Plan for our Parks meets target

The Bunuba National Park created in the Kimberley covers more than 220,000 hectares, extending from the existing Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park along the Fitzroy River, north to Dimond Gorge. Image credit: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Completed late last year, the WA Government’s Plan for Our Parks has conserved 6.5 million hectares of land, representing a 28 per cent increase in Western Australia’s conservation estate.

The plan, announced in 2019, set a target to create five million hectares of new conservation estate – including national parks, marine parks and nature reserves – in just five years.

It has created and expanded parks from the Kimberley in the north, across WA’s Rangelands, through population centres in Perth and Bunbury, to the  south-west forests and along WA’s southern coastline.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions says that as well as protecting some of the State’s most valuable natural assets, including their biodiversity, the plan has created on-country jobs and training for Aboriginal rangers and provided opportunities for developing nature-based and cultural tourism, and recreation attractions and facilities.

The total area of the land and marine parks and reserves established is equivalent to the size of Tasmania.