Melsonby
- Ranger team
- Balnggarrawarra (Melsonby) Rangers
- Host organisation
- South Cape York Catchments
The Balngarrawarra rangers are actively engaged in sustainable natural resource management practices to maintain the cultural and environmental values of country.
Ranger work includes:
- cultural heritage site surveys and recording, from helicopters and on foot
- conservation of rock art sites, including through managing surrounding vegetation and reducing fire risk with mosaic burns
- fire management for healthy country incorporating traditional burning practices, and cooperation with neighbouring landholders
- erosion prevention through earthworks (road, fence line and firebreak maintenance) to reduce sediment runoff
- water quality monitoring of Normanby River
- feral animal management (pig and cattle removal) to protect sensitive and important ecosystems and cultural sites
- management and control of rubbervine and other priority weed species
- visitor education through establishing walking tracks, and interpretive signs on country
- youth engagement activities on country and in school with Cooktown State School.