YILKA RANGERS & REGENERATION TRAINING
A hands-on training program for Indigenous rangers at Cosmo Newberry
Ranger teams established new permanent monitoring plots to further benefit the tracking of success
Ranger team received training on a wide ranger of sandalwood sector changes and developments.
Aboriginal sandalwood management is very successful in Western Australia and the work at Cosmo Newberry has contributed to scientific papers on sandalwood regeneration.
SNAPSHOT
IN PICTURES
THE STORY
Supporting Indigenous Rangers at Cosmo Newberry
KFDF funded a hands-on training program for Indigenous rangers at Cosmo Newberry, in partnership with the Yilka Heritage and Land Care group (YHLC) helping build skills in sustainable sandalwood monitoring and management practices. This initiative is all about blending traditional and contemporary knowledge to support best practice in regenerative sandalwood in WA. It also supports Traditional Owners and their rangers teams to lead the Aboriginal sandalwood industry – an emerging industry that is growing significantly.
Industry Insights and Knowledge Sharing
As part of the program, participants received a comprehensive update on the latest developments in the sandalwood industry. They learned about new licensing requirements, sustainability guidelines, and the growing role of Aboriginal enterprises. The training also highlighted the ongoing Capacity Building Partnership between KFDF and the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development (DPIRD) ensuring continued career pathways and enterprise for career pathways and enterprise opportunities to achieve self determined communities.
Hands-On Training for Real-World Impact
The training was practical and immersive, with four staff and five rangers learning essential skills for monitoring sandalwood populations. They gained experience in setting up monitoring plots, recording data, and measuring sandalwood size classes to assess regeneration success. A key outcome of the program was the establishment of seven permanent monitoring plots. With these skills, the team is now equipped to track sandalwood health over time and support sustainable harvesting practices.
Innovation in Sandalwood Management
The training also introduced new tools, including the ‘Neil Turner size class gauge,’ which makes measuring tree growth faster, more accurate, and safer. Additionally, rangers trialled prototype seed planting tools to improve biodiversity evaluation.
Building Lasting Evaluation Methods for Biodiversity
This importance of this for the Yilka team is that by building their organisational capability in their monitoring and evaluation procedures, they are able to assess and manage threats to their sandalwood, protecting their natural and cultural values and improving biodiversity outcomes on their ancestral lands.
By investing in training like this, KFDF is strengthening Indigenous leadership in land management, enabling caring for country pathways and supporting regenerative enterprise ensuring that sandalwood harvesting and the livelihoods it offers remain for generations to come.