Yarrabah
- Ranger team
- Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Land and Sea Rangers
- Host organisation
- Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji PPBC Aboriginal Corporation
The Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) Land and Sea Rangers look after Country within the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji PBC Trustee Area near Yarrabah, mostly within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and adjacent sea country within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. They work closely with many partners including Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, local government, universities, training and community organisations.
GMY rangers’ work includes:
- monitoring and controlling weeds and feral animals, and restoring riverbanks by revegetation
- cultural fire management to reduce fuel and improve biodiversity
- monitoring and protecting turtle nests, and monitoring crocodile presence along beaches and tributaries within GMY lands
- marine debris removal along the coastline and camping areas in partnership with Tangaroa Blue
- intertidal seagrass surveys, and benthic habitat (seagrass and coral reef) monitoring with James Cook University TropWATER
- intensive training and development program for trainee rangers in partnership with the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (recognised through the 2024 Queensland Training Awards, Small Employer Award)
- inter-generational cultural knowledge sharing through Elder engagement, cultural tours for external groups, and community education activities
- junior ranger program in partnership with Yarrabah State School, delivering school-based and on-country activities for students from kindy to senior years.