Australian Wildlife Conservancy is set to create the first private nature reserve in the Gulf region of northern Australia.
The new reserve will comprise two contiguous properties – Pungalina and Seven Emu - covering a combined area of more than 305,000 hectares (750,000 acres). Together, these properties capture a spectacular ecological gradient from the sandstone uplands to the coastal waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The establishment of the Pungalina-Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary involves an historic partnership between a private (non-profit) conservation organization and indigenous landholder.
- Pungalina is being acquired by AWC. It covers nearly 200,000 hectares of sandstone plateau and escarpment.
- Seven Emu is owned by Frank Shadforth, a Garawa man. AWC has entered into a partnership with Frank Shadforth under which 110,000 hectares of Seven Emu will be subleased to AWC for conservation. The conservation area of Seven Emu links Pungalina to the coast.
The combination of Pungalina and Seven Emu represents a great outcome for conservation, protecting a suite of habitats along an important ecological gradient in one of the highest priority regions in Australia.
However, of perhaps even greater significance, the Seven Emu deal establishes an important new model for conservation on indigenous owned land. The Seven Emu deal is the first time in Australia's history that a private conservation organization has subleased an area of aboriginal pastoral land for conservation.
This new model has the potential to deliver substantial benefits for conservation across northern and central Australia, as well as significant socio-economic benefits for indigenous communities.
AWC is, in effect, making an "ecosystem" payment to the owner of Seven Emu to ensure the relevant area of the property is conserved. This is the first time that an indigenous landholder has been able to realize the value of their land for conservation in this way.
The Pungalina-Seven Emu project highlights AWC's practical and innovative approach to conservation. However, AWC now needs your help to protect Pungalina and Seven Emu and make this important new conservation model a reality.