Ettrick Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ettrick Conservation ParkSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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 Ettrick Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Murray Bridge |
| Established | 31 October 2013 |
| Area | 4.79 km2 (1.8 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Ettrick Conservation Park is a special nature area in South Australia. It's a place where plants and animals are kept safe. The park is located near a town called Ettrick. It's about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Adelaide, which is the capital city of South Australia. It's also about 24 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of the city of Murray Bridge.
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What is Ettrick Conservation Park?
Ettrick Conservation Park is a "protected area." This means it's a special piece of land set aside to protect nature. The park was officially created on October 31, 2013. It was made a park under a law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The park is named after the area it's in, which is called the Hundred of Ettrick.
The land for the park is owned by the government. It covers an area of about 4.79 square kilometers (about 1.85 square miles). When the park was created, special rules were also made. These rules allowed some activities like mining to continue in certain parts of the land. However, the main goal of the park is still to protect its natural environment.
Why is Ettrick Park Special?
Ettrick Conservation Park is very important for many reasons. In 2013, a government minister named Ian Hunter talked about the park. He said it would be a safe home for many important animals. These animals include the malleefowl and the regent parrot.
Protecting Rare Plants and Animals
Most of the park is covered in a type of forest called "open mallee." This forest has many different kinds of eucalyptus trees. But the park also has something very rare. It has one of the last remaining areas of "tussock grassland" in the Murray-Darling Basin. This type of grassland is considered "critically endangered," which means it's very close to disappearing. Protecting it is very important.
The park is also home to many different kinds of birds. Some of these birds are the shy heathwren, the hooded robin, the white-winged chough, the jacky winter, the restless flycatcher, and the painted buttonquail. These birds all rely on the park's special environment to live.
How is the Park Protected?
Ettrick Conservation Park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This is a way that international groups categorize protected places. A Category VI park means it's a protected area where people can use some natural resources in a careful and sustainable way. The main goal is still to protect the environment and its natural values for the long term.
