Restoring the storehouse: DECC conservation training in partnership with Aboriginal communities
Thursday, 18 October 2007
The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is this week training staff and Aboriginal community members in Aboriginal site identification and conservation. The goal is to help protect the state’s world-renowned storehouse of rock art, engravings, middens and scarred trees from the ravages of the 21st century.
The training is being provided for 22 participants including Aboriginal community members and rangers and field staff from DECC. It is focussed on enhancing their skills in identifying, recording and conserving Aboriginal sites.
The four-day course at Audley in Royal National Park is being conducted by DECC experts in partnership with La Perouse and Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council staff.
DECC’s Director of Aboriginal Heritage Operations, Teresa Gay, said participants were receiving practical field experiences in dealing with threatening processes ranging from fire and urban development to animals and over-enthusiastic visitors.
“The conservation of Aboriginal heritage is one of our most critical priorities,” she said.
“The extensive and diverse heritage sites that exist throughout NSW are a precious record of Aboriginal culture. They document diverse aspects of Aboriginal life over millennia. Aboriginal heritage sites are a crucial part of both state and national heritage.”
“Aboriginal Heritage Conservation officers undertake conservation projects around the state. However, given the very large number of Aboriginal sites in NSW, it’s essential that we have a pool of skilled staff and community partners capable of carrying out essential and rudimentary conservation tasks.”
“DECC has developed a range of resources including a guide to the preservation of rock art, a field manual to identify and record Aboriginal scarred trees in NSW, and a guide to identifying unmarked Aboriginal graves.”
Ms Gay said some past conservation practices had led to the escalation of environmental impacts, resulted in further damage to sites.
“National parks with Aboriginal heritage sites are often actively promoted for visitation. This presents serious challenges for both presentation and conservation,” she said.
“For this reason, conservation measures and techniques must be carefully planned, evaluated and monitored.”
