Western Australia, abbreviated as WA, is a State occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state with a total land area of 2,529,875 square km (976,790 sq miles). The state has approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. The capital city is Perth.
Western Australia’s conservation lands and waters (including national parks, marine parks, nature reserves and State forests) extend over more than 28 million hectares (an area roughly equal to Victoria and Tasmania combined) and encompass stunning coastlines, expansive coral reefs, sweeping ranges, magnificent gorges and stately forests.
Western Australia’s conservation lands and waters (including national parks, marine parks, nature reserves and State forests) extend over more than 28 million hectares (an area roughly equal to Victoria and Tasmania combined) and encompass stunning coastlines, expansive coral reefs, sweeping ranges, magnificent gorges and stately forests.
Western Australia fauna emblem
Numbat
Western Australia flora emblem
Kangaroo Paw
State flag of Western Australia.
Western Australia Coat of Arms.
Department of Parks and Wildlife
The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) protects and conserves Western Australia’s natural environment on behalf of the people of Western Australia. The department was established on 1 July 2013, when the former Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was split into the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Environment Regulation.
The Department provides support to the Conservation and Parks Commission (formerly the Conservation Commission and the Marine Parks Reserve Authority) to carry out its functions.
The DPaW logo design is a stylised representation of a bottlebrush, or Callistemon, a group of native plants including some found only in Western Australia. The orange colour also references the Western Australian Christmas tree, or Nuytsia.
The Department provides support to the Conservation and Parks Commission (formerly the Conservation Commission and the Marine Parks Reserve Authority) to carry out its functions.
The DPaW logo design is a stylised representation of a bottlebrush, or Callistemon, a group of native plants including some found only in Western Australia. The orange colour also references the Western Australian Christmas tree, or Nuytsia.
Types of parks in Western Australia.
Not all parks in Western Australia come under the IUCN category system.
Parks in Western Australia include the following.....
Parks in Western Australia include the following.....
- National Parks (IUCN Cat II and III)
- "National Parks are areas that have national significance for scenic, cultural or biological values, and can accomodate recreation that is consistent with maintaining these values."
- Conservation Parks (IUCN Cat II and III)
- "Conservation Parks have mostly regional or local, rather than national significance."
- Nature Reserves (IUCN Cat 1A)
- "Nature reserves have high conservation value because they represent natural exosystems and because they contain or provide habitat for particular species of plants or animals."
- Biodiversity Hotspots
- Indigenous Protected Areas
- Miscellaneous Reserves
- Marine Parks
- "Marine Parks are created to protect natural features and aesthetic values while allowing recreational and commercial uses that do not compromise conservation values."
- Marine Management Areas
- "Marine management areas provide an integrated management structure over areas that have high conservation value and intensive multiple-use."
- Marine Nature Reserves
- "Marine nature reserves are ‘look but don't take' areas created primarily for conservation and scientific research and are designed to protect a particular significant ecosystem or habitat."
- Regional Parks (not IUCN categorised)
- "Regional Parks are open spaces identified as having regionally significant value for conservation, landscape and recreation".
- State Forests
- "State forest containing indigeneous vegetation is managed for purposes that include recreation and nature conservation, the protection of water catchments, and the production of a sustainable harvest of timber."
- Timber Reserves
CAPAD data (as of 2016)
Every two years, the Australian Government collects information on protected areas from state and territory Governments and other protected area managers. This information is published in the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD).
More information can be found at.....
https://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/science/capad
More information can be found at.....
https://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/science/capad
Qualifying parks in Western Australia
Currently there are 250 qualifying references in Western Australia.
All of Western Australia's 100 National Parks qualify for the WWFF program. Also included are 14 x Marine Parks, 34 x Conservation Parks, 2 x Reserves, and 100 x Nature Reserves.
All of Western Australia's 100 National Parks qualify for the WWFF program. Also included are 14 x Marine Parks, 34 x Conservation Parks, 2 x Reserves, and 100 x Nature Reserves.
Extra information.
