{
  "id": 6192036,
  "title": "How Indigenous Protected Areas became a vital way to protect nature in Australia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/how-indigenous-protected-areas-became-a-vital-way-to-protect-nature",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-07T23:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-indigenous-areas-vital-nature-australia.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When many people think of conservation in Australia, they envision national parks. However, there is a growing alternative: Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs). These protected areas are voluntarily dedicated by Traditional Owners to safeguard nature as well as cultural values and responsibilities. Once designated, an IPA becomes part of Australia's National Reserve System, a network of protected land and waters.\n\nTo maintain their protected status, Indigenous rangers employ a range of strategies, including combating invasive species, conducting cultural burning, and engaging in various other activities. In 2022, the Australian government pledged to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030, contributing to the rapid expansion of IPAs in recent years.\n\nA significant recent addition is the Pmere Atherre Antenterreme IPA, which encompasses 4.7 million hectares (11.6 million acres) in the Simpson Desert. Maintaining the success of IPAs necessitates long-term funding, robust Indigenous governance, and complementary conservation initiatives elsewhere. While national parks are established and controlled by governments, IPAs are managed by Indigenous communities. After deciding to form an IPA, Traditional Owners create a management plan and decide how the land or sea will be managed, incorporating Indigenous knowledge and modern conservation science.\n\nDeclaring an IPA does not alter existing land tenure arrangements. An IPA can cover a variety of land types, such as freehold Indigenous land, land granted under land-rights legislation, Indigenous-held leasehold or pastoral land, Crown land, and marine areas. Australia now has 96 IPAs covering 113 million hectares (279 million acres)—nearly 15% of the entire continent. Marine IPAs cover a smaller share of Australian waters—9.3 million hectares (23 million acres), or approximately 1.1% of the marine estate.\n\nThe growth of IPAs has surpassed the growth of other types of protected land. They now constitute more than 55% of the lands protected in Australia's National Reserve System. Across all types of protection—both government and non-government—25% of Australia's land is now protected, and 24% of the seas are highly protected, no-take areas where fishing is banned.\n\nCentral to Indigenous Protected Areas are Indigenous rangers, who blend cultural practices and traditional knowledge with contemporary conservation methods. The number of rangers has increased since 2007, when federal funding became available specifically for this purpose. Known as the Indigenous Rangers Program, these teams perform tasks such as preventing large wildfires or maintaining cultural practices, caring for cultural sites and culturally significant species, and protecting threatened species by managing threats, monitoring populations, and conducting surveys and research.\n\nRangers collaborate with researchers to integrate Indigenous knowledge and modern technology, such as drones, satellite imagery, and environmental DNA, to better understand changes in the landscape and guide its care. These programs generate local employment, bolster community governance, and offer opportunities for Elders to share language, cultural knowledge, and practical skills with younger generations.\n\nMany Indigenous Protected Areas welcome visitors, providing cultural and nature-based tourism, walking trails, camping, fishing, and guided experiences. Access rules vary, reflecting Indigenous ownership and management. Like other protected areas, IPAs are publicly funded through government programs and, in some cases, additional support from state governments. However, these funds typically represent only a small fraction of the expenses associated with managing Country in this manner.\n\nThe Australian government provides funding for declaring and managing new IPAs through protected area and Indigenous ranger programs. Some state governments offer extra assistance to ranger teams. Nonetheless, these funds usually cover only a small portion of the overall costs of managing the land. Indigenous organizations often seek to supplement funding through income from carbon projects, philanthropic grants, research collaborations, and environmental management contracts. This financial instability creates a significant administrative burden. As this conservation approach matures, the increasing reliance on IPAs as a key conservation strategy should be matched by greater funding and support for capacity building. Additionally, enhanced monitoring and reporting are essential to track environmental, cultural, and social benefits, and to identify areas requiring additional support. Improved data will also enable policymakers to gauge Australia's progress toward its commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.",
  "summary": "When you think of conservation in Australia, chances are you'll think of a national park.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Conversation AU",
        "title": "How Indigenous Protected Areas became a vital way to protect nature in Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/how-indigenous-protected-areas-became-a-vital-way-to-protect-nature",
        "published": "2026-09-06T20:09:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}