This is Supporting information for Indicator 6.4c: The extent to which Indigenous values are protected, maintained and enhanced through Indigenous participation in forest management (2026), published April 2026.
Land management arrangements
The degree of management control and influence that Indigenous peoples and communities have over forest land largely depends on the Australian, state or territory legislation that applies in each situation and the policies that are implemented in each jurisdiction (Table 6.4c-1). A summary of the main arrangements that relate to these instruments is provided below, by jurisdiction, and the area of forest that occurs on the land area that is subject to each arrangement.
Forest area figures reported here use information from the inputs used to assemble the Australia’s Indigenous land and forest estate (2024) spatial dataset. Some forest areas may be subject to more than one arrangement; therefore, totals will not tally to area figures reported on the Australia’s Indigenous land and forest estate.
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation owned and transferred lands
The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation is a corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005. The purpose of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation is to acquire, grant and manage land and water for Indigenous peoples to derive economic, environmental, social or cultural benefits. A range of measures under the corporation’s performance model provide tailored facilitation and support for the acquisition and sustainable management of land.
A total of 1.6 million hectares of forest is across all land that is owned or granted by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
Indigenous Protected Areas
Indigenous Protected Areas are a category of formal protected area in Australia’s National Reserve System managed by Indigenous peoples designed to achieve biodiversity outcomes in accordance with Indigenous peoples’ management objectives. Under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature protected area categories, most Indigenous Protected Areas are a managed resource protected area that permits the sustainable use of natural ecosystems.
As a protected area in the National Reserve System, all Indigenous Protected Areas must have a plan of management to deliver cultural heritage and biodiversity conservation outcomes, through combining contemporary management practices with traditional knowledge, often engaging Indigenous peoples through the Indigenous Rangers Program.
Indigenous Protected Areas are increasingly being dedicated on appropriate Crown land tenures after initially being primarily dedicated on private land tenure. A total of 8.8 million hectares of forest is on Indigenous Protected Areas on private land with a further 0.5 million hectares on Crown land tenures (including leasehold, nature conservation reserves and other Crown land).
Indigenous owned Commonwealth national parks
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Commonwealth national parks are managed by Parks Australia via the Director of National Parks. Three of these parks are owned by Indigenous peoples, which are each leased to the Commonwealth and jointly managed between respective Indigenous communities and Parks Australia, including:
- Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Northern Territory
- Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
- Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory
Together, 1.2 million hectares of forest occurs on Indigenous owned Commonwealth national parks.
World Heritage sites with Indigenous advisory committees
Sites on the World Heritage list are places of natural and/or cultural values of outstanding global significance. In Australia, World Heritage sites are recognised as a Matter of National Environmental Significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Australia’s World Heritage sites occur across land tenure classes and with different ownership and management arrangements, including Indigenous representation on advisory committees that provide advice to World Heritage management committees for the management of sites of Indigenous cultural significance.
A total of 4.7 million hectares of forest is on World Heritage areas.
Areas with recognition of Native Title
Native Title is the result of recognition under the Native Title Act 1993 of particular Indigenous peoples and communities’ existing rights or interest to land according to traditional laws and customs. Native Title itself does not grant title to land and co-exists with established land rights. Native Title rights may be exclusive or non-exclusive possession. Exclusive possession grants the ability to control who has access to land and commonly occurs on unallocated Crown land or where title to land is held by Indigenous peoples. Non-exclusive possession may include rights to access and personal use of land, and/or include consultation with Indigenous groups on land management practices.
A total of 36 million hectares of forest is on areas where Native Title is recognised, including both exclusive and non-exclusive Native Title.
Indigenous Land Use Agreements
Under the Native Title Act 1993 Indigenous Land Use Agreements are voluntary agreements between Native Title parties and other entities about the use and management of land. Provisions in individual Indigenous Land Use Agreements may pertain to how Native Title rights are exercised, how the land is managed (particularly for conservation reserves), or to enable development to occur, exercise mining interests or implement arrangements on the access to land.
A total of 43 million hectares of forest is on areas subject to an Indigenous Land Use Agreement.
Indigenous co-managed national parks
In the Australian Capital Territory, the Namadgi National Park plan of management includes cooperative management arrangements between the ACT Government and the Ngunnawal Aboriginal community to participate in the management of the park and included in consultation.
A total of 101 thousand hectares of forest occurs in Namadgi National Park.
