Regional reserves of South Australia facts for kids
A Regional Reserve is a special kind of protected area in South Australia. It's a place where nature is kept safe, but people can also use some of its natural resources. Think of it as a way to balance protecting the environment with using the land for things like farming or mining.
The first Regional Reserve was created in 1988. It was called the Innamincka Regional Reserve. As of 2015, South Australia has seven Regional Reserves. Together, they cover a huge area of about 93,400 square kilometers. That's about 9.5% of the state's total land!
What is a Regional Reserve?
Regional Reserves are designed to be used for many purposes. They protect important natural places and cultural sites. At the same time, they allow for some use of the land's resources. This helps to make sure that both nature and people's needs are met.
How Regional Reserves Started
The idea for Regional Reserves came from the Government of South Australia in 1987. They wanted to find a way to protect nature while also allowing people to use natural resources. It was about finding a good balance.
The very first Regional Reserve was Innamincka Regional Reserve. It was set up in 1988. This area is special because it has important wetlands, like the Coongie Lakes. These lakes are recognized internationally for their importance to nature. But the area also has activities like oil and gas production at Moomba. There is also cattle farming on Innamincka Station. This reserve shows how nature and industry can exist side-by-side.
A law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 was changed in 1987 to create these reserves. The law also made it harder to remove land from a Regional Reserve. The government has to report to the Parliament of South Australia every 10 years. These reports check how using the land's resources affects nature. They also look at how the state's economy benefits from these uses.
List of Regional Reserves
All Regional Reserves are classified as IUCN Category VI protected areas. This means they are protected areas where people can use resources in a sustainable way.
| Regional Reserve Name | Location | Size | Started | What's Special About It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chowilla | 33°40′09″S 140°50′46″E / 33.6693°S 140.8461°E | 752.21 square kilometres (290 sq mi) | 8 April 1993 | This reserve is about 250 kilometers north-east of Adelaide. It protects the dry landscape north of the Murray River. People use it for farming, protecting nature, and tourism. |
| Innamincka | 27°27′49″S 140°31′48″E / 27.4637°S 140.5301°E | 13,493.33 square kilometres (5,210 sq mi) | 22 December 1988 | Located about 860 kilometers north-east of Adelaide, near the Queensland border. It protects the dry wetlands of the Cooper Creek system. Activities include protecting wildlife, oil production, tourism, and farming. |
| Lake Frome | 30°43′52″S 139°48′40″E / 30.7311°S 139.8110°E | 2,582.40 square kilometres (997 sq mi) | 19 December 1991 | This reserve is about 440 kilometers north-east of Adelaide. It's between the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park and the Strzelecki Desert. It protects a large dry salt lake system. Its main purpose is to protect nature and cultural sites. |
| Nullarbor | 30°53′34″S 131°19′44″E / 30.8927°S 131.3289°E | 19,198.51 square kilometres (7,413 sq mi) | 31 August 1989 | Found about 1000 kilometers west of Adelaide, near Western Australia. It protects the world's largest semi-dry karst landscape. This area has caves and is home to unique animals. It also protects many southern hairy-nosed wombats. People can explore for minerals and visit as tourists. |
| Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert | 27°31′54″S 137°56′05″E / 27.5318°S 137.9347°E | 29,239.53 square kilometres (11,289 sq mi) | 24 October 1985 | This reserve is about 820 kilometers north of Adelaide. It's next to the Witjira National Park and surrounds the Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Conservation Park. It protects sand dunes, lakes, and the plants and animals there. It's used for protecting nature and tourism. |
| Strzelecki | 28°44′29″S 139°40′34″E / 28.7415°S 139.6761°E | 8,104.22 square kilometres (3,129 sq mi) | 19 December 1991 | About 650 kilometers north-east of Adelaide, in the Strzelecki Desert. It protects the desert environment, including the Strzelecki Creek. This creek is an overflow from the Cooper Creek. It feeds into Lake Blanche, a shallow lake. It's used for protecting nature, tourism, and exploring for oil. |
| Yellabinna | 30°53′14″S 132°33′12″E / 30.8871°S 132.5533°E | 20,008.97 square kilometres (7,726 sq mi) | 25 January 1990 | Located about 750 kilometers north-west of Adelaide. It's part of a very large area of mallee trees and has high wilderness value. It shares this with other protected areas like the Pureba Conservation Park. It's used for protecting wildlife, exploring for minerals, and tourism. |