- Beedelup National Park VKFF-0021 - this park has been deleted. The park is now known as the Greater Beedelup National Park VKFF-1224
- Beelu National Park VKFF-0632 - this was formerly called Mundaring National Park, which was established in 1995. The name of the park changed to Beelu NP in 2008 as acknowledgement to the traditional owners. The word Beelu is derived from the Noongar word for river or stream.
- Greater Beedelup National Park VKFF-1224 - Formerly Beedelup National Park, it was created from the incorporation of former areas of state forest .
- Greater Hawke National Park VKFF-0641- was formerly known as Cleave
- Karlamilyi National Park VKFF-0436 - formerly known as Rudall River National Park. Name changed in mid 2008 to acknowledge the traditional owners.
- Korung National Park VKFF-0716 - formerly known as Pickering Brook National Park.
- Mirima National Park, VKFF-0234 - the correct name of this park is Mirima National Park. However it is also commonly referred to as the "Hidden Valley".
- Murujuga National Park VKFF-1226 - this park which was created in January 2013 is freehold land leased back to the State for 99 years and managed as a National Park under the CALM Act.
- Nambung National Park, VKFF-0378 - also referred to as the Pinnacles.
- Purnulu National Park, VKFF-0424 - also referred to as Bungle Bungles.
- Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges Conservation Park VKFF-1426 - formerly known as the King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park.
VKFF history in Western Australia
30th March 2020:
84 x new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.
They being VKFF-2943 to VKFF-3026.
84 x new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.
They being VKFF-2943 to VKFF-3026.
24th July 2019:
Three parks were added to the WWFF Directory.
Three parks were added to the WWFF Directory.
- Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940
- Mangili Claypan Nature Reserve VKFF-2941
- Gibson Desert Nature Reserve VKFF-2942
29th January 2019:
71 x new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.
They being VKFF-2787 - VKFF-2857.
71 x new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.
They being VKFF-2787 - VKFF-2857.
17th July 2017:
The following parks were added to the WWFF Directory:
The following parks were added to the WWFF Directory:
- Dongara Nature Reserve VKFF-1859
- Twyata Nature Reserve VKFF-1860
- Pinjarrega Nature Reserve VKFF-1861
- Capamauro Nature Reserve VKFF-1862
- Moore River Nature Reserve VKFF-1863
- Port Kennedy Nature Reserve VKFF-1864
- Kwolyinine Nature Reserve VKFF-1865
- Boyagin Nature Reserve VKFF-1866
- Kooljerrenup Nature Reserve VKFF-1867
- Buller Nature Reserve VKFF-1868
- Benger Swamp Nature Reserve VKFF-1869
- Capel Nature Reserve VKFF-1870
- Quarram Mature Reserve VKFF-1871
- Bakers Junction Nature Reserve VKFF-1872
- Camel Lake Nature Reserve VKFF-1873
- Tone-Perup Nature Reserve VKFF-1874
16th July 2017:
The following parks were added to the WWFF Directory:-
The following parks were added to the WWFF Directory:-
- Stockyard Gully National Park VKFF-1843
- Alfred Cove Nature Reserve VKFF-1844
- Beekeepers Nature Reserve VKFF-1845
- Brookton Highway Nature Reserve VKFF-1846
- Chittering Lakes Nature Reserve VKFF-1847
- Clackline Nature Reserve VKFF=1848
- Coomallo Nature Reserve VKFF-1849
- Damboring Nature Reserve VKFF-1850
- Ellen Brook Nature Reserve VKFF-1851
- Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve VKFF-1852
- Moondyne Nature Reserve VKFF-1853
- Nilgen Nature Reserve VKFF-1854
- South Eneabba Nature Reserve VKFF-1855
- Thomsons Lake Nature Reserve VKFF-1856
- Wanagarren Nature Reserve VKFF-1857
31st October 2016:
The following park was added to the WWFF Directory:
The following park was added to the WWFF Directory:
- North Kimberley Marine Park VKFF-1765
13th July 2016:
Two (2) further Conservation Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
Two (2) further Conservation Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
