Year In Review — 2022-23 | Page 26

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4 : RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND LIVELIHOODS
Healing Country with cultural fire
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4 : RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND LIVELIHOODS
NQ Dry Tropics will continue to support resilient , empowered communities by providing advocacy , education opportunities , and mateship .
This section highlights efforts to :
• support primary producers to become more drought resilient ;
• connect Traditional Owners with Country and create employment opportunities ; and
• support regional communities by sponsoring local events .

RURAL RESILIENCE

Invested $ 10,170,144

with regional suppliers , directly supporting the local economy
Helped landowners develop

21

GRASS property plans to support better managed , and more drought resilient enterprises
Supported Traditional Owners to connect with Country through more than

1657hrs

of engagement with

14

regional Traditional Owner groups
Healing Country with cultural fire
The Cultural Fire Management for Grazing Landscapes project is continuing to rebuild the knowledge and capacity of the region ’ s Traditional Owners . Working with two grazing properties , the project is demonstrating how cultural fire can improve Country , reduce wildfire risks , and increase the health and productivity of grazing land .
The project has received a high level of interest from Traditional Owners , Indigenous Ranger groups and landholders — all working together to heal Country .
The Cultural Fire Management for Grazing Landscapes project is an initiative of the NQ Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group . It is funded through WWF-Australia ’ s Indigenous Fire Management Program , and delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners of the Burdekin Dry Tropics region , Firesticks Alliance and graziers .
( Right ): Banjin and Warragamay Elder Russell Butler led a walk through Country on a grazing property at Cromarty , south of Townsville , which is hosting a cultural fire trial to regenerate landscapes .
26 NQ Dry Tropics