New national parks listed in Shark Bay to be jointly managed by State Government and traditional owners

More than 180,000 hectares of new national parks in the Gascoyne have been established and will be jointly managed with traditional owners and the State Government. As part of the State Government’s Plan for Our Parks initiative, Edel Land National Park, a portion of Nanga National Park, and Yaringa and Pimbee Nature Reserves have been established in the Shark Bay area. Jointly managed by Malgana Aboriginal Corporation and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), the new protected sites will enable the creation of new Aboriginal ranger positions to support and protect country. Ancient stromatolites dating back over three billion years will be protected, as well as endangered species like the burrowing bettong, Rufous hare wallaby, banded hare wallaby, Shark Bay mouse and the western barred bandicoot. The parks will also increase protection for Aboriginal heritage sites and culture. Partnership for the Outback spokesperson and Pew Charitable Trusts Australia acting director Tim Nicol said it was wonderful to see more protection for the unique natural and cultural values of the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay area. “Shark Bay is a unique place that so many Western Australian’s care for, and now more of the unique natural environment and Malgana cultural values and sites will be protected for future generations,” he said. “Plan for Our Parks has been a successful initiative by the WA Government that has seen more protection for special places across Western Australia, while also creating jobs and supporting regional communities.” Mr Nicol congratulated Malgana Aboriginal Corporation, traditional owners and the State Government on the new partnership and hoped it would see positive outcomes for people and the area. “Shark Bay attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the world each year,” he said. “These parks will provide more opportunities for nature-based tourism and cultural tourism in the area, boosting the local economy and raising awareness for the natural environment.”