The initiative is geared towards preserving the environment and generating employment opportunities.
Under the Labor government, twelve new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) will be established with a funding of $14.6 million (US$9.8 million). Indigenous Australians will be responsible for managing these IPAs to maintain nature conservation efforts and provide jobs.
Spanning from the Western Australian deserts to the NSW rainforests, the combined projects will safeguard 7.5 million hectares of land and 450,000 hectares of sea country, exceeding the size of Tasmania. This complements the existing IPAs covering 87 million hectares of land and over five million hectares of sea country, making up a significant portion of Australia’s national estate.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, emphasized that the program not only offers job opportunities to Indigenous Australians but also empowers them to oversee the management of their land. She highlighted that IPAs will integrate traditional knowledge and expertise to ensure that decisions regarding land protection and conservation are made with the input of First Nations people.
The government’s commitment to safeguarding 30 percent of land by 2030 includes protecting biodiversity for various species such as koalas, bilbies, princess parrots, and the eastern curlew. The establishment of new IPAs managed by the Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation and the Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation in NSW will aid in the conservation of threatened species like the swift parrot and the regent honeyeater, as well as preserve cultural heritage.
Over 700 First Nations individuals, including 326 women, are currently employed through the IPA program, which has received $231.5 million in government support.
The newly designated IPAs, including Mount Willoughby in South Australia and various locations in Queensland, NSW, and Western Australia, aim to enhance the protection of endangered species and cultural heritage.
The move to establish these IPAs follows a recent decision by the Queensland government to allocate a 210-hectare parcel of land to an Indigenous corporation, sparking discussions about land use and implications for other regions.
Overall, the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to environmental conservation, job creation, and cultural preservation through the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas. Please rewrite this sentence.
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