Twelve new Indigenous Protected Areas across Australia to protect area the size of Tasmania, Tanya Plibersek says

Spread from coast to coast across Australia and covering areas as vast as deserts and rainforests, the new Indigenous Protected Areas will provide locals with an opportunity to manage and care for country.

A sand dune at sunrise in the Simpson Desert, outback Australia.

Australia has more than 10 new Indigenous Protected Areas – with three new areas established in the Territory – which are set to protect an “area the size of Tasmania”, according to the federal environment and water minister.

Tanya Plibersek and federal Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney announced 12 new Indigenous Protected Areas on Wednesday July 10, with the areas set out across from the west coast to the east coast of Australia.

Of the three new areas in the Territory, two are in the Top End, with Yanyuwa Sea Country in The Gulf of Carpentaria and Western Miyarrka in northeast Arnhem Land now Indigenous Protected Areas.

Down south, the Territory’s third new Indigenous Protected Area will be in the Simpson Desert.

Other new areas are in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, and are spread across deserts and rainforests – covering a combined total of 7.5 million hectares and 450,000 hectares of sea country, according to Ms Plibersek.

“We’re protecting an area the size of Tasmania – protecting native species, dealing with feral animals and weeds, managing fire risks, and restoring our beautiful Australian landscapes,” she said.

“At the same time, we’re creating jobs and teaching a new generation to care for Country.”

Ms Burney said the new areas mean local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people will have the opportunity to manage and care for country.

“No one knows this country better than First Nations people who for time immemorial have cared for our land and sea,” she said.

“This is good for jobs, good for the environment, and it’s good for culture.”

Currently there are 85 Indigenous Protected Areas in Australia, which cover 87 million hectares of land, while 5 million hectares of sea is also covered, statistics from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water state.

Originally published as Twelve new Indigenous Protected Areas across Australia to protect area the size of Tasmania, Tanya Plibersek says