IN celebration of NAIDOC Week, the Rural City of Benalla and Winton Wetlands has released a new guide detailing the key native plants of Mokoan and surrounds.

'A guide to significant Indigenous plants of Mokoan' is written in collaboration with native plant experts as well as land and water ecologists, and provides information on over two dozen different Indigenous plants.

"This is an exciting initiative that will share valuable information more widely," restoration manager at Winton Wetlands Dr Lisa Farnsworth said.

"We are proud to have the opportunity to help combine the knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people and the ecology team to produce a guide like this.

"For us, it represents a clear demonstration of our desire to walk together to care for Country."

The guide details both land-based and water-based plant species, including trees, shrubs and other ground vegetation.

Cultural officer Nikki James said she looked forward to people using the guide to understand more about the cultural dimensions of Mokoan, as well as the many practical uses to which wetlands plants have long been applied.

"Many of these plants have been important both as food and for medicine, amongst other things," Ms James said.

"The more people can learn about this, the more we can all walk together with a better shared understanding."

In addition to Winton Wetlands and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, other organisations giving support for the Environment Protection Act-linked project included: Park Lane Nursery, Merriwa Industries, the Regent Honeyeater Project and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.

Funding for the project was also supplied by a 'restorative project order' proposed by EPA Victoria as part of a court prosecution against a local polluter.

Local schools and a local youth support group, Boys to the Bush, also participated in planting activities at the wetlands.

The guide was released publicly on Tuesday, in the lead up to the Winton Wetlands’ own annual NAIDOC Week morning tea today (Friday, July 12).