Healthy Country Planning (HCP) originated in North Australia. Over the past 13 years, the popularity of HCP increased steadily, and now more than 60 HCP projects have been developed covering a total area exceeding 1,417.000 square kilometers. HCPs occur across all geographies in Australia and contribute to 20.2% of the National Reserve System of Australia.

The HCP approach ensures that Culture, People and their Knowledge are central to the process and recognises that a plan is more likely to succeed when the people implementing the plan are empowered through the process and believe in the plan. Using language, facilitation approaches and tools tailored to community needs, HCP focuses on participation, community engagement and capacity building. HCP provides an approach and set of tools to bring together community knowledge and conventional science to provide a platform for Indigenous-led conservation.

Find below workshop resources, example Healthy Country Plans and general publications about Healthy Country Planning.

Healthy Country Planning is an Indigenous adaptation of the Conservation Standards from Australia. Developed for an Australian context, Healthy Country Planning has been so successful because of its relevance for Indigenous Australians. Please consider if this approach is relevant for your context.

• Austin et al (2017): The Uunguu Monitoring and Evaluation Committee: Intercultural Governance of a Land and Sea Management Programme in the Kimberley, Australia

• Heiner et al. (2018): Moving from reactive to proactive development planning to conserve Indigenous community and biodiversity values.

• Moorcroft et al. (2012): Conservation planning in a cross-cultural context: the Wunambal Gaambera Healthy Country Project in the Kimberley, Western Australia.