Western Australia is home to some of the most iconic national parks that protect unique natural and cultural values found nowhere else in the world.
West Australians and people from across the world love WA’s national parks. Our national parks create a refuge for endangered and rare plant and animal species, and protect Aboriginal cultural sites.
In February 2019, thanks to the help of Partnership for the Outback supporters, the WA Government committed to creating 5 million hectares of new national parks and marine parks to be jointly-managed with Traditional Owners through the Plan for Our Parks initiative.
Plan for Our Parks has been the most significant conservation expansion in WA’s history and is leading the way for joint-management in Australia, creating economic development and jobs on Country for Traditional Owners, and utilising 65,000 years of Traditional knowledge to help manage the threats facing WA’s nature.
So far more than 2.5 million hectares have been declared across WA with another 2.5 million hectares due to be created by March 2024.
My Country is very harsh at times but it also can be very nurturing. It is an environment that if you look after it, it will look after you. Create Ranger Parks is an opportunity to connect people to their traditional country and to protect the natural and cultural heritage that matters to all Western Australians.
Bianca McNeair, Malgana Custodian, Shark Bay
We've got to get people out on Country and where is better suited for this purpose than the 60 Outback properties that have already been purchased for conservation and land management - places that are home to hundreds of important Aboriginal cultural sites that help tell the story of this land.
Richard Nelly, Yamatji Elder, Geraldton
