Indigenous forest management is an essential component of the global climate strategy, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Senior Forestry officer, David Kaimowitz points out that forests cover one third of the earth’s land surface and must be maintained and nurtured as a living carbon sink, and that process is most effectively and sustainably achieved by working with indigenous people. “Currently, Indigenous Peoples and local communities manage at least 24% of the total above-ground carbon stored in the world’s tropical forests,” he said. A fraction of Australia’s land mass is under indigenous forest management, according to Australia’s national indigenous forestry strategy 2005.