Aboriginal Land Council lands
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council was established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 to claim land rights or purchase land for designated Local Aboriginal Land Councils across New South Wales. Under the Act the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council may make claims over limited classes of Crown land tenure (for example, unallocated Crown land) and grant a freehold title to a Local Aboriginal Land Council to own the land outright and use or develop land.
There are 105 thousand hectares of forest located across all New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council land, which is owned and/or managed by a total of 121 Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
Conservation reserves with Indigenous joint management
In New South Wales, the joint management of national parks and conservation reserves between government entities and Indigenous communities occurs through a variety of arrangements, including Indigenous ownership, memoranda of understanding, or Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
Indigenous ownership and lease-back arrangements of designated parks and reserves are established by Part 4A of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, where reserves are owned by Indigenous communities, leased to the New South Wales Government and then jointly managed by a board of management.
Conservation reserves subject to memoranda of understanding are voluntary collaborative approaches between the New South Wales Government and Indigenous communities that have a range of specified benefits including Indigenous participation in park management and cultural heritage management and protection.
Together, 1.5 million hectares of forest occurs across all national parks and conservation reserves with a specified New South Wales joint management arrangement, with 21 thousand hectares of that forest being on parks and reserves with an Indigenous owned, lease-back arrangement.
Aboriginal Lands Trust
Northern Territory Aboriginal Lands Trust lands are granted under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 with freehold land title held by an Aboriginal Lands Trust for the benefit of specified Traditional Owners. The legislation established land councils in the Northern Territory, which are the representative bodies to determine how land is used and managed, for example, for a community purpose or commercial activity.
There are 12.2 million hectares of forest located across all land held by Northern Territory Aboriginal Lands Trusts.
Indigenous freehold parks with joint-management governance
The joint management of certain Indigenous owned national parks and conservation reserves in the Northern Territory occurs under different legislation. The Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land Sanctuary and Marine Park Act 1981 vested the Cobourg Peninsula to Traditional Owners, and dedicated the area as national park (Gurig National Park) and specified associated provisions for the management of the land. Additionally, under the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act 2003 numerous national parks and conservation reserves under Indigenous ownership were leased back to the Northern Territory Government. Under this legislation plans of management are developed in partnership with Indigenous communities to jointly manage parks and reserves, and incorporate Indigenous culture, knowledge, and participation in decision making.
A total of 1.2 million hectares of forest is on Indigenous owned, joint-managed national parks and conservation reserves covered by this Northern Territory legislation.
In Queensland, land grant arrangements primarily occur under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 and Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991, including Deed of Grant in Trust land and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land trusts.
Deed of Grant in Trust
Deed of Grant in Trust land is a class of freehold land tenure granted in trust to Indigenous communities for Indigenous purposes. Located on former reserves and missions, Deed of Grant in Trust land is managed by incorporated Indigenous councils, with councillors elected every three years who administer, manage and use the land for the benefit for Indigenous communities. Councils can lease Deed of Grant in Trust land in accordance with the Aboriginal Land Act 1991, Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 and the Land Act 1994.
A total of 509 thousand hectares of forest is on Deed of Grant in Trust land.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land trusts
Indigenous communities in Queensland also have land ownership through land transferred to a land trust to hold for the benefit of Indigenous people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land trusts have been established under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 and Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991, respectively. New trusts are no longer being established, with the granting of land occurring to either existing land trusts or to corporations registered under the Commonwealth Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
A total of 5.1 million hectares of forest is on land held in Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island land trusts.
Conservation reserves with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-management arrangements
In Queensland co-management of conservation reserves between Indigenous communities and government entities occurs through different legislation. Under the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007 certain national parks in Far North Queensland are designated as Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land, which is Aboriginal freehold tenure, owned by Indigenous trusts or corporations, and dedicated as national parks that are jointly managed between the owners and the Queensland Government. The co-management of other national parks and conservation reserves in Queensland is also enabled under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, which was amended in 2016 to allow for the involvement of recognised Indigenous peoples in the management of protected areas.
A total of 2.1 million hectares of forest is on conservation reserves in Queensland that have co-management arrangements with Indigenous peoples.
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara and Maralinga Tjarutja lands
In South Australia, lands traditionally owned by the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara peoples and Maralinga Tjarutja peoples were recognised and granted freehold title via the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 and Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984, respectively, with both managed by representative bodies corporate.
