People, Country, Culture

Indigenous Protected Area Plan

 2024–34

 

The Mandingalbay Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) covers some of the most culturally and environmentally significant Country of the Mandingalbay Yidinji people, stretching from the Wet Tropics rainforests to the Great Barrier Reef coastline. Declared in partnership with the Australian Government, the IPA supports the protection of culture, Country and community well into the future.

History

The IPA represents thousands of years of continuous connection to Country. Mandingalbay Yidinji people have long cared for these lands and waters through cultural law, seasonal knowledge and sustainable land management. The IPA framework, formally adopted in 2011 and renewed through the Mandingalbay Yidinji Indigenous Protected Area Plan 2024–34, gives national recognition to this ancient responsibility and strengthens our authority to look after Country our way.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PLAN

 

Why It Matters

The Mandingalbay IPA is critical for:

Cultural preservation – Protecting sacred sites, story places, language, traditional knowledge and intergenerational learning.

Environmental protection – Managing World Heritage rainforest, wetlands, mangroves and reef-connected ecosystems. The IPA is home to threatened species, rich biodiversity and nationally important landscapes.

Community wellbeing – Creating jobs for Rangers, building pride, strengthening identity and supporting youth engagement through caring for Country.

Self-determination – Ensuring Mandingalbay Yidinji decision-making guides land and sea management, planning, and future development.

 

Management Plan 2024–2034 – Key Priorities

Caring for Country:
Cultural burning, weed and feral species control, waterway and sea Country protection, biodiversity monitoring and restoration.

Cultural Heritage:
Protect and maintain story places, rock art, burial sites, and walking tracks; enhance cultural education for community and visitors.

Ranger Capacity & Jobs:
Grow the Ranger workforce, provide training, strengthen partnerships and expand career pathways in conservation and tourism.

Sustainable Tourism:
Support Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours to deliver world-class, culturally guided experiences on Country.

Climate Resilience:
Address rising sea levels, invasive species, habitat loss and climate impacts through science and cultural knowledge.

Community Leadership:
Ensure Mandingalbay Yidinji people lead all decisions about Country with strong governance and long-term planning.

 

In a Sentence

The Mandingalbay IPA ensures that Mandingalbay Yidinji people continue to protect Country, strengthen culture, create jobs and shape our own future—guided by tradition, backed by science, and grounded in self-determination.

 

Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours (MAIT) is 100% owned and operated by Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation (MYAC).

 

The Mandingalbay Yidinji People (MY People) are the direct descendants of the Aboriginal people who have owned, occupied, cared for, and sustainably used our traditional lands located east of Cairns for thousands of years.

 

MY Country includes a wide diversity of habitats covering 10,000ha and 40 kms of coastline, lying between sections of two World Heritage listed areas, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

 

The great diversity of environments in relatively small areas, including rainforest, open woodland, estuarine mangroves, wetlands, marine, reef, and island has sustained The MY People’s laws (lores) and customs for generations.

 

In these environments we developed a wide range of technologies from local material – for hunting, conflict, making substantial shelters, baskets, fish traps and tools.

 

Traditional land practices such as fire management, hunting, gathering, and harvesting of materials for shelter, tools, ceremony, or art are essential for the maintenance of our culture. These practices in addition to the richness and diversity of resources associated with MY land and sea country, have maintained a strong traditional economy for MY People for over 60,000 years.

When many of the MY People were moved to a mission known as ‘Yarrabah’ early in the 20th century we continued to visit, camp, hunt and gather on our Country. We continued to care for the Country and its sacred places, and we maintained our cultural knowledge, identity, and practices.

 

Although our culture and way of life has changed over the last 100 years, our identity as Mandingalbay Yidinji People remains strong and our inherited cultural rights and responsibilities to Country have not diminished. We remain obligated to our responsibilities to manage our lands and are restoring and protecting the environment and Mandingalbay Yidinji cultural values to educate our people and the wider community on the socio-economic importance of managing our land for now and the future.

 

We take pride in our land and have a deep connection to country and for this reason sharing our pristine natural environment, culture, knowledge, and practices with like-minded people from near and far is important to us. We welcome guests to join ancient hands on our Country.

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