Kokatha community takes steps toward sustainable rangeland management
As part of a dual process, Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation (KAC) is working on two key plans to incorporate cultural knowledge with sustainable management of its rangeland properties.
Last month members of the Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation Board’s Culture and Heritage Committee and Kokatha Pastoral staff came together for a field day to focus on ecologically sustainable rangeland management (ESRM) as part of a newly developed plan, and to discuss recommended works. Elements of this plan will be incorporated into KAC's Healthy Country Planning process which is now underway.
The event provided an opportunity to look at sustainable practices for their managed properties, helping to balance agricultural growth with environmental and cultural conservation.
Building a sustainable future
Kokatha Pastoral is actively working with the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board as part of the Building Pastoral Sustainability Program. In October last year, they partnered with Richard Marver from Contour Environmental and Agricultural Consulting to identify and prioritise sites for projects that foster agricultural development while protecting natural capital and biodiversity.
Fast forward to last week’s two-day Community on Country event, which brought Richard Marver back to engage the wider Kokatha community. Together, they visited key sites across Kokatha-run properties, discussing sustainable cattle management strategies that align with both environmental and cultural values.
Learning through experience
During the event, 18 attendees received an overview of the ESRM plan before heading into the field to see these principles in action. They explored various areas across three pastoral properties, seeing firsthand the contrast between overgrazed and healthy country.
The group learned how managing grazing pressure encourages perennial plant recruitment and identified potential sites for monitoring points to track land health over time.
Kokatha Pastoral: empowering people and land
Kokatha Pastoral Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation, manages 500,000 hectares of pastoral lease across Purple Downs, Roxby Downs, and Andamooka stations. Beyond land management, they provide training and employment opportunities for Kokatha people, helping them build careers in the pastoral industry.
The Building Pastoral Sustainability Program is made possible with support from the Australian Government, funded through the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
Thanks to the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board for this story. You can find out more about the Building Pastoral Sustainability Program on their website.
