The declaration of the new Simpson Desert Indigenous Protected Area has added more than 4.7m hectares to the National Reserve System.

The addition of the new Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) means that 196 million hectares — an area larger than Queensland — of Australia’s landmass is now protected.

The federal government has a target to ensure that 30% of Australia’s land is protected by 2030, under the so-called 30 by 30 plan.

“We’re continuing to work towards hitting the 30 per cent target, with our commitment to create and expand even more Indigenous Protected Areas through the $250 million Australian Bushland program,” said the federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt.

Situated in the Located in the south-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, the Simpson Desert IPA is home to ecosystems such as sand dunes, stone plains and wetlands, which form important habitats for species such as the greater bilby, central rock-rat, night parrot and princess parrot.

Those animals are priority species identified in the Threatened Species Action Plan.

Simpson Desert IPA, sacred sites and special species

The new Simpson Desert IPA will be managed by the Central Land Council (CLC) in partnership with Traditional Owners.

In the local indigenous language, the IPA is known as the Pmere Atherre Antenterreme [Ap-ME-ra A-THA-rra A-NDAN-de-rre-ma] Indigenous Protected Area.

“The name of the new IPA means ‘working together to look after two areas of country’ and refers to two language and cultural groups,” said CLC chief executive, Les Turner.

Aboriginal landowners gathered at the Uluperte homeland, around four hours’ drive from Alice Springs, to celebrate and formalise the agreement between the CLC and the federal government.

The deal funds them to protect their sacred sites and 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.

As well as the species listed above, the area is also home to the crest-tailed mulgara, night parrot, dusky hopping mouse, plains mouse, princess parrot, grey falcon and eyrean grasswren.

The area is also home to three threatened plants: birds nest wattle, sea heath and acacia peuce.

Managing and protecting the land

According to the CLC, IPAs are established under agreements between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups and the Australian Government to manage and protect areas of land and sea for biodiversity conservation. They make up more than half of the National Reserve System.

Local traditional owners have welcomed the new IPA and expressed the hope that it will enable traditional knowledge to be passed on to new generations.

The extra resources that come with the plan “will allow families to visit this remote part of the Territory more often, so they can pass on their knowledge, songlines, laws, customs and ceremonies to their young people and strengthen their links to country,” according to the CLC.

“Best thing is to take them out when they are school age to learn them young,” traditional owner Paul Williams said.

A management plan has been developed to help protect the fragile desert environment and traditional owners’ sites against weeds, feral animals, fires and the effects of tourism.

“Our country is sacred to us, and we want to keep it strong,” said traditional owner Marlene Doolan.