Parks and Reserves
News
The Australian Government, through the Director of National Parks, manages Commonwealth parks and reserves including areas located on external island territories and within Australian waters beyond the State limit of three nautical miles. Each Australian State and Territory Government also has their own protected area management agencies.
Currently, 21 Commonwealth reserves are declared under the EPBC Act, comprising:
Three of the six Commonwealth National Parks, namely Kakadu National Park and Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory and Booderee National Park in the Jervis Bay Territory are managed jointly with their Aboriginal Traditional Owners. The other three national parks protect unique island ecosystems within Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island (located in the Indian Ocean) and the Norfolk Island Territory (in the South Pacific).
The Australian National Botanic Garden in Canberra is the premier national organisation devoted to growing, studying and promoting Australian native plants. A smaller botanic garden is located on Norfolk Island and and area within Booderee National Park also functions as a botanic garden.
Around 300 staff are engaged in reserve management at sites in Canberra, the Northern Territory, Jervis Bay and the external territories. Approximately 1.5 million people visit these areas each year.
The majority of Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas declared under the EPBC Act are managed by the Marine Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage under delegation from the Director of National Parks. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division under delegation from the Director.
These parks and reserves, which are located generally in remote areas, protect tropical islands as well as cays and temperate and sub-Antarctic marine environments.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority under separate legislation.