Promoting partnerships for conservation between Traditional Landowners and non-Indigenous Australians through vital conservation work
The Coorong National Park and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert are the meeting point where the Murray Australias largest river, with a catchment of over one million square kilometres feeds into the Southern Ocean. Part of South Australias Limestone Coast, this region features some of the countrys most breathtaking landscapes. However, land surrounding these national treasures has been largely cleared for agriculture.
for Indigenous Ngarrindjeri Australians
stapled to each government accredited Australian Biodiversity Unit purchased from Mount Sandy, meeting stringent standards for NCOS Climate Active eligibility
protected and registered on the South Australian Native Vegetation Council Credit Register
between non-Indigenous Australians and Ngarrindjeri Traditional Owners for conservation management
Located on the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, Traditional Custodians of the Coorong, Mount Sandy is a rare pocket of intact native vegetation in a region now dominated by farmlands. The 200-hectare project site features a unique mix of coastal shrublands and saline swamplands that provide strategic habitat for iconic native wildlife, such as the short-beaked echidna, purple-gaped honeyeater and elegant parrot. Over thousands of years, the Ngarrindjeri people have cared for Coorong country, developing an intimate connection to the land that sustains them. Project management itself is made possible through close collaboration with local Ngarrindjeri Elders, Clyde and Rose Rigney, who oversee the ongoing management and conservation of vegetation at the Mount Sandy site.
To be in this space where a lot of our untouched scrubs are is fantastic, a sense of being at home.
Clyde Rigney, One of the Ngarrindjeri elders who made the project possible (left), One of the Ngarrindjeri elders who made the project possible (left)
The Mount Sandy project ensures permanent protection for a regionally and culturally important pocket of biodiversity-rich land in partnership with its Traditional Owners. Local birds, animals and plants flourish undisturbed, while native plants for revegetation will be supplied by the local nursery at Raukkan Aboriginal Community, a self-governed Indigenous community 50 kilometres northwest of the project site. Raukkan community members are also employed for onsite works including vegetation monitoring and mapping, fencing, and pest and weed control.
Seeds of endangered vegetation, found on the Mount Sandy site, are successfully propagated at the Raukkan nursery. Manager Wayne shares his wisdom with Rhyannon and Jorge from South Pole's Melbourne office during a site visit. Reflecting on her visit, Rhyannon explains how the Mount Sandy project allows companies to take their climate action one step further.
Clyde Rigny, project manager and local Ngarrindjeri Elder, tills the land to prepare it for sowing native plants.
Our project partner, Cassina, the biodiversity extraordinaires who are supporting Mount Sandy's Traditional Landowners to protect the site, has been shortlisted for the UNCCD’s Land for Life Award in recognition of the wide-reaching impact their work is having! We are proud to be working with dedicated people who are committed to long-term climate action.
As Australia gets used to more frequent extreme weather, ecosystems must be strong and healthy if they are to offer protection and resistance. Over 30 species of native vegetation are being planted to revitalise the area. Whether its ground cover plants helping to lock moisture in the soil, shrubs creating cover for wildlife to move around or large trees providing shade; each species has a role to play. Read the latest from the project.
EcoAustralia is a stapled product that blends carbon credits with biodiversity protection. Each EcoAustralia credit consists of one Australian Biodiversity Unit, equal to 1.5m2 of government-accredited, permanently protected Australian vegetation, and 1 tCO2e of avoided emissions from a Gold Standard certified project.
