Across Australia, a new government-approved approach known as ‘GeoRegions’ is creating opportunities to recognise landscapes as places where Country, culture, and deep time come together. GeoRegions provide a practical framework for understanding land through both scientific knowledge and cultural meaning, supporting better land management, conservation, and community-led decision-making.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, landforms are not simply physical features. They are part of living cultural landscapes shaped by Ancestors, story, and continuing relationships with Country. GeoRegions offer a pathway for these cultural connections to be recognised alongside geological and ecological values, ensuring that Indigenous knowledge is respected and embedded from the beginning, not added later.

Recent recognition of places such as Budj Bim Cultural and the Murujuga Cultural Landscapes demonstrates the power of Indigenous leadership in protecting and sharing cultural landscapes of global significance. These examples show how partnerships between Traditional Owners, communities, and governments can create positive outcomes grounded in respect and shared purpose.

GeoRegions can also support Aboriginal communities in shaping their own futures. Through initiatives such as ‘place-based’ geotourism and international recognition pathways supported by UNESCO, GeoRegions create opportunities for sustainable economic development, local employment, and intergenerational knowledge sharing. Importantly, they enable communities to tell their own stories, in their own voices, on their own terms.

This approach also reflects the idea of ‘cultural geomorphology’, recognising that landforms hold meaning, identity, and memory, as well as scientific value. It encourages visitors and younger generations alike to see landscapes not just as scenery, but as living places of cultural responsibility.

GeoRegions are not just about conservation. They are about strengthening relationships, with Country, with culture, and between people. By placing Indigenous knowledge and leadership at the centre, GeoRegions offer a respectful and collaborative pathway to care for Country and create lasting opportunities for future generations.