An Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is a class of protected area used in Australia; each is formed by voluntary agreement with Indigenous Australians, and declared by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander representative organisations. Each is formally recognised by the Australian Government as being part of its National Reserve System.[1][2] The areas may comprise land and sea, and are managed by Indigenous groups for the conservation of biodiversity. Managing IPAs also helps to protect the cultural values of their country for future generations, and has benefits for Indigenous health, education, economic and social cohesion.[3]
As of 2020, there were 78 IPAs, covering around 46.53% of the National Reserve system.[4] In September 2021, a further seven IPAs were declared, which will lead to IPAs comprising more than half of Australia's National Reserve System.[5]
Indigenous rangers are employed to work in IPAs as well as in other remote areas of Australia, on land management and related projects.[6]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
DEWHAwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "National Reserve System". Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "Indigenous Protected Areas". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under an Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) licence.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
niaamainipawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "A Huge Win for Country – Seven New Indigenous Protected Areas". Country Needs People. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Indigenous Ranger Program". National Indigenous Australians Agency. Retrieved 1 February 2020. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
