Registrations for the 2026 IDA Conference are now open.
The Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA) is an Indigenous-led organisation strengthening desert ranger teams who work together at landscape-scale to keep Country healthy.
Together with its members, the IDA facilitates the largest Indigenous-led and culturally connected conservation network on Earth to enable a strong and united voice for Indigenous desert rangers, to support strong and sustainable ranger teams and to ensure the future health of the Australian desert.
For a strong and united voice, the IDA acts as the leading advocacy body for Indigenous desert rangers, amplifying their unified voice and driving action on regional priorities. This includes hosting Australia's largest Indigenous ranger conference, facilitating networking events, and providing strategic advice to decision-makers.
To support strong and sustainable ranger teams, the IDA strengthens professional and personal connections between teams through targeted training, peer-to-peer ranger exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives.
In safeguarding Australia’s desert biodiversity, the IDA coordinates the world's largest Indigenous-led fire management program, provides culturally informed scientific support for regional threatened species protection, and empowers members to access nature markets with culturally informed methods.
The IDA Network promotes peer-to-peer connection and best practice across the membership desert region through a regular calendar of events and exchanges and enables access to organisational resources.
Desert Projects empowers desert rangers to enhance the health of their Country. It coordinates collaborative, Indigenous-led conservation and land management programs aimed at protecting the cultural values and biodiversity of the desert.
The Sector Development program builds capacity within ranger teams, strengthens Indigenous Land Management Organisations and enables Indigenous expertise to continuously inform national responses to a changing climate.
The Indigenous Desert Alliance Foundation provides critical funding and support to build the capacity of Indigenous ranger teams to deliver the highest standard of environmental and cultural stewardship for the Australian Desert.
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