The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance

What The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance does

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) is a non-profit Indigenous organization headquartered in Darwin, Northern Territory, that supports Indigenous land and sea management across north Australia. It works with Traditional Owners, remote Indigenous communities, and 40+ Indigenous ranger groups across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland through collaborative and scientific partnerships. Its culture-based economy approach integrates Indigenous Knowledge systems with contemporary land management practices, often described as a "two toolbox" model.

NAILSMA delivers a portfolio of programs including the Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program (PCAIS), the Savanna Fire and Biodiversity Project, Healthy Country AI, the Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds Project, and Carbon/Fire Management. Underlying these is the proprietary I-Tracker data collection and management system (launched 2012), which embeds Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) frameworks and supports applications spanning land patrols, saltwater country patrols, subtidal seagrass monitoring, and fire ground truthing. Recent technology additions include high-resolution satellite imagery combined with herd-scale satellite tracking (via Kinéis) for managing 1,000+ cattle and buffalo across 22,314 square kilometres, and 3D interactive planning models for landscape-scale management scenarios. The organization also enabled Indigenous land managers to access carbon market income through the development of Savanna Burning Methodologies under the Carbon Farming Initiative.

Revenue is generated entirely through non-commercial channels: direct Australian Government grants (most recently a $2M extension for PCAIS in November 2025), philanthropic contributions (notably from the Telstra Foundation and Microsoft via AI for Earth), and carbon credit revenue from savanna burning methodologies. NAILSMA provides services at no cost to Indigenous ranger groups and communities, delivering programs through direct field-based implementation rather than commercial distribution. Leadership is led by CEO Ricky Archer (and Barry Hunter referenced in some sources), with strategic partnerships spanning CSIRO, James Cook University, Microsoft, Telstra Foundation, IUCN, the Northern Land Council, and the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Name

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance

Legal name

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd

Website

https://nailsma.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NAILSMA is a non-profit Indigenous alliance supporting Traditional Owners and 40+ Indigenous ranger groups across north Australia through land and sea management programs, including invasive species control, savanna fire management, carbon crediting, and AI-enabled environmental monitoring via its I-Tracker platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous land and sea management services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAMAJAM

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Forest Management, Reforestation & Carbon Forestry Services

SECONDARYBPADALAG

Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYEUAHAAAH

Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) & Permitting

SECONDARYAFAMAKAG

Timberland GIS, Remote Sensing & Data Analytics

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Timberland Management Services

Keywords

• Indigenous land management
• Conservation services
• Environmental monitoring
• Carbon farming programs
• Ranger capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Darwin

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: NAILSMA receives direct government funding from the Australian Government to deliver programs such as the Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program (PCAIS), which supports Indigenous ranger groups across Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland. Funding is administered through programs like the Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program.
2. Carbon Credit Revenue: Indigenous land managers can earn income through sale of carbon credits generated from savanna burning methodologies and fire management practices. NAILSMA has worked to develop formal methodologies enabling Traditional Owners to create saleable carbon credits from traditional-style fire management across Australia's tropical savannas.
3. Philanthropic Support: NAILSMA receives support from philanthropic agencies and partners, including the Telstra Foundation and other organizations that fund Indigenous conservation and digital inclusion initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) is an Indigenous-led non-profit that supports Traditional Owners, Indigenous ranger groups, and remote communities across north Australia to deliver land and sea management, fire management, invasive species control, carbon farming, biodiversity monitoring, and herd management programs. It operates projects such as the Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program (PCAIS), Savanna Fire and Biodiversity Project, Healthy Country AI, Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds, and Carbon/Fire Management, underpinned by the proprietary I-Tracker data management platform and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) frameworks.

Product overview

NAILSMA operates as an alliance delivering multiple programs supporting Indigenous land and sea management across north Australia. The portfolio includes Land and Sea Management as the core program, complemented by specialized projects: Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program (PCAIS) managing weeds and feral animals with 40+ ranger groups; Savanna Fire and Biodiversity Project using traditional fire practices; Healthy Country AI deploying digital technology and AI for environmental monitoring; Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds using satellite tracking technology for cattle/buffalo management; Carbon/Fire Management enabling carbon credit income through Savanna Burning Methodologies; and I-Tracker as the foundational data collection and management platform supporting all programs with Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property protections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Healthy Country AI: Indigenous-led program mobilizing digital technology including AI for land and sea managers in remote northern Australia.
• Protecting Country Against Invasive Species (PCAIS)
• Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds

