CARING FOR KOALA’S, CULTURE & COUNTRY
GUMBAYNGGIRR GOOD KOALA COUNTRY PLAN
Doubling Koala Populations by 2025
Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country Plan, is the NSW Governments commitment to doubling koala populations by 2050. Aboriginal communities throughout NSW have a strong role to play in ensuring the long-term health of koalas and their habitat.
The NSW Koala Strategy is investing money to continue supporting actions under the Good Gumbaynggirr Koala Project. A state-wide Koala Aboriginal Advisory Panel was founded in 2022 as a space for Aboriginal voices, fostering collaborative learning and sharing to champion outcomes for both koalas and Aboriginal communities in New South Wales.
With over 70 members, the Panel brings together individuals rich in knowledge and experience of koala conservation. This collective represents community members, Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs), local elders, knowledge holders, Native Title holders, Aboriginal Rangers, and other Aboriginal organisations.
"Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country" is an initiative driven by the need to conserve koala populations and habitat, within the territory of Gumbaynggirr people. The project will incorporate different elements crucial for the protection and flourishing of koalas.
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THE PLAN.
To better manage land for koalas, the NSW Koala Program funded the Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country Plan in partnership with the Gumbaynggirr people of the mid-north coast. The Good Koala Country Plan (the Plan) was created by Gumbaynggirr people for Gumbaynggirr people in upholding cultural Lore and responsibilities to care for Country and koala.
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KOALA REGISTER.
Recording koala sightings is crucial to help us understand and protect this endangered species. The data you collect with ‘I Spy Koala informs environmental managers, land managers and the community about koala distribution. Koala sightings entered into the NSW Government's I Spy Koala app are the fastest way to get koala data to the decision-makers.
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THE TEAM.
We have a diverse team dedicated to caring for community, culture, Country and koala at the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council and Darrunda Wajaar Rangers on Gumbaynggirr Country.
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EVENT CALENDAR.
Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country and the 5 LALCs host, participate and attend a range of cultural events each year - cultural and educational workshops, festivals, and community gatherings. Our Event Calendar is a great place to find events, participate, growing your understanding about local culture and history, and protection of Country and koalas.
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NEWS & YARNS.
Our News and Yarns is a place to share with community about what we are doing out on Country with our rangers, cultural burns, land management, koala monitoring, koala country protection, caring for country, community engagement, cultural knowledge exchanges and cultural events within the wider community and across all 5 LALCs.
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LOCAL DIRECTORY.
Access our Local Gumbaynggirr Community Directory to source a cultural service provider or contact one of the 5 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALC) in your area for your next project, workshop, community gathering or events.
CARING FOR COUNTRY
GUMBAYNGGIRR GOOD KOALA COUNTRY PLAN
To better manage land for koalas, the NSW Koala Program funded the Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country Plan in partnership with the Gumbaynggirr people of the mid-north coast. The Good Koala Country Plan (the plan) was created by Gumbaynggirr people for Gumbaynggirr people in upholding cultural law and responsibilities to care for Country and koala. The Plan draws on Gumbaynggirr ecological knowledge frameworks and western scientific methods to better protect and manage Country. The Plan includes bio-cultural monitoring methods rooted in cultural place-based relationships between Gumbaynggirr people and Country.
Read more about the Gumbaynggirr peoples connection to Country and culture through songlines, kinship relations, the use of seasonal calendar and cultural fire practices for managing Country and Koalas.
KOALA COUNTRY
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KOALA COUNTRY *
The Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country Plan expands across the 5 Local Aboriginal Land Council’s (LALC) and the 3 Local Government Area’s (LGA).
Nestled along the picturesque northern coastline of New South Wales, Australia, lie the scenic and vibrant Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, and Nambucca. Each LGA boasts its own unique charm and draws visitors and locals alike with a blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and community spirit. These three LGAs feature extraordinarily diverse natural landscapes that range from unspoiled beaches to ancient rainforests, all thriving with vibrant ecosystems.
