Co-mapping on Country: Train the trainer for sustainable development

Project locations: Alekarenge, Mataranka, Wadeye

Project partners: Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Limited ; North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA) ; Northern Land Council ; Charles Darwin University

Project summary and impacts

The Co-Mapping on Country: Train-the-trainer for sustainable development project developed a practical, Indigenous-led approach to planning economic development on Aboriginal land. Led by Centrefarm between 2019 and 2022, the project used large-scale participatory maps to bring together Traditional Owner knowledge and scientific information, supporting informed decision-making about land use, management and future development opportunities.

Working with communities at Alekarenge and Mataranka, the project created maps that document cultural sites, flora and fauna, water resources, infrastructure and areas suitable for development. Traditional Owners determined what information was recorded and how it was used, ensuring cultural knowledge remained protected while supporting discussions about future economic opportunities.

The project produced the Co-Mapping on Country Model, a facilitator training manual and toolkit, physical co-maps and innovative digital 3D landscape models that combine Indigenous and scientific knowledge. These tools strengthen intercultural communication, planning and governance, while building local capacity through a train-the-trainer approach.

The co-mapping methodology now underpins Centrefarm’s Aboriginal Land Economic Development Agency (ALEDA), providing a foundation for Traditional Owner-led commercial development across the Northern Territory. The project has already supported the establishment of commercial-scale agricultural ventures, secured significant capital investment and created a scalable model for sustainable economic development across the Aboriginal estate.