The Protected Areas Collaboration for Learning & Research was honoured to co-host with the Australian Committee for IUCN and North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd the First Nations led Reimagining Conservation forum in Brisbane last week, with 50 First Nations people and 50 non-Indigenous people brought together First Nations and non-Indigenous leaders and practitioners involved in the policies and practices of land and sea management across Australia.
Stories were shared of successes and challenges with some clear messages for how the conservation movement can ‘lean in’ to better support our First Nations people in caring for Country.
Day 1 was dedicated to a First Nations Focus Group and set the direction of conversations for the days to follow.
Day 2 and 3 saw almost 100 representatives from across Australia come together to discuss what reimagining conservation means to them and the organisations they represent, from Indigenous land and sea management organisations, NGOs, Government, Private, Philanthropic.
The Forum also connects to a new global IUCN - reimagining conservation initiative that promotes a culture of conservation and care for the planet based on challenging the status quo, addressing injustices, listening to diverse audiences, and together, reimagining a new way of caring and protecting the planet and each other.
Further outcomes from the forum to follow.
