In a key environmental milestone, 25 per cent of Australia's land mass is now protected following the dedication of the Simpson Desert Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in the Northern Territory.
IPAs, established through agreements between First Nations groups and the Commonwealth, enable Traditional Owners to manage land and sea for biodiversity conservation while maintaining cultural responsibilities to Country.
The Pmere Atherre Antenterreme Indigenous Protected Area, meaning "working together to look after two areas of country," covers 47,311 square kilometres in the Simpson Desert. Together with neighbouring Aboriginal land trusts, the area spans roughly two-thirds the size of Tasmania.
Traditional Owners gathered at Uluperte homeland, about four hours south-east of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, on Tuesday to celebrate the declaration.
Traditional owner Marlene Doolan said protecting Country was inseparable from preserving culture, noting there are "many stories and many songs" to pass on to future generations.
"Our country is sacred to us, and we want to keep it strong," she said.
The new IPA adds more than 4.7 million hectares to Australia's National Reserve System, bringing the total protected area to more than 196 million hectares — an area larger than Queensland.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said IPAs continued to play a central role in Australia's conservation efforts, with the government "committed to protecting and conserving 30 per cent of Australia's land" by the end of the decade.
"Up from 22 per cent when we were first elected, a quarter of Australia's total land is now protected," Senator Watt said. "This is crucial to supporting threatened species and the habitats they call home, and ensuring generations to come can enjoy Australia's unique native wildlife and landscape."
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Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the declaration recognised the "ecological and spiritual significance of this beautiful Country in Central Australia and will support environmental and economic outcomes for future generations".
"I congratulate everyone involved on the dedication of the IPA, including Traditional Owners, the Central Land Council (CLC), Indigenous Rangers and community," she said.
The area will be managed by the CLC in partnership with Traditional Owners. CLC chief executive Les Turner said Pmere Atherre Antenterreme would support the conservation of around 900 animal and plant species.
"Three of our ranger groups will work with the traditional owners to look after the 21 threatened animal species found on the IPA," Mr Turner said.
Threatened species found within the protected area include the crest-tailed mulgara, night parrot, bilby, dusky hopping mouse, plains mouse, princess parrot, grey falcon and Eyrean grasswren.
Three threatened plant species — birds nest wattle, sea heath and Acacia peuce — are also found across the landscape, the CLC said.
Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said the new IPA would strengthen conservation efforts across the Northern Territory.
"Adding more than 4.7 million hectares of land to the National Reserve System, this latest determination will support Traditional Owner led conservation efforts, who have managed their country since time immemorial," she said.
"The Simpson Desert IPA highlights the benefits that can come from complementing traditional practices and knowledge with modern land conservation techniques."
Traditional Owners have developed a management plan to guide conservation efforts, including controlling weeds and feral animals, managing fire, responding to the impacts of tourism, and protecting culturally significant sites.
Traditional owner Damien Ryder said the plan would provide a clearer path for future land management, likening it to a road map.
"There's already a rough road," he said. "The plan is like a grader coming along and smoothing it out so we can get to where we want to go."
