Latest news from the IDA and the desert ranger network.

Mark your calendars and get keen you mob – Mulyamiji March is back in 2026 for its fourth year running! Get ya marching feet on. Mulyamiji March is the biggest collaborative threatened species monitoring program in the Australian desert – Indigenous ranger teams will use their expert tracking skills and local knowledge to monitor Mulyamiji (also known as Tjakuṟa, Tjalapa, Warrana, Nampu and Great Desert Skink) populations, partnering with Traditional Owners, scientists, land managers and the Federal Government.

The IDA welcomes yesterday’s national nature law reforms as a positive step toward protecting, healing and caring for Country. While First Nations organisations expected stronger consultation throughout the reform process, the IDA supports continued advocacy for better safeguards for water and stronger action on worsening climate threats that are impacting Aboriginal communities first and worst. Indigenous desert rangers are collectively looking after one-third of the continent, using right way fire and other Indigenous land management practices to secure the future health of the Australian desert for all. It’s a big job, and improvements to Australia’s nature laws are a welcome step in supporting this vital work.

It is with great sorrow that the IDA sends its deepest condolences to the family and communities of Martu man A.M. a respected cultural leader and advocate for desert people. As a Traditional Owner and Countryman for Kulyakartu, A.M. held many positions including on the Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ) Board, the 10 Deserts Project and the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA). He guided us the right way throughout the IDA's journey. We will always be grateful for his leadership. As a Director of the IDA, our Board and Staff knew A.M. as a proud, culturally strong and wise man who had a good sense of humour. We will carry this memory through our time of mourning. We will miss him dearly.