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Publications
Environment Australia, 2001
Throughout Australia, there are many places we can go to enjoy our natural environment or to learn more about the environment in which we live: national parks and reserves, marine parks, botanic gardens, museums, zoos, wildlife parks and aquaria.
National Parks and Reserves are special places that have been preserved by law for Australians to enjoy for posterity. Australia's Royal National Park in Sydney is the world's second oldest national park (after Yellowstone in the USA) having been established in 1879.
State Governments are responsible for National Parks in their own States, while the Commonwealth administers parks and reserves which come under its direct responsibility, such as the External Territories and in Australian waters beyond the State limit of three nautical miles. Three of the six Commonwealth national parks, namely Kakadu and Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Parks in the Northern Territory and Booderee National Park in the Jervis Bay Territory are managed jointly with their Aboriginal owners.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is managed by a separate Commonwealth agency, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Australia's native vegetation is one of the richest and most fundamental elements of our natural heritage. Native vegetation binds and nourishes our ancient soils; shelters and sustains wild life; protects streams, wetland, estuaries, coastlines; absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen.
Some botanic gardens, such as the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra specialise in growing, researching and promoting Australia's native flora.
While not all specialising in native species, botanic gardens can be found in many towns and cities throughout Australia.
Most capital cities in Australia and many smaller regional centres are home to museums and libraries that can tell us much about the changes in the Australian environment over time. To find out more about museums you may like to visit, the Commonwealth Government culture and recreation portal
A day at the zoo can be both fun and educational. For many zoos, their role is as much about conservation and education as it is about entertainment, and they can be important repositories of species diversity. Today, many animals tend to be kept in environments similar to their natural habitat rather than in concrete or metal cages.
Australia has an abundance of public and private zoos. While some include exotic species such as big cats, bears and elephants, others specialise in native animals and birds. Some focus on breeding programs for endangered animals. A comprehensive listing of zoos in Australia is available on the Commonwealth Government culture and recreation portal at http://www.acn.gov.au/articles/1998/09/zoo_month.htm.
Another useful link is the Australasian Region Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria website.
Most States of Australia are home to an aquarium that provides ready access to the community to learn and observe the underwater world - without even having to get wet!
Places like Reef HQ in Townsville, the reef education centre for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, enable visitors to see life on the reef first-hand, educating us about how to protect this precious natural resource. Reef HQ is the largest living coral reef aquarium in the world.