CEO report  

Anna Boustead is now back on deck following maternity leave. Anna is working part-time, three days a week.

“A huge thanks to Jann Crase and Shaun Ansell for their hard work covering this position while I was on leave, as well as to our staff, directors and member organisations for continuing to support and inform ICIN’s work over the past nine months.

It is exciting to see all of the new developments in this complex and dynamic space. The ICIN team is currently attending the First Nations Land and Water Forum Interactive Marketplace being held on Larrakia country and hosted by NIAA, where the network is receiving a lot of interest in ICIN’s research and guides.

The landmark Blue Carbon report published by ICIN with support from the National Environmental Science Program (NESP), Charles Darwin University and NAILSMA, has been well received and highlighted key gaps and recommendations in improving recognition of Indigenous rights and interests. We have just published and printed a summary for those short on time (see below) and intend to support discussions and workshops about its recommendations amongst Indigenous land and sea management organisations at upcoming in-person forums as well as online.

ICIN had some input into the Carbon Farming Outreach Program training materials, recently published by the Australian Government and University of Melbourne (see below). Our involvement in this project highlighted the strong need for ICIN to continue to independently produce materials informed by Indigenous land and sea managers that help to explain how the carbon market and carbon accounting methods work; this is an area requiring ongoing specialist resources.

With support from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, we are working on producing communication resources to explain Savanna Fire Management carbon accounting methods, targeted to especially assist Indigenous groups to understand risks and opportunities presented by the methods.

As always ICIN continues to advocate for better recognition of Indigenous rights and interests, and this includes advocating for the government to action the Carbon Farming Initiative Act Amendments promised by the Australian Government which will require consent by Native Title holders for a carbon project on their country. The network is also encouraging the government to enact new Savanna Fire Management methods that better account for the carbon savings of avoiding damaging hot fires.

ICIN together with NAILSMA and Charles Darwin University and the University of Queensland is supporting Indigenous engagement in scientific research funded by NESP to measure the carbon savings brought by managing populations of feral animals impacting coastal areas such as buffalo and pigs.

Preparations for the 2025 North Australian Savanna Fire Forum are getting underway for another exciting forum in Darwin. If you want to be involved or have creative ideas, please contact [email protected]. We will open sponsorship and program EoI processes soon.

We are continuing to build the ICIN team and with this in mind I am really pleased to welcome D’harawal woman Amy O’Brien to the team! Amy will be assisting ICIN with key projects, policy and communications and member liaison.

We will be recruiting for more Indigenous-identified positions soon. If you are interested to be kept informed of these opportunities, please email us at [email protected].”

Photo credit: Yawuru Country (Broome), ICIN image

ICIN warmly welcomes Amy O'Brien as Project Officer 

"Ngambi! I’m very honoured and excited to be joining the ICIN team as a Project Officer and I can’t wait to meet everyone! I’m Amy, a D’harawal person currently living and working remotely from Ngunnawal Country in Canberra. I grew up in Newcastle on Awabakal Country and am always looking forward to my next time in the saltwater. I love the outdoors and you’ll always find me hiking, swimming, climbing, or sitting in my garden whenever I get the chance.

I recently graduated from the Australian National University with a double degree in Public Policy and Arts (Sustainable Development) and I have a background in the environmental space through volunteering with organisations such as UN Youth Australia, School Strike for Climate, and most recently, SeedMob. Through these experiences, I’ve developed a love for fire management and almost became a park ranger this year to see it done first-hand. I’m excited that this position with ICIN will enable me to pursue this love and apply my skills to help the network grow."

Reimagining Conservation: Emerging opportunities for Indigenous Peoples in Blue Carbon, 19—22 August 2024, Djabugay Country

ICIN Co-Chair Cissy Gore-Birch joined discussions on Djabugay Country (Cairns) about reimagining managing land and sea Country at this event organised by NAILSMA. 

ICIN's recent Blue Carbon report set the scene for important discussions about Indigenous rights within the Sea Country Management session at the event which was organised by The Nature Conservancy Australia. Outcomes from this session will help shape ICIN's upcoming co-development of Indigenous Engagement Guidelines for Australia’s Blue Carbon Market. To express interest in being involved in the development of these guidelines, please contact ICIN via [email protected]. 

ICIN has launched a 'Summary Report' of the Blue Carbon in Australia: Understanding the opportunity for Indigenous People background report which was available for participants in Cairns, and can be accessed via the below button.  

ICIN at the 1st Dangkal Gwo’Yal-Wa Forum, hosted by the Australian Government

ICIN Co-Chairs Cissy Gore-Birch (as MC) and Dr Dean Yibarbuk and ICIN Board Directors Suzanne Thompson (panelist) and Sarah Parriman (presenting) and Anna Boustead (presenting) will be at the Dangkal Gwo’Yal-Wa (strong country) First Nations Land and Water Management Forum, on Larrakia Country (Darwin), 27-29 August. 

In support of the Forum's aim to empower First Nations communities in their stewardship of land and water resources, ICIN is presenting our Blue Carbon research in a fire-side slot at lunchtime on Thursday 29th, on the Ground Level, in Hall 1, and will be showcasing the success of the Indigenous Carbon Industry and the efforts of our 28 Indigenous Full Members in caring for Country in a booth in the interactive marketplace - come and say hello!  

Register now for nationwide Safeguard Mechanism explainer events  

This September, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is hosting a series of events across Australia to discuss important Safeguard Mechanism reforms, carbon credit markets and medium-long term emissions reduction planning. 

The Safeguard Mechanism, the Australian Government policy that regulates big polluters, mandates heavy emitting facilities to reduce net emissions by more than 200 million tonnes by 2030. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from and ask questions of the CER executive team on how these reforms may impact you.  

The Carbon Farming Outreach Program has been published

The Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in partnership with the University of Melbourne have launched the Carbon Farming Outreach Program. This training package was created to help land managers make decisions about reducing emissions and storing carbon. ICIN worked to ensure free ICIN guides, designed to support better participation of Indigenous people in Australia's carbon market, were referred to in the course.

Other updates

• ICIN welcomes Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy as the newly appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians, and thanks the Honourable Linda Burney MP for her efforts in the role and we wish her all the best with her retirement from federal Parliament.  
  
  
• FRIDAY 30th Aug: RIEL seminar series 'Carbon and water adventures in north Australia' with Professor Lindsay Hutley, more information here.
  
  
• Have your say on the 2024 Public Release version of the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) and six associated ACCU Scheme FullCAM guidelines.
  
  
• The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water, has released a draft version of Australia’s Sustainable Ocean Plan for public comment. Have your say!
  
  
• A tender process has opened around the development of methods for the Nature Repair Market. Within this market, methods are to enhance and protect existing environments as well as establish or restore habitat. More information.
  
  
• The Australian Government has released the National Science Statement and the National Science and Research Priorities with this vision: Through science and innovation, Australia will develop new industries that drive a dynamic economy, provide well paid jobs, improve our quality of life, preserve our unique environment and build a future made in Australia.  
  
  
• VIDEO: Tracking Fire The little-known piece of software saving lives explores the use of NAFI in savanna fire management and showcases the following ICIN members: Mimal Land Management, ALFA - Arnhem Land Fire Abatement and Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation.