Successful Wet Tropics grants

The Wet Tropics Management Authority has granted almost $60,000 in project funding to Traditional Owners in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The project funding is an initiative of the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s Small Grants Program for 2013 made possible through the Commonwealth’s Caring for our Country Program.

The Wet Tropics Small Grants Program supports activities that contribute to the protection and management of Rainforest Aboriginal bio-cultural values alongside World Heritage values. This funding comes in the wake of the Wet Tropics being recognised for its cultural values on the National Heritage List in 2012.

The listing of cultural values reflects the dynamic relationships that Rainforest Aboriginal people have with their country.

Wet Tropics executive director Andrew Maclean said supporting Rainforest Aboriginal people’s initiatives will ensure that their values are better appreciated and understood, along with the natural values already listed.

He added, the Authority was looking forward to working with the successful applicants in jointly managing traditional Rainforest Aboriginal country in the World Heritage Area.

“The project funding will help local Rainforest Aboriginal people care for their country through on ground activities such as weed management, seed collection and propagation and interpretive signage.”

“We are helping people to preserve their culture by funding the procurement of databases to record and manage cultural heritage. We envisage that all of the successful projects will also lead to enriching the skills of project members,” Mr Maclean said.

“We are extremely enthusiastic about the positive outcomes the Small Grants Program brings to the region and the people involved,” Mr Maclean added.

                           Successful projects for the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s Small Grants Program 2013

Learn more about Rainforest Aboriginal management

Published: 31st May 2013