Funding has been awarded for 16 consultation projects that will help create new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) across Australia.
First Nations organisations will receive a total of $11.31 million through the Australian Bushland Program.
The 16 projects are in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
Each project will begin with a consultation phase to determine the future management and protection of the proposed IPA.
The projects will also deliver activities that help protect important habitat for priority species, including:
- night parrot
- greater bilby
- koala
- northern quoll
- yellow-bellied glider
- red goshawk
- great desert skink.
The Australian Bushland Program is helping to grow the IPA Program to support First Nations-led land protection.
If dedicated, the proposed IPAs could add up to 18.207 million hectares to the National Reserve System.
IPAs are areas of land and sea managed by Traditional Owners. They play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity while maintaining and strengthening cultural connections to Country.
The Australian Bushland Program and IPAs are contributing to Australia’s commitment to protect 30% of the nation’s land by 2030.
Read the full list of projects on the Indigenous Protected Areas program grants page.