Aboriginal Land Trust lands
First established in 1966 Aboriginal Lands Trusts in South Australia are legislated under the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 2013 to hold land for the benefit of Indigenous people of South Australia. Lands held occur across freehold land and Crown land tenure classes, primarily leasehold land.
Across South Australia, a total of 869 thousand hectares of forest is on land owned by Indigenous peoples or by an Aboriginal Lands Trust, with 309 thousand hectares on freehold land and 561 thousand hectares of Crown land tenure classes (areas do not tall due to rounding).
Aboriginal land
Under the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania was established to hold and manage land in Tasmania for the benefit on Indigenous peoples. Part of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania’s functions is to develop plans for the use and sustainable management of land while maintaining natural, cultural and community values that exist on Aboriginal land.
A total of 56 thousand hectares of forest in Tasmania is on Aboriginal land.
Land granted under the Aboriginal Lands Act 1970
The Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 granted freehold title to Indigenous communities over two former mission sites. A total of two thousand hectares of forest is on land granted under the Aboriginal Lands Act 1970.
Additional lands rights of other former mission sites in Victoria were granted under the Aboriginal Lands Acts 1991, however data are insufficient to identify forest areas.
Aboriginal Title joint management of parks and reserves
In Victoria the Traditional Owner and Settlement Act 2010 recognises Traditional Owners with certain rights on Crown land tenure classes. Land that is subject to a Traditional Owner Land Management Agreement between a Traditional Owner Corporation and the State of Victoria provides Indigenous peoples with opportunities to jointly manage public land, including parks and reserves. Joint management of parks and reserves involves the cooperative development and implementation of a plan of management between recognised Indigenous communities and the government that sets the strategic management goals of conserving and enhancing natural and cultural values.
A total of 863 thousand hectares of forest is under joint management of parks and reserves.
Natural Resources and Land Use Activity agreements
Under the Traditional Owner and Settlement Act 2010, other special rights of use or access are allowed for by a Land Use Activity Agreement or a Natural Resource Agreement. A Land Use Activity Agreement allows recognised Indigenous peoples to comment on or consent to certain activities on public land. A Natural Resource Agreement allows recognised Indigenous peoples to hunt, fish, camp and gather natural resources on public land.
Together, a total of 2.2 million hectares of forest is covered by a Natural Resources Agreement or Land Use Activity Agreement.
The Traditional Owner and Settlement Act 2010 provides for the granting of freehold title to certain land for Indigenous groups, however data are insufficient to identify forest areas.
Freehold Aboriginal Community held land
Certain freehold title land in Western Australia is owned and managed by Indigenous corporations and entities, including land granted by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation. A total of three thousand hectares of forest in Western Australia is Freehold Aboriginal Community held.
Indigenous owned co-managed national parks
Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula of the Pilbara coast was established in 2013 on freehold land vested to the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Murujuga National Park is jointly managed with the Western Australia Government as a conservation reserve under provisions specified in the Conservation and Land Management Amendment Act 1984.
Murujuga National Park covers five thousand hectares of land which contains less than 100 hectares of forest.
Aboriginal Lands Trusts estate
The Western Australia Aboriginal Lands Trust is a statutory board established under the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 and is responsible for the control and management of land for the benefit of Indigenous peoples. Most of the Western Australia Aboriginal Lands Trust estate is held under Crown reserve but provides rights to specified Indigenous communities to exercise management rights over the estate.
A total of 756 thousand hectares of forest is on Western Australia Aboriginal Lands Trust land.
Indigenous pastoral leases
In Western Australia, the Land Administration Act 1997 established the Pastoral Lands Board which administers all pastoral leases, including those leased to Indigenous corporations. The primary use of a pastoral lease is for the commercial grazing of authorised livestock on native vegetation. Lessees are not permitted to use other natural resources such as timber or soil resources. Lessees need to apply for additional permits for other activities, for example, clearing of native vegetation or sowing of non-native pastures.
A total of 370 thousand hectares of forest is on pastoral leases in Western Australia that are leased to Indigenous corporations.
Parks and reserves with joint management arrangements
Formal and informal joint-management arrangements between relevant Indigenous communities and the Western Australian Government are in place for some national parks and conservation reserves. Joint management arrangements establish a joint management body comprising Indigenous community members and government staff, who together give direction and advice on park management issues, and participate in park management projects and activities.
A total of 119 thousand hectares of forest is on Western Australia national parks and conservation reserves that have a joint-management arrangement.