Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Carpenter Rocks
Established	6 September 2001
Area	33 hectares (82 acres)
Visitation	‘less than 100 people per year’ (in 2007)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located near the small town of Carpenter Rocks, about 370 kilometers (230 miles) southeast of Adelaide. This park was created to protect important plants and animals that are rare or endangered.

What is Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park?

A conservation park is a place set aside by the government to protect nature. The Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park was officially created on September 6, 2001. It covers an area of about 33 hectares (81 acres). That's roughly the size of 60 football fields!

The main goal of this park is to keep unique plants and animals safe. It helps protect their natural homes, called habitats. The park is managed by the Department for Environment and Water.

Why is This Park Special?

Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park is very important because it protects several rare species. These include a special type of tree and a critically endangered bird.

Protecting Rare Plants: The Carpenter Rocks Manna Gum

One of the most important plants in the park is the Carpenter Rocks Manna Gum (Eucalyptus splendens ssp. arcana). This tree is a newly discovered type of eucalyptus. The park protects part of the only known group of these trees in the world. It also protects other plants that are important for South Australia or the whole country.

Saving the Orange-bellied Parrot

The park is also a vital home for the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster). This bird is in extreme danger of disappearing forever. It is considered critically endangered.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, more Orange-bellied Parrots were seen at Carpenter Rocks than anywhere else in South Australia. This shows how important the park is for helping this rare bird survive.

How is the Park Protected?

The Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it's a protected area where people can use natural resources in a sustainable way. The main focus is on protecting the environment while allowing some activities that don't harm the park.