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List of protected areas of Western Australia facts for kids

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Valley of the giants skywalk
The Valley of the Giants skywalk in Walpole-Nornalup National Park

Western Australia is a huge state, one of the largest in the world! It's so big that it has many special places set aside to protect nature.

As of 2022, over 1,850 land areas are protected. These cover more than 76 million hectares, which is about 30% of the state's land. Most of these protected lands are Indigenous Protected Areas, which are managed by Aboriginal people. Many are also called nature reserves.

Western Australia also protects its ocean areas. As of 2022, over 4.7 million hectares of ocean are protected. This is about 41% of the state's waters! Most of these are called Marine Parks.

Protected Areas of Western Australia

Western Australia has different kinds of protected areas, each with a special purpose. They all help keep our amazing plants, animals, and landscapes safe for the future.

Conservation Parks

Conservation Parks are special places that protect nature while also allowing people to visit and enjoy them. They cover over 1.2 million hectares in Western Australia.

Here are a few examples of Conservation Parks:

  • Barnabinmah
  • Cape Range
  • Geikie Gorge
  • Goldfields Woodlands
  • Penguin Island
  • Shell Beach

Marine Parks

Marine Parks protect the ocean and the amazing sea creatures that live there. As of 2022, there are 20 Marine Parks in Western Australia. They cover a huge area, over 4.3 million hectares of water!

Some of the Marine Parks you might know are:

  • Barrow Island
  • Jurien Bay
  • Marmion
  • Ningaloo
  • Shark Bay
  • Shoalwater Islands
  • Walpole And Nornalup Inlets

National Parks

National Parks are very important areas that protect unique natural places, wildlife, and cultural sites. They are managed so that people can enjoy them while keeping them safe.

Who Looks After National Parks?

Over the years, different groups have helped look after Western Australia's National Parks. Today, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions helps manage these special places. They work hard to protect the environment and make sure everyone can enjoy these parks.

List of National Parks

As of 2023, Western Australia has 112 National Parks! These parks cover over 6.5 million hectares of land.

Here are some of the many National Parks:

Nature Reserves

Nature Reserves are areas mainly set aside to protect plants and animals. They are super important for keeping different species safe.

Named Nature Reserves

As of 2022, there are 826 named nature reserves in Western Australia. They cover over 10 million hectares!

Some examples of these reserves include:

Unnamed Nature Reserves

Besides the named ones, there are also 407 unnamed nature reserves in Western Australia that help protect the environment.

Marine Nature Reserves

Some nature reserves are islands in the ocean. These 15 marine nature reserves protect important island habitats.

  • Beagle Islands
  • Cervantes Islands
  • Scott Reef
  • Shoalwater Bay Islands

Regional Parks

Regional parks are often found closer to cities and towns. They provide green spaces for people to enjoy nature, go for walks, and have fun outdoors.

Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are lands and waters managed by Aboriginal people to protect their cultural heritage and natural environment. These areas are very important because they combine traditional knowledge with modern conservation methods. As of 2022, there are 18 IPAs in Western Australia, covering over 50 million hectares. This makes them the largest type of protected area in the state!

Some of these special areas include:

  • Anangu Tjutaku Indigenous Protected Area
  • Balanggarra Indigenous Protected Area
  • Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area
  • Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area
  • Karajarri Indigenous Protected Area
  • Ngaanyatjarra Indigenous Protected Area
  • Paruku Indigenous Protected Area
  • Uunguu Indigenous Protected Area
  • Wilinggin Indigenous Protected Area

Other Protected Areas

Western Australia also has other types of protected areas. These include two beautiful Botanic Gardens (Kings Park and Bold Park), and a State Reserve (Rottnest Island). There are also many other smaller protected areas that help keep Western Australia's nature safe.

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