In 2009 the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) developed the award winning I-Tracker program that incorporated the use of world-renowned CyberTracker software, and specifically developed on-ground training and technical support for Indigenous Ranger groups across north Australia. The success of the program quickly grew as government agencies, conservation organisations and researchers engaged NAILSMA’s expertise to develop similar tools for their land and sea management projects.
At the core of the I-Tracker program is a commitment to ensuring that knowledge and data remain in
Indigenous hands and is used to address Indigenous priorities. The sustainability of north Australia’s land and sea management industry requires a significant degree of Indigenous led decision-making. The ownership of data and information generated by Indigenous communities is central to their capacity to make informed decisions about land management and resource use options.