Introducing Michael Morta

Ask Michael Morta about the Wet Tropics region and he’ll tell you it’s part of his make-up.

The Ngadjon-jii traditional owner grew up swimming in the creeks of the Atherton Tablelands, Little Mulgrave, Babinda, Tully and Cardwell areas, and getting to know the indigenous people in each community as his family moved around the region.

“The Wet Tropics area is a special place for me and I’m passionate about preserving our natural and cultural landscapes,’’ Mr Morta says.

He has recently been appointed as Terrain NRM’s Biodiversity and Indigenous Engagement Coordinator. In this role he’ll be monitoring threatened species and ecological communities across the Wet Tropics region, and he’ll also be working with Wet Tropics traditional owners.

“I’m excited to get back to a role like this where I’m helping to look after Country from the wildlife to management of Country,’’ he said. “An important part of this is keeping traditional owners involved in natural resource processes and management.”

Mr Morta was a trainee indigenous ranger and has since worked as an Aboriginal liaison officer, cultural heritage manager, and marine parks ranger and supervisor among other roles.

As part of the Building Rainforest Resilience project, he will be helping to reduce threats to the endangered southern cassowary, Mabi forest and littoral rainforest.