This is your latest update from the Network:
Garma spotlights the Indigenous carbon industry:
Garma Festival, hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation at Gulkula in East Arnhem Land, brings together political leaders with Indigenous communities to discuss critical policy issues and elevate Indigenous self-determination. ICIN was pleased to present about the Indigenous carbon industry for the first time at this landmark gathering. Read about our panel ‘Standing Firm for Our Country’, Indigenous speakers, carbon methodologies discussed and much more.
Photo caption: Clare Price, Levina Woodbury, Tristan Maroney, Cissy Gore-Birch OAM, Teddy Bernard and Dr Dean Yibarbuk, Yothu Yindi performing.
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Chris Bowen MP view carbon projects:
In July, ICIN members hosted Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, and Chris Bowen MP, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, on Yolŋu Country. The Senator and Minister viewed Indigenous run and led projects within the savanna fire management and blue carbon methodologies.
"Here we have an area five times the size of Tasmania, which we are learning from First Nations people about how they've looked after the land and reduced carbon emissions through their way of managing fire. We want to get millions more tonnes of carbon out with managing feral animals," said Chris Bowen MP.
Photo caption: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Chris Bowen MP and Dr Otto Campion in North-East Arnhem Land.
Welcoming Jagun Alliance to our Network:
We welcome Jagun Alliance to the Network as our first New South Wales Associate Member. Jagun Alliance is an Aboriginal owned and directed not-for-profit organisation that works to improve land management and build resilience back into Jagun Country. Read more about their successful partnerships with local First Nations communities, government organisations, private landholders and the wider community across Bundjalung Nation (Northern Rivers region, NSW).
Photo caption: Jugan Alliance Team on Country.
The Network at premier climate event:
ICIN attended the Carbon Market Institute's (CMI) Emissions Reduction Summit held on Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne), 13-14th August. Our booth proudly showcased the benefits of Indigenous-owned and run carbon projects and the inspirational work of our Full and Associate Members to 600+ business and climate delegates. Read more on program highlights, ministerial announcements, policy developments and more. We thank the CMI for creating a space for ICIN at the summit.
Photo caption: Brian Warner, Kabi Kabi Peoples' Aboriginal Corporation and Matthew Burns, CEO, Taungurung Land & Waters Council, Leslie Schultz, founder and chair, Ngadju Conservation Aboriginal Corporation and Jamie Yibarbuk with Adrian Enright from ALFA.
Talking ‘blue carbon’ with Girringun Aboriginal Corporation:
ICIN was invited by Girringun Aboriginal Corporation to attend a ‘blue carbon’ workshop with Traditional Owners from nine groups on Girramay Country in Cardwell together with researchers from JCU TropWater, Charles Darwin University and the University of Queensland. It was inspiring to hear of the incredible work Girringun are doing to care for their Country, including research, marine biology, sea grass rehabilitation and much more.
Photo caption: Emmett Rist and Andrew Leo - Girringun Rangers.
North Australian Fire Information service facing closure:
ICIN has been advised by Charles Darwin University that despite the Australian Government committing to fund NAFI via the National Emergency Management Australia, it remains insufficiently funded and is now considering closure of some of its services within four weeks. The NAFI service provides critical satellite imagery analysis, alerting land managers to current fire front ‘hot spots’ and fire scars. Although NAFI receives a component of funding from the Clean Energy Regulator in return for the data it supplies into the SavBAT/SavCAM model to calculate fire scars for savanna fire management carbon methods, other components remain unfunded. ICIN has written to Minister McBain expressing concern.
ICIN Policy Working Group Update:
ACCU Scheme methods- ICIN held a member workshop on SavCAM, which identified key issues with the model particularly how sequestration abatement is calculated. ICIN has provided this feedback to DCCEEW. We will keep members informed about progress on having these issues resolved.
- ICIN provided feedback to NAILSMA and the University of Queensland on the draft method for the management of introduced hooved animals (ungulates). In late August, we will hold an ICIN Working Group meeting to hear an update on how this feedback has been incorporated into the next draft of the method.
- ICIN participated in the second meeting of the DCCEEW IFLM Stakeholder Group to give feedback on the proposed Integrated Farm and Land Management method and what changes would make it more accessible for Indigenous groups and organisations.
- ICIN has continued to hold workshops with groups who are interested in blue carbon. In early July, we held a workshop with Yirralka Rangers (Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation) to talk through opportunities in blue carbon and the feral ungulate method in the East Arnhem region. In late July, we met with First Nations Legal & Research Services in Victoria to discuss blue carbon in the Victorian context.
- On 8 September, we are holding a workshop in Cairns to bring together traditional owner groups and Native Title Representative Bodies in Queensland with an interest in blue carbon. For more information about this workshop, please contact Amy O'Brien at [email protected].
Karlantijpa SFM Project: Looking after Community and Country:
ICIN was pleased to join Traditional Owners and rangers on Country near Elliott (on Mudbarra Country in the Northern Territory), on a trip led by the Central Land Council (CLC) as part of the Karlantijpa Savanna Burning Project. Running since 2015, the Karlantijpa Savanna Burning Project builds on generations of Traditional fire knowledge.
First Nations Carbon Farming Outreach Program:
ICIN is pleased to announce that the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is funding ICIN to deliver the First Nations Carbon Farming Outreach program over the next three years.
Photo caption: Genevieve Schulz, Ella Rudland, Amy O’Brien, Jamie Yibarbuk, Brian Warner and Clare Price at the Indigenous Carbon Industry booth at the Carbon Market Institute summit.
Welcoming Tyron Bin Hitam-Keeffe to ICIN:
The ICIN team is expanding, welcoming Tyron as our new communications and outreach officer. Tyron is a Bardi man from the West Kimberley and is completing his final semester of university on Ngunnawal country. Tyron has previous experience working in the private and public sector and is passionate about supporting positive social and economic outcomes for Indigenous people. He can be reached at [email protected]. We are so excited to welcome Tyron to the growing ICIN team.
Upcoming events of interest to our members:
- 9th National Natural Resource Management Knowledge Conference, Yidinji Country (Cairns), 8-12th of Sept
- Australia's Great North Conference, Larrakia Country (Darwin), 18th Sept
- COP 30, Belém, Brazil, 10th-21st Nov
- Territory Natural Resource Management Conference, Larrakia Country (Darwin), 18th Nov
- Savanna Fire & National Indigenous Carbon Forum, Larrakia Country (Darwin), 24-27th Feb
Get in touch with Tyron at [email protected] if you would like to add your event to the ICIN calendar.
Kind regards,
The ICIN Team