WA is expanding a ranger program that is enabling Indigenous people to lead activities including fire management, cultural site management and guided welcome to country tours.

Other initiatives under the Aboriginal Ranger Program (ARP) include biodiversity monitoring and research, feral animal and weed management and traditional knowledge transfer.

Environment minister Reece Whitby says the government has formed a 20-person reference group to provide guidance on the development and rollout of new funding streams and has invested $50 million to support new and established programs over four years.

He says it will continue to support Aboriginal corporations that have successfully completed projects under the first rounds of the ARP.

The WA government also hopes to attract further investment from local government, the Commonwealth and the private and the not-for-profit sectors.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti says the program, being overseen by the biodiversity, conservation and attractions department, is directly supporting training opportunities to develop the conservation and land management skills of Aboriginal rangers, while fostering community resilience and leadership.

The ARP has funded 35 ranger projects across WA since 2017 and provided employment for over 600 people.

An evaluation of the program released in January 2021 said 35 grants had been awarded and the program had achieved a number of social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes.

“The ARP has proven to be a very successful initiative across the State, and one that plays an important part in empowering Aboriginal people to look after country,” Mr Buti said in a statement.

“We have seen the wonderful impact this program has had on communities, and I look forward to seeing the expansion build on that success to benefit even more ranger groups and Aboriginal communities around WA.”

The WA ARP is one of more than 120 Indigenous ranger programs across Australia, with the federal government announcing in 2020 that $102 million will be available each year up to 2028 for indigenous ranger activities.

More than $746 million will be provided to 80 Indigenous ranger organisations.

Main image: Ngurrara Rangers on Country (Photo courtesy of Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation)