Sustainability Principles of Kakadu National Park: Challenges and Recommendations

This study identifies the challenges faced by Kakadu National Park in maintaining sustainability principles for biodiversity and culture conservation practices. The study recommends research on climatic changes, training for aboriginal people, and public awareness programs to improve joint management practices and deal with environmental issues affecting the tourism industry.

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Executive summary
In this study it has been identified that the aim of the study is to develop the sustainability
principles of Kakadu National Park for biodiversity and culture conservation practices. The
major concern that has been highlighted in this study is about the sustainable development
practices so that the cultural heritage resource can be managed properly. In the case of joint
management practices the issues between the aboriginal and non-aboriginal people increases
due to cultural gap. In this situation it has become important issues for developing proper
sustainable management practices in this park. It has been analysed that although various
sustainable development initiatives have been adopted but due to various reason the
biodiversity, social needs and economic needs have not being fulfilled. Therefore, this can be
said that due to the environmental issues the economic condition of this place is getting
hampered. On the other hand, the study has highlighted global warming as the important
influential cause behind the environmental degradation in this place. The harmful impact of
environment creating difficulties behind the growth of Australian tourism industry. As the
result of global warming the stakeholders and the customers, who are interconnected with the
tourism industry get affected. It has been also analyzed that the government has taken
various initiatives in order to deal with the situation. The research has been conducted
depending on the secondary data collected from the authentic sources. After analyzing the
challenges, it has been recommended in this study that research is needed on the climatic
changes and records regarding this needed to be maintained properly. On the other hand
training is needed to be provided to the aboriginal people so that they will be able to do their
job with efficiency. Involvement of public institution, the emerging species can be identified
by the experts. At the end of the study, it has been analyzed that if the public awareness
programs can be developed properly, it will be beneficial for this initiative.

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Table of contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Body:..........................................................................................................................................3
Findings:.....................................................................................................................................3
Analysis:.....................................................................................................................................4
Recommendation:......................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................6
References:.................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction:
Australian tourism industry is highly influenced by the environmental and cultural
heritage of Kakadu National Park. In the current situation due to improper joint management
practices between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, the sustainable management
principles are not being maintained properly. In this study the issues which are creating
challenges for developing proper sustainable management practices in this area has been
highlighted. At the end of the study it has provided required suggestion that will be helping to
deal with the challenges so that the tourism industry can be developed properly.
Body:
Findings:
Sustainability principles of Kakadu National Park have two main strata to be
focusing. One is associated with environment and another is related to the prosperous
aboriginal culture. The strategies for the management of cultural heritage resources within the
sustainable development concept framework has become the chief concern of this national
park (Muboko et al., 2016). However, in various reasons these economic, aesthetic and social
needs are not being fulfilled as the essential ecological processes and biodiversity of the place
have been facing issues due to numerous issues. First, the climate change is a problem which
has been affecting the ecological balance of this place. This is the reason why the issues like
threats to the endangered species, flooding of indigenous rock art and salt water inundation in
the freshwater wetlands have become prominent. In addition to this, lack of actions to
revitalize and popularize the aboriginal culture through sustainable policies, the tangible and
intangible assets of this place have been suffering (Watson et al., 2014). As the
environmental issues have become prominent in this park it has impacted upon the economy
also. Therefore, it can be said that the effect of global warming has been affecting the tourism
sector of Australia which is directly linking consumers or the stakeholders associated with the
tourism market of this region.
The sustainability principles of Kakadu National Park have been long maintained by
the important wings of the country’s government. The strategies have aimed to align the
park’s principles with the expectations and demands of the UNESCO’s sustainable practices
(Kajlich, Buckley & Lilley, 2017). These strategies have aimed to safeguard both the tangible

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and intangible cultural heritage of the park which include the flora and fauna of the place, the
paintings, rock art of the aboriginal residents of this park and their rich culture, language and
traditional customs (Mitchell et al., 2015). The main principles of the management plan of
Kakadu National Park are aligned with the policies of the United Nations Tourism
Organization. These principles have vison, purpose and plans which aim to preserve the
national park in its natural condition. The authority of this national park encourages the
method of maintaining sustainability so that the resources are appropriately used, respected
and the tourists can enjoy the area. Through the policies taken by the organization, the neutral
values and culture of the aboriginals residing in the park are recognized and respected (Wolf,
Stricker & Hagenloh, 2015). These polices aim to encourage the Bininj or Mungguy
communities to look after and manage the park in its entirety. These aboriginal communities
as granted to have possession over this land, their future generations also have the option for
staying in the park and continue their functionality of looking after the ecosystem of the park.
There are some disturbed areas associated with the aboriginal rights issues and demands of
these communities which the government has settled and taken action to rehabilitate those
problems so that the tourism sector does not get affected by these problems. Most
importantly, the Bininj or Mungguy people are allowed to maintain their own traditions in
one hand and get opportunities to flourish economically as well as socially (Petty et al.,
2015).
Analysis:
Despite the fact that the governed of Australia along with various national an
international organization have initiated to support the environment and unique culture of
Kakadu National Park, have faced many problems from various aspects. First of all, the
global warming has been affecting the ecosystem of this place harming the sustenance of the
endangered flora and fauna of this region (Wilson et al., 2017). Secondly, the global warming
and climate change has been affecting the cultural tangible asset of the aboriginal
communities of this national park. Thirdly, due to climate change and warming, the tourism
sector has become affected as the tourists have started to avoid this region reducing the
annual tourist visit in this place. Finally, the collaborative measure that the government of the
country aims for engaging the local aboriginal communities has been affected by the
miscommunication and other disturbances (Cvitanovic et al., 2018). These issues are directly
affecting the management of sustainability and stakeholder management in the Kakadu
National Park. As the national park is completely dependent on the tourism sector this is why

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the chief stakeholder of this particular region are associated with tourism. The tour guides,
travel agents and guides along the tourists both national as well as international are the chief
stakeholders of this national park hence maintaining their interest is very important. The
initiatives that the government of the country has been taken for collaborating with the Bininj
or Mungguy communities has become problematic for the perfect management of the
national park (Sponarski, Vaske & Bath, 2015). Despite the fact that the policies for attaining
sustainable management speak for maintaining as well as respecting the obligations of
aboriginal and non-aboriginal staffs, this joint partnership model has not proved to be
successful to strengthen the tourism sector of this national park.
The recent trends of enriching the tourism sector of a particular place, the public,
private and information media have been working cooperatively. The governments have
created partnership with various corporate as well as non-profit organizations like UNESCO
so that it can effectively introduce various programs and strategies to support the interests of
various stakeholders (Unesco.org, 2018). The trend of promoting tourism of a place has been
become the responsibilities of the information sector of the country which reflects the norms,
values and culture of Kakadu National Park. The tourist information sectors along with the
local media for example tourism media and commercial media of the country create the brand
image of the national park that will be attracting huge tourists from various places. In
intangible cultural heritage management, full support from the government is mandatory as
there will be a presentation of cultural uniqueness through fostering information and
programs (Ross et al., 2016). The public and private sector tie up will promote the cultural
heritage of this place and lead to an interesting practice which aims to attain sustainable
growth of the place through tourism.
Recommendation:
The discussion of the issues of Kakadu National Park have disclosed numerous
aspects that have created matters preventing sustainable growth. This is the reason why the
authorities need to take some very important initiatives. The private and public partnership
need to conduct research about the recent changes in the natural environment of the place due
to globalization and review as well as report on the natural condition. Thus, they will be able
to keep all the records updated and inform the concerned organization about changes. The
authorities need to employee a special task force in order to safeguard the feral animals and
plant species to provide scope for the maintenance biosecurity of his place. The national park

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authorities need to take initiative to keep track of land use in the park area. In this aspect the
proper record must be maintained so that the parts acquired by the aboriginal communities for
residential areas remain under control lowering possibility of acquiring the forest area. In
order to maintain balance, the issues reading joint management between the indigenous locals
and non-indigenous forest employees, programs must be introduced through which
indigenous employment can be supported. These will include the needed training to the
aboriginals so that they can perfectly preset their traditions and culture matching with the
demand of the tourists. Moreover, trainings will help in engaging the young generation of
these aboriginal communities so that they possess cultural knowledge and practices, respect
them and look after their ancient tradition and intangible culture. This training method will be
also catering the professional requirements of the nonaboriginal staffs also. This will help
them to maintain good connection with the aboriginal guards of the national park and success
of joint management initiated by the government will be attained. Initiatives need to be taken
to face and manage park wise threats like landscape-transforming factors. These include
weeds, fire, feral animals, extreme climate events as well as changes.
These park wise threats affect the natural as well as cultural values of the national
park therefore, immediate steps need to be taken by employing more people and creating
awareness regarding these. The local and national media plays very important role in
promoting the brand image of this particular place therefore, new agreements need to be
launched so that they can source the brand image of this national park to the international
tourists also. This will increase tourist attraction for experiencing destination and know the
rich cultural history of this place as well as the people residing in this place (Unesco.org,
2018). This is the reason why the government need to build infrastructure for accommodating
more visitors and introduce recreational arrangements focusing on the aboriginal cultural
heritage of this national park. Finally, though there are policies on proper usage of resources
and methods of introducing new ways of authorizing activities of the stakeholders, these need
to be revised time to time.
Conclusion:
In the above study it has be concluded that due to unhealthy relation between the
aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Kakadu National Park, the sustainability principles
are getting hampered. As its result the biodiversity is getting affected and the economy is
facing the challenges. The tourism industry in Australia and its business revenue also depends

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on the natural and cultural diversity of this area. In this situation the relation with the
aboriginal people needed to be improved. If the training and development practices will be
introduced in the Kakadu National Park, it will be helping in the case of bringing the
sustainable development.
References:
Cvitanovic, C., van Putten, E. I., Hobday, A. J., Mackay, M., Kelly, R., McDonald, J., ... &
Barnes, P. (2018). Building trust among marine protected area managers and
community members through scientific research: Insights from the Ningaloo Marine
Park, Australia. Marine Policy, 93, 195-206.
Kajlich, H., Buckley, K., & Lilley, I. (2017). World Heritage and human rights in Australia:
From K’gari/Fraser Island to national processes 1. In World Heritage and Human
Rights(pp. 49-69). Routledge.
Mitchell, M., Lockwood, M., Moore, S. A., & Clement, S. (2015). Scenario analysis for
biodiversity conservation: A social–ecological system approach in the Australian
Alps. Journal of environmental management, 150, 69-80.
Muboko, N., Gandiwa, E., Muposhi, V., & Tarakini, T. (2016). Illegal hunting and protected
areas: Tourist perceptions on wild animal poisoning in Hwange National Park,
Zimbabwe. Tourism Management, 52, 170-172.
Petty, A. M., Isendahl, C., Brenkert-Smith, H., Goldstein, D. J., Rhemtulla, J. M., Rahman, S.
A., & Kumasi, T. C. (2015). Applying historical ecology to natural resource
management institutions: lessons from two case studies of landscape fire
management. Global Environmental Change, 31, 1-10.
Ross, A., Sherman, K. P., Snodgrass, J. G., Delcore, H. D., & Sherman, R.
(2016). Indigenous peoples and the collaborative stewardship of nature: knowledge
binds and institutional conflicts. Routledge.
Sponarski, C. C., Vaske, J. J., & Bath, A. J. (2015). Attitudinal differences among residents,
park staff, and visitors toward coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park of
Canada. Society & Natural Resources, 28(7), 720-732.

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Watson, J. E., Dudley, N., Segan, D. B., & Hockings, M. (2014). The performance and
potential of protected areas. Nature, 515(7525), 67.
Wilson, D. L., Hallo, J. C., Sharp, J. L., Mainella, H. F. P., & McGuire, F. A. (2017). Activity
selection among baby boomer national park visitors: The search for a sense of
adventure. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 19, 37-45.
Wolf, I. D., Stricker, H. K., & Hagenloh, G. (2015). Outcome-focused national park
experience management: Transforming participants, promoting social well-being, and
fostering place attachment. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(3), 358-381.
Unesco.org. (2018). UNESCO encourages role of private sector in heritage conservation |
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved from
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/tehran/about-this-office/single-view/news/
unesco_encourages_role_of_private_sector_in_heritage_conserv/