- Lane Poole Reserve Conservation Park, VKFF-1458
- Monadnocks Conservation Park, VKFF-1459
12th July 2016:
Thirteen (13) Marine Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
Thirteen (13) Marine Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
- Barrow Island Marine Park, VKFF-1444
- Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park, VKFF-1445
- Jurien Bay Marine Park, VKFF-1446
- Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park, VKFF-1447
- Marmion Marine Park, VKFF-1448
- Montebello Islands Marine Park, VKFF-1449
- Ngari Capes Marine Park, VKFF-1450
- Ningaloo Marine Park, VKFF-1451
- Rowley Shoals Marine Park, VKFF-1452
- Shark Bay Marine Park, VKFF-1453
- Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, VKFF-1454
- Swan Estuary Marine Park, VKFF-1455
- Walpole-Normalup Inlets Marine Park, VKFF-1456
12th July 2016:
A total of 32 Conservation Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
A total of 32 Conservation Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
- Blackbutt Conservation Park, VKFF-1412
- Boyagarring Conservation Park, VKFF-1413
- Brooking Gorge Conservation Park, VKFF-1414
- Burra Conservation Park, VKFF-1415
- Camp Creek Conservation Park, VKFF-1416
- Cane River Conservation Park, VKFF-1417
- Coalseam Conservation Park, VKFF-1418
- Dardanup Conservation Park, VKFF-1419
- Devonian Reef Conservation Park, VKFF-1420
- Geikie Gorge Conservation Park, VKFF-1421
- Goldfields Woodlands Conservation Park, VKFF-1422
- Gooralong Conservation Park, VKFF-1423
- Hester Conservation Park, VKFF-1424
- Kerr Conservation Park, VKFF-1425
- King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park, VKFF-1426
- Korijekup Conservation Park, VKFF-1427
- Laterite Conservation Park, VKFF-1428
- Len Howard Conservation Park, VKFF-1429
- Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park, VKFF-1430
- Leschenaultia Conservation Park, VKFF-1431
- Lupton Conservation Park, VKFF-1432
- Montebello Conservation Park, VKFF-1433
- Mount Manning-Helena and Aurora Ranges Conservation Park, VKFF-1434
- Muja Conservation Park, VKFF-1435
- Penguin Island Conservation Park, VKFF-1436
- Rapids Conservation Park, VKFF-1437
- Rowles Lagoon Conservation Park, VKFF-1438
- Shell Beach Conservation Park, VKFF-1439
- Totadgin Conservation Park, VKFF-1440
- Wallaroo Rock Conservation Park, VKFF-1441
- Westralia Conservation Park, VKFF-1442
- Yarra Yarra Lake Conservation Park, VKFF-1443
5th July 2016:
Five Western Australia National Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
These parks had not previously been included as they had all been created after 2008 (the year in which the Directory was initially formulated).
Five Western Australia National Parks were added to the WWFF Directory. They being:
- Dirk Hartog National Park VKFF-1223
- Greater Beedelup National Park VKFF-1224
- Mitchell River National Park VKFF-1225
- Muruja National Park VKFF-1226
- Prince Regent National Park VKFF-1227
These parks had not previously been included as they had all been created after 2008 (the year in which the Directory was initially formulated).
Dept of Parks & Wildlife Annual Report 2014-2015
| parksandwildlife_annualreport2014-15_full.pdf |
'Lands and waters managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation'.
| 87092.pdf |
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984
| conservation_and_land_management_act_1984_-_[08-i0-02].pdf |
Forest management plan 2014-2023
| forest_mgt_plan_web.pdf |
Conservation Reserves fact sheet
| conservation_reserves_fact_sheet.pdf |
State Forests and Timber Reserves fact sheet
| state_forests_and_timber_reserves_fact_sheet.pdf |
KML file showing the location of the VK6 parks
| vk6_vkff_as_of_01032016.kml |
KMZ file showing the boundaries
| vkff-vk6.kmz |
Mapping
At Landgate you can view interactive maps.
Park Finder WA app
WA's marine parks
current as of 5th July 2016. Image courtesy of www.dpaw.wa.gov.au
Some videos on Western Australian parks.
References.
1. Parks and Wildlife, www.dpaw.wa.gov.au
2. Wikipedia