Media release: Today, a ground-breaking biodiversity restoration initiative, on culturally and ecologically significant Lungtalanana (Clarke Island) in Bass Strait, is being launched by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) in partnership with leading environmental project development and market investment company, GreenCollar, with the support of international musicians, athletes and festivals.
This Lungtalanana Native Species Repatriation Project will reintroduce native species that were endemic to the island’s ecosystem prior to European colonisation. These include the locally extinct Bass Strait wombat and Bennett’s wallaby, and the long-nosed potoroo, which is listed as nationally vulnerable.
In order to achieve and provide evidence of its conservation outcomes, the Aboriginal-led project will be applying the rigorous NaturePlus® biodiversity credit scheme, codeveloped by GreenCollar. Under this scheme, environmental gains are scientifically established and measured, then subject to independent verification by the environmental accounting body, Accounting for Nature®.
This verified quantification of the conservation gain forms the basis on which a NaturePlus® Credit is generated, creating a financial instrument that can be traded on environmental markets, which can result in income from the private sector to fund the ongoing project. This income will be reinvested in project activities, assisting it to expand to scale. It is hoped that this project is one of the first of many that will apply the NaturePlus® scheme to generate funding from the private sector to fund conservation.
Under the guidance of the project’s fundraising partner, artist-led climate impact agency, FEAT., internationally-recognised artists including Massive Attack, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and others have already provided backing as founding cultural supporters, helping to build awareness and support through their networks. Bank Australia, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival and the federal government have also contracted to purchase credits.
Additional establishment support for the project has been provided by the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, WWF-Australia, the University of Tasmania and Jaramas Foundation.
“In planning the repatriation of culturally significant and ecologically critical species, such as wombats and wallabies, we are creating an extraordinary 8,200 hectare – or 82 km² – safe haven for native wildlife,” said Andry Sculthorpe, Division Manager, Country and Culture at the TAC. “This partnership allows us to weave together traditional knowledge, modern science, and innovative market-based solutions to heal Country and support self-determination.”
“This is easily one of the most compelling initiatives that we’ve ever invited our international artist community to back,” said Heidi Lenffer of FEAT. “Not only is this project pioneering an innovative, outcomes-based form of conservation funding that will produce a measurable improvement in wildlife numbers — but at its core this is about supporting the rightful owners, the Palawa community, to restore an island that was taken from them, degraded over centuries of colonial pastoral practices, and is now returned to their custodianship forever.”
“With limited public money available to fund conservation, models like this – that, in comparison to grants, fund ongoing maintenance as well as the initial activities – work to attract private capital, are absolutely critical to the future of nature,” said GreenCollar’s Deputy CEO, Pierre Josset. “As our economy is built on services provided by the environment, it is also in our own interest.”
The Lungtalanana Native Species Repatriation Project builds upon ongoing cultural and ecological restoration efforts led by the TAC’s Pakana Rangers, who have been using traditional knowledge, such as cultural burning, to regenerate the island’s ecosystems. Lungtalanana was returned to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people in 2005 and is now a beacon of Aboriginal-led land management, blending centuries-old practices with modern conservation strategies. This project plays an extremely important role in assisting the reintroduction of language, culture and connection to Country to Lungtalanana.
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About the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is the peak body representing the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and has led land and cultural heritage programs across the state for decades. The TAC represents the political and community development aspirations of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. It operates statewide services and programs, including a holistic and state-of-the-art health service and allied programs, land and sea management, cultural awareness unit and palawa kani language program.
About FEAT.
FEAT. is an artist-led impact agency that mobilises the cultural power of the live entertainment industry towards climate and nature-based outcomes. Founded in 2019 by artist Heidi Lenffer from Cloud Control, FEAT. enables international touring artists to fund high-integrity impact projects off the back of their Australian tours through their Solar Slice ticketing initiative. FEAT.’s impact mandate is science-backed and results-oriented and since launching has overseen over $8.5 million of funding towards clean energy and nature restoration projects in partnership with Australia’s leading festivals and events, artist tours and impact investment.
