The dedication of the Central Western Desert Indigenous Protected Area has this week been marked - meaning better land management and jobs for locals.
The newly dedicated Indigenous Protected Area will connect three existing IPAs, as well as link with a larger network of IPAs in both Western Australia and South Australia.
It covers nearly 4 million hectares of land across the Great Sandy Desert, Central Ranges, MacDonnell Ranges and the Interim Burt Plain Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bioregions.
The Country within the IPA changes from sandstone mountain ranges in the east that hold many springs and water sources, to desert dunefields and sandplains in the west.
It provides a safe haven for threatened species including the Central Rock Rat, Great Desert Skink, Black-footed Rock Wallaby, the Princess Parrot and Slater's Skink.
Traditional Owners for the Haasts Bluff Aboriginal Land Trust, Indigenous rangers and staff at the Central Land Council will manage the Central Western Desert Indigenous Protected Area.
The Government has set a target to protect and conserve 30 per cent of our land and 30 per cent of our oceans by 2030.
The Central Western Desert Indigenous Protected Area adds nearly 4 million hectares to help reach this 30 per cent land target - over 24 per cent of Australia's total landmass is now protected.
This project is supported by the Albanese Labor Government's $231.5 million Indigenous Protected Area program.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:
"Today, we're celebrating the protection of close to 4 million hectares of land in central Australia.
"The Central Western Desert IPA will link with a larger network of ten IPAs across the Northern Territory and is home to nine threatened species.
"First Nations people have been successfully looking after land for 65,000 years. We are so lucky in Australia to have the world's most successful environmentalists to learn from.
"We want to see more traditional owners protecting more of our land, supporting more Indigenous Rangers to live and work on country.
"That's why the Albanese Labor Government is establishing 12 new Indigenous Protected Areas and is committed to doubling the number of Indigenous Rangers by 2030."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy:
"Today we welcome the dedication of Australia's 91st IPA and its contribution to the Indigenous Protected Areas estate and the National Reserve System.
"Expanding the Indigenous Protected Areas Program will provide more opportunities for First Nations people to share their knowledge and benefit from the social and economic outcomes that come from meaningful employment.
"The Indigenous Protected Areas Program supports First Nations communities to manage land and sea Country and deliver cultural and biodiversity conservation outcomes, in accordance with Traditional Owners' aspirations."
