This page is about the unique and ground-breaking project Healing Lungtalanana / Clarke Island led by the Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people. Lungtalanana / Clarke Island is one of the Tayaritja / Furneaux Islands off the north-east coast of Lutruwita / Tasmania. It was returned to Aboriginal ownership in 2005.
About the project
The Lungtalanana Project is a unique and ground-breaking Aboriginal-led project creating jobs and training opportunities, Healing Country, restoring native wildlife, strengthening culture, and creating new pathways for future generations of Palawa people.
The project is showing what becomes possible when Aboriginal people have the resources, authority and opportunity to pursue an ambitious vision for returned Country — healing landscapes, strengthening self-determination and supporting a thriving Aboriginal community.
The project was publicly launched with its project partners at Sydney Opera House on October 19. The project is:
- Healing Country
- Led and self-directed by the Palawa Community
- Creating jobs, training and opportunities for Palawa people
- Strengthening culture and connection to Country
- Bringing back native animals that once lived on the island
- Removing feral cats that harm native wildlife
The project is led by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), along with project partners that are supporting the TAC.
A brief history
Our people have had a deep and ongoing connection to Lungtalanana for thousands of generations. Lungtalanana holds stories from our ancestors from Lumaranatana/Cape Portland and was part of their extended country; it is a place that held special significance to our ancestors and today’s community.
Colonial invasion has harmed the landscape on Lungtalanana, and while its beauty still shines, the Country needs a lot of healing.
Since the 1990s the Tasmanian Aboriginal community has returned to Lungtalanana, and it was officially declared Aboriginal Land in 2005.
The island has been a place of healing for community, as a destination for wellbeing trips and youth justice programs. Our focus now is to bring the community together to heal the island, and return it being a healthy Country.
The impacts of farming, invasive and non-native animals and vegetation, and wildfire have caused significant damage. However, the wildfire that tore through 98 per cent of Lungtalanana in 2014, has given us an opportunity to consider the way in which we care for the island and how we learn about it and from it.
Project vision
The vision is for Palawa people to restore and care for the whole island. This includes:
- Looking after land and sea Country.
- Sharing culture, language and knowledge between generations.
- Creating jobs and training opportunities.
- Bringing native animals back.
- Removing feral animals, especially cats.
- Protecting animals and plants on the island, e.g. from bird flu.
- Cultural burning.
The goal is healthy Country and a strong Community.
Why this project is so significant
The TAC has formed partnerships to support the development of a plan to rehabilitate Lungtalanana, The Lungtalanana Project is one of Australia’s most important Aboriginal-led restoration projects. It is special because it is:
- Restoring an entire island
- Removing feral cats from the island
- Bringing back native animals that have been made locally extinct
- Supporting long-term jobs and training
- Combining Aboriginal knowledge and science
- Using new funding models to support restoration work
The project is receiving national attention because it puts Aboriginal people at the centre of caring for Country and is using ground-breaking ways to fund the work.
Organisations supporting us
The organisations that are supporting the TAC’s work include:
WWF Australia
Helps with scientific monitoring and measuring environmental improvements
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Provides expert ecological advice and technical support
GreenCollar
Helps create biodiversity credits that raise money for restoration work
FEAT.
Works with businesses, tourism and the music industry to help fund environmental projects
Living Knowledge Network/Firesticks
Supports cultural fire revitalisation projects and systems management
Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania
The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania is a statutory body, established by the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 and is responsible for returned land, acting on behalf of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community.
What is GreenCollar and what are biodiversity credits?
GreenCollar is an Australian company that helps communities restore nature. For this project, GreenCollar helps create biodiversity credits that provide funding for the work being done on the island. Biodiversity is an important part of healthy Country. In simple terms:
- The original condition of the island is measured, using wildlife cameras.
- Restoration work is carried out.
- The improvement to biodiversity is measured.
- The results are audited and biodiversity credits issued.
- Organisations can buy biodiversity credits to support the work.
Biodiversity credits are quite different to carbon credits. Carbon credits are purchased by polluters to offset emissions. Biodiversity credits, on the other hand, are voluntarily purchased by people, governments, and corporations who want to make a difference to biodiversity in a verified, measurable way. The money helps fund ongoing restoration, cultural activities, jobs and training.
Project goals
Years 1–2: Remove feral cats to protect native wildlife.
Years 3–7: Bring back native animals, such as:
- Bass Strait wombat
- Long-nosed potoroo
- New Holland mouse
- Bennett’s wallaby
Long-term goals
- Strengthen connection to Country.
- Support young people to learn cultural knowledge.
- Restore native plants and habitats.
- Develop cultural fire practices.
- Create ranger jobs and training.
Why does the island need restoring?
Over many years, poor land management has led to
- The introduction of feral animals like cats, sheep, rabbits, cattle, and mice
- Land-clearing of vegetation
- Hot burning and bushfires
This has damaged the island, by
- Driving native wildlife to become locally extinct
- Increasing the risk of bushfires
- Damaged soil and waterways
- Over-predation of birds, lizards, and snakes by feral species, principally cats
The project aims to
- Care for Country using Aboriginal knowledge.
- Strengthen culture and community connections.
- Support future Aboriginal land managers.
- Remove feral animals, especially cats.
- Bring back native animals
What happens next?
Work is already well underway. Current activities include:
- Removing feral cats
- Restoring vegetation through cultural burning
- Preparing for wombat repatriations
- Creating jobs and training opportunities
- Supporting cultural activities and knowledge sharing
- Community updates and engagement will continue as the project grows
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