Central Western Desert IPA a boost for jobs

Better land management and jobs for locals is hoped for after the dedication of the Central Western Desert Indigenous Protected Area was marked this week.

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.

“The dedication of the Central Western Desert IPA formally recognises the important work of Traditional Owners, Indigenous rangers and First Nations communities in protecting this vast area of land for future generations,” Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy said.

“The Indigenous Protected Areas Program supports communities to manage land and sea Country and deliver cultural and biodiversity conservation outcomes in accordance with Traditional Owners’ aspirations.

“Alongside our expansion of the Indigenous Rangers Program, it also means more opportunities for economic empowerment for First Nations people and communities, while caring for Country.”

The IPA covers nearly four million hectares of land across the Great Sandy Desert, Central Ranges, MacDonnell Ranges and the Interim Burt Plain Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bio-regions.

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.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.

“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,” Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said.

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.