The Ngaanyatjarra Lands cover a total area of 25 million hectares — of which 9.8 million hectares is an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). Larger than Tasmania, the IPA encompasses the entire Western Australian section of the Central Ranges Bioregion. Until its dedication in August 2002, this region was unprotected by any other reserve system.
The high levels of biological diversity on these lands are a direct result of traditional land management practices. The dedication of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands IPA articulates this relationship between culture and land, and traditional owners' desire to strengthen Traditional Law and practice.
Four teams of Aboriginal rangers help meet the region's environmental challenges. These teams are the Blackstone, Warakurna and Warburton Men and Warburton Women Rangers.
The rangers provide essential services in the remote region, including:
- surveys and management of threatened species such as the black-footed rock-wallaby, great desert skink and bilby
- fire management
- cleaning and maintaining rock holes to provide water for a range of native fauna
- managing the impact of feral animals such as camels
- supporting traditional ecological knowledge and cultural activities
- continuing to develop tourist management strategies.
State: WA - Central and Southern region
Administration Organisation
Ngaanyajtarra Council Aboriginal Corporation