Significant for proponents, establishment of an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) doesn’t change ownership or control of land. Proponents must still engage early with impacted First Nations groups and Traditional Owners in an intended project area if it’s in an IPA.
First Nations rights are recognised to some extent in IPAs through a combination of legal and other effective means. ‘Legal’ mechanisms that may support Traditional Owner management of IPAs include:
- legal ownership of lands
- Indigenous customary resource use rights enshrined in legislation
- protection of sacred sites and other cultural sites and areas through cultural heritage legislation
- protection of significant species and habitats through biodiversity conservation and natural resource management legislation.