In January 2026, the Nari Nari Tribal Council closed a historic deal that handed control of 33,000 hectares of wetland to Indigenous stewardship in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin. The purchase of the Great Cumbung Swamp, a sprawling mosaic of open water and reed beds at the end of the Lachlan River in New South Wales, marks a turning point in how one of Australia's most ecologically vital landscapes will be managed for generations to come.
The swamp's significance extends far beyond its borders. Bordered by river red gum woodlands and fed by the river's seasonal rhythms, it functions as a refuge when surrounding landscapes dry out — a critical refuge that draws approximately 11,500 waterbirds each year and harbors threatened species including the Australasian Bittern, Murray cod, and southern bell frog. The wetland's value is recognized internationally: it has been evaluated for listing as a Ramsar wetland of international significance, underscoring its place among the world's most important natural sites.
The path to Indigenous ownership was neither quick nor simple. In 2019, The Nature Conservancy and the Tiverton Agricultural Impact Fund jointly purchased the property to halt agricultural intensification and ecosystem degradation after decades of logging and cattle grazing had taken their toll. For years, the two organizations pursued a conservation model designed to protect the land while generating revenue. But record-breaking floods between 2020 and 2023 reshaped their strategy. Recognizing that long-term conservation required a different steward, they committed to transferring the property to NNTC — a decision that reflects both pragmatism and trust.
The ecological recovery has already begun. Since TNC and the impact fund took control in 2019, grazing pressures dropped significantly, and natural flooding worked in tandem with reduced human disturbance to catalyze regrowth. "Previously water stressed mature river red gum trees have rebounded with new growth and the extensive reed beds have benefited from reduced grazing pressure," said James Fitzsimons of TNC. The transformation is visible: photographs from 2019 and 2022 show a landscape moving from degraded to flourishing.
Under NNTC's stewardship, the conservation gains have accelerated. The organization has secured permanent legal protection for 16,000 hectares of the property, establishing safeguards that will endure across generations. The NNTC, which already manages adjoining conservation areas including the Gayini Conservation Area and the Toogimbie Indigenous Protected Area, brings both deep cultural knowledge and proven land management expertise to the landscape. "This milestone strengthens our stewardship of this landscape and supports ongoing culturally-led conservation for future generations," said Jamie Woods, chair of NNTC. "Our approach will ensure the ecological health, biodiversity protection, and landscape-scale restoration outcomes that this unique environment requires."
The sale represents more than a change in ownership. It signals a broader shift toward recognizing Indigenous peoples as essential partners — and rightful stewards — in global conservation efforts. For the Great Cumbung Swamp, it means a future where ecological recovery and cultural continuity move forward together, rooted in a landscape that has sustained Indigenous communities for generations.