Products and services

• Land and Sea Management Core program supporting Indigenous Land and Sea Managers across north Australia through delivery of small and large scale projects across a diverse range of issues affecting Indigenous communities, working with Traditional Owners, remote communities, and land and sea management practitioners through collaborative and scientific partnerships.
• Protecting Country Against Invasive Species Program (PCAIS) Program working with more than 40 Indigenous ranger groups across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland to tackle invasive species (weeds and feral animals) through training and development opportunities, equipment purchasing, and knowledge sharing.
• Savanna Fire and Biodiversity Project Fire management project using traditional Indigenous fire management practices to protect biodiversity-rich savannas of north Australia from destructive wild fires late in the dry season, while maintaining and rebuilding cultural values and livelihoods.
• Healthy Country AI $2.6 million Indigenous-led program mobilising the latest digital technology for land and sea managers in remote regions of northern Australia, enabling Indigenous rangers to work with scientists and technology specialists to learn and use new inclusive AI and digital skills to monitor environmental, cultural, and economic values.
• Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds Project Landscape-scale herd management of unmanaged cattle and buffalo on northern Australian Indigenous estate supporting economic development, landscape restoration, and protection of cultural and environmental assets. Uses satellite tracking technology, herd-scale satellite tracking of over 1,000 animals, 3D interactive planning models, and ethical mustering training developed with CSIRO and James Cook University.
• Carbon / Fire Management Collaborative research into fire and carbon management supporting Indigenous land managers to establish, own, and operate fire and greenhouse gas emissions abatement projects, including the development of Savanna Burning Methodologies under the Carbon Farming Initiative enabling Indigenous land managers access to carbon market income.
• I-Tracker Proprietary data collection and management system developed by NAILSMA to support Indigenous rangers with high-quality data collection and management across land patrol, saltwater country patrol, subtidal seagrass monitoring, and fire ground truthing, with robust ICIP frameworks protecting Indigenous Knowledge.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 40 Indigenous ranger groups supported across Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Larrakia Land and Sea RangerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Partnership to boost Indigenous fire management across Darwin. NAILSMA has assisted the Larrakia Land and Sea Rangers to purchase equipment including PPE and a slip on fire fighting unit for their newly established fire management program. NAILSMA also provides funding support for cultural and knowledge exchange between the rangers, Larrakia Elders, and other Indigenous ranger groups.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds Project and Healthy Country AI program. CSIRO serves as Australia's national science agency, collaborating on research and technology development for Indigenous land management. Developed humane handling training package for the Smart Farms project.
• James Cook UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds Project, contributing research expertise to landscape-scale herd management of unmanaged cattle and buffalo on northern Australian Indigenous estate.
• KinéiscoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal satellite company partner providing satellite tracking technology for the Smart Farms project. The partnership enables herd-scale satellite tracking of over 1000 animals across remote locations, combining high-resolution satellite imagery with herd tracking data.
• Telstra FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration through the Healthy Country AI program, supporting digital skills training for Indigenous rangers in using AI and digital technology for land and sea management. Focus on digital inclusion for First Nations communities.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner in the Healthy Country AI program, contributing to the development of AI and digital support tools for Indigenous rangers to support evidence-based decisions on Country. Microsoft AI for Earth support for conservation technology.
• National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Resilient Landscapes HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government research program partner in the Healthy Country AI initiative, providing scientific expertise and funding support for environmental monitoring and research collaboration.
• Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian Government program supporting the Healthy Country AI training initiative, contributing to digital skills development for Indigenous women and men rangers.
• Northern Land CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Waanyi and Waanyi-Garawa Fire and Carbon Management Project, working together to develop carbon management activities, manage contracts and agreements, and ensure effective governance and financial management.
• Indigenous Land CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Waanyi and Waanyi-Garawa Fire and Carbon Management Project, providing direct assistance to develop carbon management activities and support Traditional Owner-owned enterprises.
• Bush Fires NTcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment agency partner providing Level 1 firefighting training to Indigenous rangers, including 12 Larrakia rangers who completed firefighting certification.
• IUCN Australian CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Reimagining Conservation forum, working with NAILSMA to reframe conservation within Indigenous cultural frameworks and knowledge systems.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal conservation body working with NAILSMA on the Reimagining Conservation initiative to redefine conservation by valuing Indigenous-led conservation approaches.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northern Land Council: Statutory authority representing Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory. NLC is a direct peer because it collaborates with NAILSMA on the Waanyi and Waanyi-Garawa Fire and Carbon Management Project and supports ranger operations on Aboriginal land that NAILSMA serves.
• Cape York Land Council: Native title body for Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, partnering with NAILSMA on projects such as Smart Farms Managing Wild Herds in the Upper Normanby and Archer River catchments. Both organisations coordinate Indigenous-led land and sea management across overlapping north Australian geography.
• Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation: Indigenous-led organisation promoting cultural burning and traditional fire management across Australia. Directly comparable to NAILSMA's Savanna Fire and Biodiversity Project, with overlapping partners and similar focus on combining Indigenous knowledge with contemporary fire management practice.
• Kimberley Land Council: Native title representative body for the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Directly comparable to NAILSMA as a regional Indigenous land management and conservation organisation delivering ranger programs, carbon projects and cultural heritage protection across north Australia.
• Aboriginal Carbon Foundation: Indigenous-led body supporting Aboriginal participation in carbon farming and the savanna burning carbon market. Closely comparable to NAILSMA's carbon and fire management work and a natural peer in developing methodologies and channeling carbon revenue to Indigenous land managers.

Broad incumbents

• Bush Heritage Australia: National non-profit that acquires and manages conservation reserves and partners with Indigenous organisations for co-stewardship. Comparable as a large-scale Australian conservation non-profit operating landscape programs and partnering with Indigenous groups, though focused on reserve acquisition rather than ranger coordination.
• Australian Conservation Foundation: Australia's largest national environmental non-profit, engaging in advocacy, philanthropy and on-ground conservation programs. Comparable to NAILSMA as a major Australian environmental organisation, though operating at national scale and across broader issue areas rather than Indigenous land management specifically.
• Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC / Indigenous Land Corporation): Australian Government entity that acquires and manages Indigenous-held land and supports Indigenous enterprises. It is a broad incumbent in Indigenous land management, operating at a national scale and frequently partnering with or funding regional alliances such as NAILSMA.

Others

• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency and a core research partner on NAILSMA's Smart Farms and Healthy Country AI programs. Listed as an ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor because CSIRO provides scientific and technical capabilities that NAILSMA delivers to Indigenous land managers.

Regional players

• Queensland South Native Title Services: Native title service provider for southern Queensland that supports Traditional Owners in land management and ranger activities. Comparable to NAILSMA in mission and service offerings but operates in a different geography (southern vs northern Queensland).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nailsma
• Xx.com/NAILSMA2
• Facebookfacebook.com/nailsmaltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance