In NSW alone, there are almost 900 Locally Protected Areas (LPA’s)and National Parks. These areas include areas like nature reserves, Aboriginal protected areas, marine reserves and wild river reserves. They are extremely important in helping managing and preserving the environment, mitigating the effect of human interaction on our natural areas. Some of the management practices are:
Conservation of Biodiversity– Protected areas and national parks safeguard diverse ecosystems, from rainforests and wetlands to deserts and coastal regions. These habitats support native wildlife, including endangered species. An example of this is the establishment of Marine Reserves along the coastline of NSW. Jervis Bay Marine Reserve is one of them. Covering an area of 215 square km, the region supports over 230 algae, hundreds of invertebrate and over 210 reef fish species, and sharks, rays, many marine mammals, birds and reptiles, including several threatened species. Aboriginal people have had strong ties to the Jervis Bay area over thousands of years and many culturally significant Aboriginal sites exist within the Marine Park.
Cultural and Indigenous Heritage Protection– Many of our protected areas are home to sacred Indigenous sites. National parks play a role in preserving these cultural landscapes and providing Indigenous communities a space for traditional land management practices. There are also many examples of our more recent history such as timber cutting or mining activities that are being preserved. A specific example is the Mountain Maid Gold Mine in the Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, near Gloucester. The NSW National Parks service run tours to highlight the historic value of this mine and the hardships that the original miners faced in the area.
Education and Restoration– National parks promote environmental awareness and sustainable tourism, which helps fund conservation efforts. By providing visitors with the opportunity to experience nature, these areas encourage public support for conservation. Most parks have interpretive signs providing information or more in depth visitor centres to educate visitors. National Parks also run Education Centres catering for school groups. An example is the Riverina Environmental Education Centre, which provides education programs for thousands of school groups each year.
Research and Restoration– Protected areas are essential for scientific research and restoration projects that seek to reintroduce species, restore ecosystems, and develop sustainable land management practices. In the Barrington Tops area of NSW, a great example of this is Aussie Ark, an area that has been established to breed and reintroduce the Tasmanian Devil to the mainland of Australia. These animals were decimated by invasive species such as feral cats and dogs. By creating an environment where feral species have been removed and actively breeding devils as well as other endangered species, the aim is to encourage these animals back into our natural environments.