The Aboriginal Rainforest Council (ARC) is an independent peak organisation broadly representing 18 Rainforest Aboriginal tribal groups on land and cultural heritage matters across the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in North Queensland. The 18 Aboriginal tribal groups include: Bandjin, Djabugay , Djiru Girramay, Gugu-Badhun, Gulgnay, Jirrbal, Koko Muluridji, Kunggandji Kuku Yalanji, Ma Mu, Ngadjon-Jii, Nywaigi, Warramay, Warungnu, Wulgurukaba, Yidinji and Yirrganydji. The ARC covers 900,000 sq.hectares from Cooktown in the north and south to Paluma, just north of Townsville and west to Mount Garnet on the Tablelands.
The ARC was established through the development of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area Regional Agreement, an agreement between 18 Rainforest Aboriginal tribal groups and land management agencies with statutory responsibilities in the Wet Tropics region. The central principle of the Agreement is the recognition of Rainforest Aboriginal people's rights and interests and to afford them the opportunity to define and negotiate their own priorities, needs and aspirations for management of the Wet Tropics.
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