Regional Reserve (Australia) facts for kids

A Regional Reserve is a special kind of protected area in Australia, found in places like South Australia and Tasmania. These reserves are unique because they allow some natural resources to be used, like mining or timber, while still protecting the land's plants, animals, and natural beauty. It's a way to balance using resources with keeping nature safe.

Regional Reserves in South Australia

In South Australia, a Regional Reserve is a piece of government land that is set aside for two main reasons. First, it helps protect wildlife and important natural or historical features. Second, it also allows people to use the natural resources found on that land. This means things like mining or farming might happen there, but in a controlled way that tries to protect the environment too.

As of 2014, South Australia had seven Regional Reserves. Together, these areas cover a huge space of about 9.3 million hectares. This is roughly 9.5% of the entire state's land!

South Australia's Regional Reserves

The Regional Reserves in South Australia include:

• Chowilla
• Innamincka
• Lake Frome
• Nullarbor
• Simpson Desert
• Strzelecki
• Yellabinna

Regional Reserves in Tasmania

In Tasmania, a Regional Reserve is an area of land that is mostly natural but also has a lot of minerals that could be mined. The main goal for these reserves is to allow mineral exploration and mining to happen. They also permit other controlled uses of natural resources, like harvesting special types of timber. At the same time, these reserves aim to protect and maintain the natural and cultural values of the land.

As of 2014, Tasmania had 148 Regional Reserves. These reserves cover a total area of about 454,682 hectares.