is home to the world s oldest continuous living culture with Indigenous Australians today making up a significant proportion of the North s population and land estate. The savanna also supports a myriad of productive industries and Australians love the open and remote nature of the North many of us have, or dream about, a favourite outback camp, swimming hole or secret fishing spot. The North s savanna is relatively intact. In other words it is characterised by continuous, healthy, natural landscapes and ecological processes. It includes many different vegetation types and habitats whose local continuity changes over time in response to natural events such as fire and floods. In contrast a fragmented, degraded savanna is one that is significantly marred by interference such as extensive vegetation loss or clearing, inappropriate fire regimes, exacerbated erosion, pollution or high levels of invasive species. Large intact landscapes sustain the processes that maintain and generate enduring economic enterprises and biodiversity. They offer more resilience and opportunity for people under changing economic and climate conditions, and they provide more options into the future. With around 70 per cent of the world s savanna landscapes already lost or significantly fragmented and degraded, we must act now to safeguard the North s value base. Our Great North

11 We need a collaborative approach involving landholders and managers, multiple industry sectors and communities. We need to work strategically at a whole-of-landscape scale because a traditional conservation estate would be too small, too fragmented and insufficiently resourced to safeguard our wealth of natural and country-based cultural values. We need people on country to keep it healthy, and we need lasting jobs on country. Current and future stewards of the savanna need to work together with governments to agree on shared goals and take action. In this report we outline seven key reasons why it is important economically, socially, culturally and environmentally to keep the savanna intact. We then propose seven overarching actions that we believe will lead to better recognition, use, protection and management of this outstanding asset. We offer the Great Northern Savanna as an all-encompassing name to reflect its scale and value to Australia. Our intention in writing this is to broaden the perspective of the Develop the North agenda, and for decision makers to recognise that a successful future for Northern Australia needs to be founded on its globallysignificant natural environment, its rich Indigenous cultures, and community values. This report is therefore aimed at those who influence, or have the potential to influence, decisions regarding the North s future. Over the long-term, retaining an intact Northern Australian savanna will provide better outcomes for people than a degraded landscape will provide. An intact Great Northern Savanna holds, warrants and assures local, national and global value into the future. Australia s Great Northern Savanna 11

12 What is a tropical savanna and what is an intact savanna? Tropical savannas are a distinctive landscape type found, or formerly found, in parts of Australia, Africa, South and Central America, India and South-East Asia. They are characterised by grasslands with scattered trees of varying densities that maintain an open canopy. In Northern Australia savanna occurs across plains, floodplains, coastal areas and hilly stone country. An intact savanna has continuous, healthy natural habitats and ecological processes, whereas a fragmented savanna has habitats and ecological processes that have been significantly unnaturally disrupted for example, by inappropriate fire regimes, vegetation loss, high levels of invasive species, overgrazing and/or pollution. Intactness can be measured by these factors or by global surrogates of integrity such as road, grazing and/or population densities (see underlying map extracted from Woinarski et al. 2007). Our Great North