INTRODUCTION

AnyangUluru World heritage listed Uluru, Is a landform that has rightfully earned it’s place on the world heritage list. Located in the heart of Uluru-kata tjuta national park in Australia’s red centre, it holds an ancient aura about it whilst staying true to aboriginal indigenous culture and spirituality. Uluru is approximately 460km or a six hour drive south west of Alice springs, with a latitude of -25.3526 and a longitude of 131.0344. Not only is Australia’s red centre steeped in human history, it is home to exotic And rare Australian animals and plants which are not found anywhere else.There are endless possibilities of things tourist’s can do to experience Uluru and the overwhelming feeling of awe surrounding this landform. Anangu are guided by Tjukurpa (law) to keep both culture and country strong. This is something that has/will never changed. If you visit Uluru you may see people dot painting, performing inma (traditional dance and song), telling stories or gathering bush tucker.

JOINT MANAGEMENT

Joint management brings together cultural and scientific knowledge and experience, different governance processes, and interweaves two law systems piranpa & tjukurpa. Working together means learning from each other’s cultures and finding innovative ways to bring togther different ways if seeing and interpreting the landscapes and its native owners of the land. It embraces the challenges, builds on lessons learnt, and above all recognises the good will of the joint management partners and continues the journey together.

EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE STRATEGIES

The handback of Uluru Kata tjuta national park from the commonwealth to the traditional owners took place over 3 decades ago. The change in land ownership has delivered some benefits for aboriginal people in central Australia. But the land council representing anangu sails there is still work to be done. Parks Australia is reviewing the joint management model and is focused on three main areas. They are looking at the provision of opportunity, governess of the park, struggles of joint management. I think the why these strategies aren’t reaching their full potential is because of the issue concerning the employment of rangers at the park.

Over the past year approximately 83 people have been employed as rangers in the park and only seven of the 36 park ranges are indigenous. Everybody know’s that aboriginals are the true custodians the land, If we do not start to take the initiative to recognise there thoughts and talent’s how are we going to be able to pull of joint management. Uluru is part of the spiritual and cultural beliefs, we can’t ignore the fact that it holds deeper meaning to them. The employment process shouldn’t be bias to the indigenous people at all, but even it out with the employment rates of indigenous and non indigenous people. The central land council director welcomes the joint management, but wants to target funding for a new ranger group in Mutijulu.

WORLD HERITAGE LIST

To be placed onto the world heritage list is one achievement of great honour. World heritage listed mean that UNESCO, the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization has agreed are worthy of protection because they represent the best examples of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

DO YOU THINK THE CLIMBING OF ULURU WILL BE BANNED?

Climbing will be banned in the future. By the end of the 21st century new technology and scientific knowledge will be at grasp. I wouldn’t climb Uluru because there is nothing enticing about standing on top of Uluru hence why I wouldn’t go against the wishes of the people who have lived beside it for tens of thousands of years in order to check out the view, regardless of the reason behind those wishes. To climb? Or not to climb? at the moment the answer is up to you. There will be different technology and research that would have been conducted so that climbing would be the least of the park’s worry’s. Uluru’s traditional owners ask visitors not to climb for cultural environmental and safety reasons. Ever since 1958, 36 people have died attempting to climb the iconic 348 metre high mammoth sandstone rock. That alone should be enough to deter your mind from thinking about climbing.

DO THINK IT WILL CONTINUED TO BE MANAGED?

Uluru will always be managed, whether it will be joint management will be up for question. In the years to come I think that the government will give all rights and ownership to the indigenous people of the land. The management of Uluru will always be a lengthy time process with no satisfaction from either end of the stick, but if the indigenous people seek ownership of the land I think it would only be right to grant it to them. Uluru is not just a simple red rock, it is a living cultural landscape that is considered sacred to the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people. As the true custodians of the lands they deserve the right to manage and be granted ownership to this special place that carries great significance and cultural value.

WILL TOURIST NUMBERS INCREASE?

Will the tourist numbers increase? I honestly don’t know, it is to early to be making such predictions when only just in a span of approximately 20 years have the tourist numbers increased immensely. It depends on what appeal’s to the tourist, in a few years time there might be a new landform that rivals Uluru and people might deter from visiting it, or maybe international interest starts to spark and tourism flourishes here in Australia. Tourism is travelling for pleasure, happiness, business or interest, whether or not tourism will increase or decrease is up for debate. As long as Uluru stays true to it’s values, beliefs, and marketing strategies I don’t see why the numbers would increase or drop, the real question would be how would it fair against other countries with other landform?

CONCLUSION

In conclusion Uluru is one of Australia’s most famous geological features, and is major tourist attraction in spite of it’s remote location. Uluru is wonderful and sacred site that we must protect for as long as we live. I interviewed an exchange student living in the boarding house and this was her opinion on the future of Uluru. " I think it is great for tourists to experience Australian culture, and see the natural beauty of the traditional owners land(aborigines) however I think some of it should be preserved to maintain the originality'', said polly. As long as the joint management of Uluru continues to thrive then I believe that Uluru will eventually erode away which will have a ripple and damaging effect to the aboriginal culture But will forever rightfully earn the title of Australia's most iconic landscape.