IPA

Traditional Resource Use

Using our traditional resources keeps our people healthy and our culture strong

We will:

• Use our animal and plant resources sustainably
• Monitor our use of dugong & turtle
• Develop agreements to share our resources among our people
• Participate in management of our fish resources
• Use our Law and Elders’ knowledge to guide our use of resources
• Educate our young people on using our resources wisely

Goal

To maintain sustainable use of traditional land and sea resources by Mandingalbay Yidinji people.

Targets

• Compile inventory on traditional use of land and sea resources from published and unpublished sources;
  (Target completion date: July 2012)

• Undertake community consultations about current use of traditional land and sea resources;
  (Target completion date: December 2012)

• Identify key species requiring traditional resource use management plans;
  (Target completion date: December 2012)

• Develop and implement traditional resource use management plans as required;
  (Target completion date: June 2013) 

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Document key sources for traditional resource use inventory;

• Document community engagement processes for identifying current traditional resource use;

• Document and communicate development of traditional resource use management plans;

• Report on key achievements and/or challenges at each MYSPIC meeting, as appropriate;

• Report on all targets in annual IPA Program reports;

• Assess progress towards achieving Goal in the five-year review of the IPA Management Plan.

The great diversity of terrestrial and marine environments within Mandingalbay Yidinji country provides a great range of traditional resources across the IPA.

Traditional marine resources include barramundi, mackerel, trevally, mullet, bream (several species), cod, threadfin salmon, rays, sharks, marlin, dugongs, turtles and at least 36 species of shellfish. The importance of shellfish in the local diet for many generations can be seen in the shell middens found up to 90 metres above current sea levels.

Terrestrial animal foods include echidnas, bandicoots, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, kangaroo rats, flying foxes, goannas, smaller lizards and pythons, cassowaries, ducks, geese, Torres Strait pigeons and ‘sugarbag (native honey).

Plant foods from different habitats on Mandingalbay Yidinji country are summarised below:

Rainforest	Woodland	Swamp	Beach	Mangrove
≥ 30 species	≥ 15 species	≥ 10 species	≥ 5 species	≥ 5 species