Key Issues in Management of Indigenous Protected Areas: A Perspective from Northern Australia

An Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is an area of land that the Indigenous traditional owners have entered into a voluntary agreement with the Australian Government. This arrangement is to promote biodiversity and conserve cultural resources in line with international standards. A successful IPA supposedly brings together traditional Indigenous knowledge and modern science for effective land management and environmental conservation. At present this idea is covertly contested. This paper reviews existing practice and research to identify the key issues in IPA management and to provide insights into future effective management.