The Djelk Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is a area  stretching from central Arnhem Land plateau to the Arafura Sea extending west and east of Maningrida in the Northern Territory of Australia, managed by Bawinanga Rangers.[1] [2]
IPAs are areas of land and sea Country managed by First Nations groups for biodiversity conservation and cultural outcomes through voluntary agreements with the Australian Government. These areas for part of Australia's National Reserve System.[3]
Dedicated in 2009, the Djelk IPA encompasses the land of 102 clans of at least 12 language groups.
Around 30 ranagers now implement cultural and natural resource management plans across the IPA. This includes surveillance and monitoring of fishing activities, fire and weed management, animal monitoring, water monitoring and cultural heritage management.[4]
The area forms part of the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (WALFA) Project that uses customary Indigenous fire management to reduce CO2e emissions released through wildfires, selling offset contracts.[5] [6]