Bonye Biar (Bunya Mountains)
- Ranger team
- Bunya Peoples' Aboriginal Rangers
- Host organisation
- Bunya Peoples' Aboriginal Corporation
The Bunya Peoples’ Aboriginal Corporation (BPAC) rangers work across the Bunya landscape, centred on Bonye Biar (the Bunya Mountains). Bonye Biar is the heart of the Wakka Wakka nation and there are numerous clan groups within the nation. Custodial groups associated within Bonye Biar country identify as: Wakka Wakka , Western Wakka Wakka (known as Jarowair ‘the givers’ by visiting groups), Barrungam, and Wulli Wulli-Djakunde/Auburn Hawkwood peoples.
The BPAC rangers are expanding on their already successful work, contributing to the conservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity values across the Toowoomba, Western Downs and Burnett regions.
Rangers’ work includes:
- implementing fire management for cultural site protection and to encourage the health of local ecosystems, including open eucalypt woodlands, grassland balds, and sandridge country
- delivering ‘Rightfire’ workshops for key partners as part of a Regional Indigenous Fire Practitioner network
- undertaking weed management, fencing, and track maintenance at Bonye Biar (Bunya Mountains)
- surveying, recording and protecting cultural heritage sites; identifying, recording and protecting scar trees and other cultural places
- improving health of country ‘types’ through reducing invasive species such as pigs, monitoring bunya nut crops and surveying Phytophthora impacts in bunya trees
- maintaining infrastructure such as walking tracks, bike trails and wash down stations across Russell Park, Gummingurru and the Bush University
- engaging with the community and young people to share knowledge about natural and cultural values of country, through yarning circles, and other on-country activities.
Read more about Bunya rangers’ efforts to develop a regional RightFire network.