State Forests and Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council sign memorandum of understanding

State Forests regional manager, Steve Dodds (left), with chairman of the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, Ben Cruse, after signing the memorandum of understanding

State Forests of NSW is committed to establishing an effective working relationship with the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council (ELALC), and the Aboriginal communities the Council represents, concerning the management of State forest land.

As a sign of this commitment, a memorandum of understanding was signed last week by State Forests and the ELALC.

State Forests Regional Manager, Steve Dodds, said the memorandum would allow the two parties to progress co-operative arrangements for the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage and Aboriginal interest on State forest.

“It expresses agreement to the sharing of knowledge and provisions for Aboriginal access to land and resources.

“It also describes processes for Aboriginal involvement in the joint management of identified areas of State forest at Eden,” he said.

Ben Cruse, the Chairman of the ELALC, said that the Land Council was grateful for the special opportunity to work closely with government agencies in managing not just Aboriginal, but also historical, cultural heritage.

“Aboriginal people have had an ongoing involvement with the timber industry since contact,” said Mr Cruse, “and we’re keen to see the industry prosper into the future.”

He said the Aboriginal community would also be looking to develop forest-based enterprise opportunities that were culturally appropriate and complemented existing industries.

During the Comprehensive Regional Assessments leading to the Eden Forest Agreement and the joint Commonwealth and NSW Government’s Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), Aboriginal communities met with agency representatives and engaged in dialogue concerning their interests and aspirations.

As part of the Eden RFA, three areas of State forest were transferred to the ELALC to assist with the economic development of the Eden Aboriginal community. For areas that remained as State forest, it was agreed that a MoU be developed to cover areas where Aboriginal and forestry interests continued to overlap.

“State Forests recognises that Aboriginal cultural heritage is not confined to archaeological sites and artefacts and may include natural values such as flora, fauna and landforms,” Steve Dodds said.

“Forests at Eden continue to be important to local Aboriginal culture and cultural practice.

“These forest values may also provide opportunities for Aboriginal cultural, social or economic developments.”

Mr Dodds said the memorandum has provision for the development of opportunities for Aboriginal people to gain valuable land management training to enable continued strategic involvement in the management of traditional country.

He said there is also provision for access to State forests for recreational, traditional and ceremonial purposes, and possible commercial development of areas of cultural/economic significance.

Mr Dodds said State Forests recognised and acknowledged the spiritual importance of land to the Aboriginal community and the inseparability of the natural environment and cultural heritage for Aboriginal people.

“It is recognised that Aboriginal people are the custodians of their own culture,” he said.

Media contact: Martin Linehan at State Forests South East Office on (02) 6496 1500. Photos available.