Western Australia Aims to Become a Conservation Superpower
Western Australia is expanding its national parks, aiming to protect more land and become a leader in conservation efforts.
Western Australia, Conservation, National Parks, Environment, Aboriginal Rangers
Perth: Western Australia is known for its mining, but it’s making a big push to be seen as a “conservation superpower.” The state has been expanding its national parks and protecting more land.
Since 2019, they’ve added 6.5 million hectares of land and water to conservation areas, which is way more than the government’s original goal of five million hectares. Environment Minister Reece Whitby is pretty excited about this achievement.
In just five years, the state has increased its conservation areas by 28 percent. Whitby mentioned that this land is not just beautiful but also holds significant environmental and cultural value for future generations.
Part of this plan includes expanding Kalbarri National Park and the Fitzroy River National Park, which are now managed together with traditional owners. This collaboration is a great step forward.
With these expansions, over 600 species of animals and plants are now better protected, including some endangered ones. Plus, this initiative has created 277 full-time jobs, mainly for Aboriginal ranger groups.
Whitby believes that while WA is known as a resources superpower, it can now also be recognized for its conservation efforts. It’s a win-win situation.
Mitch Hart from Pew Charitable Trusts called it a historic day, noting that the scale of this expansion is impressive. It’s crucial for ensuring that WA’s nature can withstand challenges like bushfires and climate change.
As Australia aims to protect 30 percent of its land and sea by 2030, other states will be looking to WA for inspiration. Hart emphasized that this is a positive story for the environment.
Environs Kimberley also celebrated this achievement, hoping for more national parks and better funding to manage them alongside traditional owners.
Interestingly, this expansion comes at a time when WA has seen a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to mining and exports. It’s a reminder that while progress is being made in conservation, there are still challenges to tackle.