Southern Tanami Indigenous Protected Area Explained

The Southern Tanami Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is Walpiri-managed region of the Tanami Desert in Central Australia. At 101,600 km², it is Australia's largest IPA.^[1]

IPAs are areas of land and sea Country managed by First Nations groups for biodiversity conservation and cultural outcomes through voluntary agreements with the Australian Government. These areas form part of Australia's National Reserve System.^[2]

Dedicated in July 2012, the area has significant cultural and natural value.^[3] It is managed by the Warlpiri Rangers, of the Central Land Council's ranger groups combining Yapa (Aboriginal) and Kardiya (non-Aboriginal) knowledges.^[4]

The Southern Tanami IPA includes the Reynolds and Truer ranges, as well as sand dunes and salt pans. It has large areas of spinifex hummock grassland with a flowering shrub overstorey.^[5] This provides habitat to threatened species such as the walpajirri (bilby), warrarna (great desert skink) and jajina (brush-tailed mulgara).^{[6] [7] [8]}

References

1. Web site: Southern Tanami IPA and Warlpiri Rangers NIAA . 2024-09-19 . www.niaa.gov.au.
2. Web site: Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) NIAA . 2024-09-16 . www.niaa.gov.au.
3. News: Brain . Caddie . 2012-07-11 . Australia's biggest protected area declared . 2024-09-16 . ABC News . en-AU.
4. Web site: Warlpiri Rangers . 2024-09-16 . Central Land Council . en-AU.
5. Web site: Tanami bioregion . Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . Australian Government.
6. Reading the Country - Jajina (Brush-tailed Mulgara) . en-gb . 2024-09-19 . ictv.com.au.
7. Web site: 16 August 2024 . Ancient knowledge restoring a rare reptile . Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . Australian Government.
8. Web site: Southern Tanami IPA digital storybook . 2024-09-19 . walyaku.org.au.

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