Endangered species protected, jobs for locals, are benefits of new Red Centre IPA, CLC says

Nine critically endangered species are set to get some much needed protection, thanks to a new protected area – which covers a whopping amount of land. Find out more.

Anangu Lurtjiku ranger Alisha Ragget and Traditional Owner Clara Rowe in the new Central Western Desert Indigenous Protected Area, west of Alice Springs. Picture: Supplied

Species such as the critically endangered central rock rat are set to get some much needed protection in a 40,000 sqkm patch of land west of Alice Springs, which is now an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).

On Wednesday, Anangu traditional owners are gathering at Ilpili, a significant water site between Kintore and Papunya to celebrate the Central Western Desert IPA.

The new IPA will be managed by Anangu Luritjiku and Walungurru Central Land Council ranger groups, who are set to the follow an IPA management plan and guidance from traditional owners.

The new IPA covers the Haasts Bluff Aboriginal Land Trust.

Anangu Luritjiku ranger group co-ordinator Lynda Lechleitner said the IPA “brings all the communities together in managing our land”.

“It’s also going to make it faster to deliver our work on the ground because we are all working towards the same plan,” she said.

Central Land Council chief executive Les Turner.

Within the IPA, there are critically endangered animals such as the central rock rat – one of nine critically endangered species found within the 40,000 sqkm IPA.

In addition to protecting the endangered species, the ranger groups will also be tackling issues such as buffel grass, feral camels, and wildfires, thanks to funding from the federal government’s $231.5 million IPA program.

But Central Land Council chief executive Les Turner said the new IPA is more than a conservation effort.

“It is also about empowering traditional owners to drive the development of the region by creating good jobs on country,” he said.

With the new IPA in place, the CLC is now managing a conservation area larger than Victoria.

The Central Western Desert IPA adds to the CLC-managed Katiti Peterman, Southern Tanami, Northern Tanami, and Angas Downs IPA’s.

With Uluru–Kata Tjuta and Watarka parks included, it forms a 435,000 sqkm area of cross-border protected desert area, the CLC said in a statement.