Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory facts for kids

The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory is a government group in Australia. It is part of the Northern Territory Government. This group is also sometimes called the Parks and Wildlife Division.

Its main job is to look after special areas like parks and nature reserves. They also work to protect and manage wildlife. This helps make sure these natural places and animals are safe for everyone.

History of the Commission

The Parks and Wildlife Commission was started on 29 November 1995. It was created by a special law called the Parks and Wildlife Commission Act. Before this, another group called the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory did similar work.

In 2016, the commission joined with several other government departments. These included groups for arts, sports, and tourism. They all came together to form a bigger department. This new department is called the Department of Tourism and Culture.

What the Commission Does

The Parks and Wildlife Commission has important responsibilities. They protect and improve the Northern Territory's parks and reserves. This is for the good of all people who live there and visit. They also run programs to manage wildlife. This means they help keep animal populations healthy.

As of 2017, the Parks and Wildlife Division managed 87 parks and reserves. These areas cover a huge space, almost 5.05 million hectares. These places have amazing natural beauty. They also hold important cultural, geological, and historical sites. Many people visit them for tourism and fun activities.

Working with Traditional Owners

A special part of their work is managing some parks with traditional owners. About 33 parks in the Territory are managed this way. Traditional owners are the Indigenous people who have lived on and cared for the land for thousands of years. Working together helps protect the land and its culture.

How the Commission is Organized

The Parks and Wildlife Commission is made up of several teams. Each team focuses on a different part of their work.

Here are some of their main teams:

• Northern Australian Parks
• Central Australian Parks
• Savannah/Gulf Parks
• Tourism and Visitor
• Engagement
• Park Development
• Business Services
• Wildlife Operations

They also manage specific places that are very popular:

• George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
• Alice Springs Desert Park
• Territory Wildlife Park

The commission has offices in different towns. These include Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. This helps them manage parks and wildlife across the whole Northern Territory.