Mount Willoughby Indigenous Protected Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Willoughby Indigenous Protected AreaSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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 Mount Willoughby Indigenous Protected Area
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Coober Pedy |
| Established | 22 August 2002 |
| Area | 4,206.72 km2 (1,624.2 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Tjirilya Aboriginal Corporation |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
The Mount Willoughby Indigenous Protected Area is a special protected area in South Australia. It's about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northwest of the town of Coober Pedy. This area covers parts of the places called Mount Willoughby and Evelyn Downs.
This area became an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) on August 22, 2002. This happened after two years of planning and talking with the local Aboriginal community. The land was bought in 1996 by the Indigenous Land Corporation. It was bought because it's very important to the local Aboriginal people. Before that, the land was used for farming, like raising cattle and sheep.
What is an Indigenous Protected Area?
An Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is a special kind of protected area in Australia. It is managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They use their traditional knowledge to protect the land and its plants and animals. IPAs are part of Australia's national system of protected areas.
Location and Landscape
The Mount Willoughby IPA is located in the southern parts of Mount Willoughby and Evelyn Downs. It shares a border with the Tallaringa Conservation Park to the west. This park is managed by the government of South Australia.
The IPA is in a unique spot where two different natural regions meet. These regions are the Great Victoria Desert and the Stony Plains. This means the area has a mix of desert landscapes and flat, stony areas.
Amazing Plants and Animals
In 2003, a survey was done in the Mount Willoughby IPA. This survey found many different kinds of wildlife.
- They recorded 75 different types of birds.
- They also found 14 kinds of native mammals.
- There were 47 types of reptiles.
- And one type of frog was also found.
A rare desert flower called the Erigeron sessilifolius daisy was also discovered here. This shows how important the area is for protecting unique plant life.
How the Area is Managed
As of 2004, there were plans to manage the Mount Willoughby IPA in two main ways.
- One part would be a "Resource Protected Area." This means it would be carefully used for its natural resources.
- The other part would be for "conservation, tourism, and recreation." This area would focus on protecting nature while allowing visitors.
The management work includes several important tasks:
- Watching for and stopping erosion (when soil is worn away).
- Protecting fragile areas that are easily damaged.
- Managing wild animals that are not native to the area.
- Removing weeds that can harm native plants.
- Recording important cultural sites of the Aboriginal people.
There were also plans to start a small business in the area. This business would help provide money for looking after the environment. It would also create jobs for the local community.
The Mount Willoughby IPA is known as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it's an area where people can use natural resources in a way that is sustainable and doesn't harm the environment.
