Re-afforestation

In 1971 some practical steps were taken to begin a program of growing trees for shade and shelter within the Ernabella Aboriginal community. The Pitjantjatjara people living in this community had decided to begin a major housing program which has continued to the present day. Housing 350 people brought many changes to the community. Much consultation was required, decisions of all sorts had to be made and people were generally involved in a cycle of events which required their direct participation.Many new programs began as a result, including re-afforestation, horticulture, landcare, town planning and landscaping.

Other new initiatives like the Homelands movement began in the mid 70's. This involved the movement of families from the larger communities across the north west of South Australia back to their homelands returning to a more manageable life style. A similar Homelands(Outstations) movement happened across the border in Western Australia amongst the Ngaanyatjarra people who are close relatives of the Pitjantjatjara.

Many new programs like this were required

In the winter of 1971 a small plant nursery was established at Ernabella. Seeds of local plants were collected and grown and this produced much interest and enthusiasm within the community. There was much to learn about this new work and the feed back from the community helped establish the directions the Re-afforestation program was to take.

People required:

• Shade trees around their houses
• Some wanted "pretty flowers" in their yards
• While others wanted fruit trees

The cheapest solution to meet these needs was to produce plant material locally which involved the participation of many people. Ernabella people already had many years of experience growing vegetables and fruit trees in the local community garden. Now it was possible for them to develop their own landscapes around their houses, a practice which has continued to the present day. Although not traditionally "gardeners", the people of Ernabella enjoyed planting and developing their new landscapes.

Pitjantjatjara Council Nursery in Alice Springs

As the years progressed a regional council was formed (1976) which was the Pitjantjatjara Council. This council included the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people and it was agreed to extend the re-afforestation, horticultural, landcare, town planning and landscaping programs from the Ernabella area to include all communities and homelands across the region (see map in "Welcome" section). In 1981 a regional plant nursery was built and a Land Management unit was established as part of the Pitjantjatjara Council Resource Centre in Alice Springs. This unit functioned for 17 years supplying the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people with plant material as well as an extension service. Presently the work has been re-defined as Land Management Services providing assistance with community land management programs and is a part of the Projects department within the Resource Centre. During the period (1981 to 1997) Re-afforestation programs were established in every community (12) and homeland (60+) across the region. As well as planting programs the work featured workshops, training programs and the production of training material. The information in the following sections has been prepared to show the scope of the Re-afforestation work across these Aboriginal lands.

Program Focus
The re-afforestation needs on the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands have required solutions which are "user friendly" within communities and homelands. Hence the program has focused on the following objectives:

• Establishing long term consultation
• Defining the land areas to be revegetated and introducing appropriate programs
• Producing plant material locally - plant nursery
• Developing a plant list suitable for all communities and homelands
• Developing and establishing local planting programs
• Woodlots
• Providing training for Aboriginal people in re-afforestation techniques and programs including plant nursery practices.

Publications
The following fact sheets have been produced to help those working with planting programs on Aboriginal lands in Central Australia.

Fact Sheets:

• Tree Guards
• Windbreaks
• Planting Trees and Shrubs
• Drip Irrigation Equipment
• Selective Weeding - 1
• I Want to Plant Trees