Background to the TUMRA framework For Traditional Owners, the spiritual relationship with country has been likened to that with a member of the family: to be loved, nurtured, cared for and above all, respected (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2007, 3).
The Indigenous Land and Sea Country Partnerships Program is a $20 million investment in Traditional Owner management of the Great Barrier Reef. The program was created to provide resources and funds for the development and implementation of TUMRAs, such as the Lama Lama TUMRA. Under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 a new framework was established to segregate different areas or 'zones' of sea country so they can be utilised for specific purposes. The new framework complements existing community-based measures developed by Traditional Owner Groups to protect marine life while ensuring entitlements enshrined in the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) are recognised. The new framework replaces old zoning plans and gives more power to Traditional Owners in managing the reef's resources (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2007, 5). Under the previous approach, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the agreement area were required to apply for permits to undertake traditional activities such as fishing, collecting and hunting in the Marine Park (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2007, 6). In negotiating the Lama Lama TUMRA, Traditional Owners advised they wanted to develop and manage their own community-based plans for preservation of the reef.
Details of the Lama Lama TUMRA
Under the TUMRA, the Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation and the Queensland Government coordinate a Ranger Program, the Lama Lama National Park, and the Marpa Islands National Park. The Lama Lama TUMRA provides for the management of sea country, the creation of employment, skill development, and economic development opportunities for Aboriginal people in the region (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements Summary). The Lama Lama Traditional Owners and the GBRMPA are working together to integrate modern marine management and traditional knowledge to ensure the sustainability of the environment and preserve traditional customs and connection to sea country. The Lama Lama people undertake and coordinate conservation and land management activities, including (Queensland Government, Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program):
- biodiversity and water quality assessment;
- fire management;
- baseline flora and fauna sampling;
- weed and feral animal control;
- visitor management;
- frog and marine species surveys; and
- cultural recording practices (Queensland Government, Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program).
Under the Lama Lama Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program, a small specialised ranger team works on sea country and coastal estuaries, to: - support the delivery of TUMRA initiatives and joint management programs;
- deliver community-based programs and forums for progressing sea country management and protect cultural sites;
- perform compliance activities and visitor management, in collaboration with external agencies;
- undertake joint patrols of coastal and marine environments; and
- undertake monitoring and research of mangroves, seagrass, coral reef ecosystems, turtles, sawfish and dolphins.
Lama Lama TUMRA area The agreement area is divided into eight zones, each designed to obtain and preserve a different goal: (a) the General Use Zone; (b) the Habitat Protection Zone; (c) the Conservation Park Zone; (d) the Buffer Zone; (e) the Scientific Research Zone; (f) the Marine National Park Zone; (g) the Preservation Zone; (h) the Commonwealth Islands Zone.
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