Australia has a new National Park that spans more than 37000 hectares, is home to more than 158 fauna native species, and forms a wildlife corridor of almost 100,000 hectares in the north-west of NSW.
In a crucial step toward meeting Australia's commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwaters and ocean ecosystems by 2030, today the NSW Government has officially launched Cuttaburra National Park. [Visitors will be able to access the park from xx]
The Nature Conservancy Australia's Protected Landscapes Director Mike Roache says the park - located 150km north-west of Bourke - is a significant milestone in the fight against biodiversity loss.
"It's a fantastic win for people and nature together. Cuttaburra is a unique place, and a haven for biodiversity, with the first fauna survey recently completed by the NSW Government recording an impressive 158 species, including the threatened Eastern Fat-tailed Gecko, Hall's Babbler and Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat," Mr Roache said.
Comeroo Station, purchased by the NSW Government last year forms the foundation of Cuttaburra, and the acquisition was supported by The Nature Conservancy, with generous contributions from the Wyss Foundation and Holdfast Collective, Patagonia's non-profit shareholder.
The new park contains a diversity of habitats including alluvial floodplains, swamps, permanent waterholes and wetlands, which support a variety of plants and animals, including three New South Wales and nationally endangered ecological communities.
More than a quarter of the park forms part of the Yantabulla Swamp, a mosaic of channels and wetlands which has been identified as the most important water bird breeding site in region.
President of the Wyss Foundation, Molly McUsic, said: ""The Wyss Foundation is proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy, Holdfast Collective, and the New South Wales Government for the purchase and protection of Australia's Comeroo Station, a sprawling landmass home to threatened, diverse species.
"With the purchase of Comeroo Station comes an addition to Australia's protected lands as the new Cuttaburra National Park, which will curb biodiversity loss in the region and bring us closer to conserving at least 30% of the Earth's surface by 2030."
Increasing protection of under-represented ecosystems, protecting sites of high biodiversity value and increasing connectivity between protected areas are some of the key scientific principles underpinning a successful strategy to protect Australia's unique biodiversity, as highlighted in the Pathways to 30x30 report. That report recommended the establishment of a $5 billion land acquisition fund to protect some of Australia's most important places for nature, forever.
TNC's Senior Advisor, Global Protection Strategies, Dr James Fitzsimons, said that partnerships between state governments, philanthropic foundations and conservation organisations will be instrumental in achieving large-scale protection outcomes and helping meet Australia's commitment to protecting 30% of land, freshwaters, and ocean ecosystems by 2030.
