In 2009 the Lama Lama people established a ranger program after successfully obtaining funds for environmental and cultural heritage protection at Yaakarru (Running Creek) Nature Refuge. This program has since grown to enable protection of the natural and cultural heritage values of all our traditional lands. From the Massey River in the north, through to the Normanby River in the south. The Lama Lama Ranger Base is located at Yintjingga, however, rangers regularly patrol all Lama Lama land and sea country, with outposts also at Maramba (Silver Plains Station), Tuulwa (Lilyvale Station) and Rindoparr (Marina Plains). Our rangers are responsible for tourism management and all land and sea Country conservation including cultural heritage and native wildlife protection, weed management, participating in scientific monitoring, feral animal control, fire burning regimes and rehabilitation of degraded wetlands including riparian corridors.
As Rangers and Traditional Owners, we have noticed changes to our land and sea Country. We are concerned these changes are from climate change, as we have seen first hand a loss of habitat from Sea Water Inundations in coastal areas, damage from cyclones and flooding and impacts on our reefs. We are also seeing the impacts of more roads, increasing numbers of weeds and impacts from feral animals.
