The dedication of the Umpila Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) was celebrated last week in Lockhart River, marking a significant conservation milestone for Umpila Traditional Owners and the north-eastern Cape York region.
The newly dedicated IPA covers 42,803 hectares, stretching from the rainforest slopes of the McIlwraith and Macrossan ranges to the estuaries, wetlands and coastal ecosystems of the Coral Sea.
It lies within one of Australia's most biodiverse landscapes, supporting intact rainforest, heathlands, wetlands, seagrass beds, mangroves and coral reef systems, and is home to numerous animals, including the Palm Cockatoo, Southern Cassowary, McIlwraith leaf-tailed gecko, Green Python, Dugong and several marine turtle species.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the dedication highlighted the leadership of Traditional Owners in protecting Country while creating opportunities for their communities.
She argued the IPA would help create opportunities that deliver social, cultural and economic benefits, and noted IPAs, alongside the expanded Indigenous Rangers Program, would continue to strengthen economic opportunities for First Nations communities.
"Cape York is a beautiful, diverse and unique part of Australia, and this IPA dedication will ensure First Nations people remain at the forefront of land and sea management, conservation and caring for Country," Senator McCarthy said.
"I congratulate the Umpila Traditional Owners and community on this dedication."
The dedication also strengthens conservation connectivity across Cape York by linking the Umpila IPA with Kulla (McIlwraith Range) and Oyala Thumptang national parks, creating a large protected estate across central Cape York.
Traditional Owners have also outlined plans to expand the protected area in the future to safeguard more than 489,000 hectares of interconnected land and sea Country.
Management of the IPA will include biodiversity monitoring, cultural site protection, right-way fire management, feral animal and weed control, and visitor management.
Minister for the Environment Murray Watt congratulated the Umpila Traditional Owners and said the dedication would protect an environmentally and culturally significant part of Australia for future generations.
"This is an extraordinary part of Australia, rich in biodiversity and cultural significance, and today's dedication ensures it will be protected for generations to come," Senator Watt said.
"The Umpila IPA strengthens cultural authority and custodianship, supports the revitalisation of language and cultural practice, and creates employment and training opportunities for Umpila people."
Local MP Matt Smith said the protected area would play an important role in conserving the region's unique flora and fauna.
"The Umpila IPA covers 489,000 hectares of Australia's outstanding beauty, biodiversity, and cultural significance," he said. "I congratulate the Umpila Traditional Owners on their custodianship of this land and sea country, helping to protect our native species like cassowaries, dugongs, palm cockatoos and many more.
