Parks

National Reserve System

Getting involved in the NRS - Government agencies

The States and Territories have primary responsibility for land management in Australia's federal system. For more than 130 years, they have been building protected areas by declaring national parks in some of the country's most stunning landscapes, establishing some of the oldest and most respected national parks in the world.

With Australia's signing of the Convention on Biological Biodiversity  in 1992, they became foundation partners in building our National Reserve System, part of a groundbreaking collaboration between all levels of government. The Australian model of collaboratively developing the Natural Reserve System is a unique conservation partnership envied around the world.

Today, the States and Territories remain important purchasers and managers of protected areas, and are vital partners in developing a 'comprehensive, adequate and representative' National Reserve System.

Through Ministerial councils and working groups, they also provide advice on national strategies and action plans to develop the protected area network

Since 1997, with more than $55 million from the Australian Government, the States and Territories have added 220 protected areas, covering almost 5.8 million hectares.

Measure

Value

Australian Government funds

$55,763,379

State and territory funds

$60,556,833

Area (hectares)

5,741,950

Properties (no.)

220

National Reserve System Program - Expenditure between 1997 and 31 Januray 2008 - State and Territory government agencies

Funding government agencies

The Australian Government, through the NRS Program, provides up to one dollar for every dollar invested by a State or Territory agency to add new property to the National Reserve System.

Funds are only available for acquisition through land purchase. Ongoing management costs are the responsibility of the government agency.

Read about criteria and how to apply for funding.