Water Justice Project – Healing the Land

The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) is Central Australia’s leading independent environmental organisation, with 45 years of experience advocating for the protection of Australia’s arid regions. Based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, ALEC works across landscapes of significant ecological and cultural value, including Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kati-Thanda (Lake Eyre), and the Channel Country. These regions make up approximately 70% of the continent, contain some of the world’s most intact desert ecosystems and are home to First Nations communities who continue to hold deep connections to Country.

ALEC’s approach is grounded in scientific research, knowledge-sharing, and community engagement. We collaborate with First Nations Traditional Owners, recognising their leadership and expertise in land management and environmental stewardship. Our campaigns include adequate and just water management, land management, and conservation that are informed by both scientific evidence and the custodial knowledge of Traditional Owners and First Nations communities, ensuring these perspectives are integrated to maintain and restore ecosystem balance.

Environmental justice for First Nations peoples is central to ALEC’s mission. We prioritise partnerships that respect First Nations knowledge and experience and support equitable climate adaptation and resource management for remote communities disproportionately affected by environmental change. As a values-led, place-based organisation, ALEC mobilises local communities, informs decision-makers, collaborates with the wider environmental advocacy community, and delivers practical solutions to build resilience in the arid zone. We are committed to protecting the ecological integrity of Australia’s arid lands, led by the knowledge, authority, and unbroken connection of First peoples to Country, now and into the future.