Large areas of Indigenous land near Darwin contain threatened species

Formally recognised Indigenous land rights and interests in the Darwin catchments study area (Indigenous estate and biodiversity case study) total an area of 876,582 hectares (or nearly 30% of the study area). Approximately 10% of this area contains high concentrations of biodiversity which is critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened.

The following map shows the intersection of areas of formally recognised Indigenous land rights and interests with high concentrations of critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened species in the Darwin study area (Indigenous estate and biodiversity case study).

Intersection of Indigenous land rights and threatened species

Endangered Yellow-snouted Gecko

Of the 39,066 hectares of high suitability habitat for the Yellow-snouted Gecko, 30,795 hectares (79%) is on areas of formally recognised Indigenous land rights and interests.

The following map shows the intersection of areas of formally recognised Indigenous land rights and interests with areas of high suitability habitat for the Yellow-snouted Gecko in the Darwin study area (Indigenous estate and biodiversity case study).

Intersection of Indigenous land rights and Yellow-snouted Gecko

Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat

The Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat is listed in Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan 2015–16: 20 birds by 2020. The Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat is found not only within a Commonwealth National Park, jointly managed with Indigenous communities and Parks Australia, but also outside this area on 20,757 hectares of land which is formally recognised for Indigenous land rights and interests within the Darwin study area (Indigenous estate and biodiversity case study). This area is located adjacent to Kakadu National Park and could provide a further extension of remaining habitat to be conserved and managed by Indigenous rangers. This area (20,757 ha) represents 36% of the area of high suitability for the chat in the Darwin study area (Indigenous estate and biodiversity case study).

The following map shows the intersection of areas of formally recognised Indigenous land rights and interests with areas of high suitability habitat for the Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat in the Darwin study area (Indigenous estate and biodiversity case study).