It is in Australia's desert areas that surprisingly, mammal extinctions have been greatest. Australia's Outback is often taken for granted - for many people, it's out of sight, out of mind. However, much of Australia’s remaining wilderness – lands least impacted by modern, technological society – is to be found in the Outback. The Wilderness Society is campaigning to protect wild areas in Outback Australia from environmentally -unsustainable practices associated with broad scale land clearing, mining, pastoralism and intensive irrigated agriculture.
- Introducing the Great Western Woodlands
- Coongie Lakes
- Hotspot for the chop - WA State Government approves logging in biodiversity hotspot
East of the Rabbit Proof Fence and south of Kalgoorlie, in the heart of southern Western Australia, is the largest intact temperate woodland remaining on earth. Equivalent to Africa’s Serengeti or South America’s Amazon, the Great Western Woodlands is an internationally significant area of great biological richness.
Coongie Lakes is one of South Australia's most important natural areas. As a major wetland system in an arid area, the lakes are recognised as being internationally important and are home to tens of thousands of water birds. Despite this, the Coongie Lakes system faces a number of threats and are inadequately protected.
more »
More species of gum trees and Australian wattles occur in the Great Western Woodlands than any other place in Australia. It is a botanical wonderland of extraordinary biological diversity, and is attracting unprecedented international scientific attention. Unfortunately, it is also attracting loggers, who have other plans for its Eucalypts.
more »Outback Australia Updates
- New agreement supports Indigenous and conservation goals for the Great Western Woodlands - March 09, 2010
- Leading Scientists call for urgent protection of the Great Western Woodlands - January 26, 2010
- SA Government announces proposal for the Nuyts Archipelago and the Investigator Group of Islands to become Wilderness Protection Areas. - December 20, 2009
The Wilderness Society and the Goldfields Land and Sea Council have signed an important agreement to work together for the protection of WA’s extraordinary Great Western Woodlands.The partners will develop a co-operative approach along with other land users to safeguard the ecology and cultural values of the region, and to ensure land justice and economic opportunities for the region’s Traditional Owners.
Growing concern about uncontrolled wildfires and poor management of the globally significant Great Western Woodlands in the south west of WA has prompted more than 50 leading Australian and international environmental scientists to issue a public alert to the West Australian Premier Colin Barnett calling for urgent action to ensure long term sustainable use and conservation outcomes.
The South Australian Goverment has announced a proposal for the Nuyts Archipelago and Investigator Group of Islands on the State's Far West Coast to become Wilderness Protection Aareas. The Government is seeking public comment on the proposal and submissions are due on 5 February 2010.
Outback Australia Events
- Artists retreat in the Great Western Woodlands
If you are an aspiring artist who loves nature & lives in the Great Western Woodlands we would like to invite you to join us for an artists retreat. This weekend will be a chance to participate in art workshops and listen to talks on art and nature all in the beautiful & inspiring surrounds of the largest temperate woodland remaining on Earth.
Outback Australia Media Releases
- New agreement supports Indigenous and conservation goals for the Great Western Woodlands - March 09, 2010
- Leading scientists issue the Woodlands Declaration to WA Premier calling for urgent protection of Great Western Woodlands - January 26, 2010
- Historic Announcement - Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area - January 22, 2010
The Wilderness Society (TWS) and the Goldfields Land and Sea Council (GLSC) have signed an important agreement to work together for the protection of WA’s extraordinary Great Western Woodlands (GWW). The partners will develop a co-operative approach along with other land users to safeguard the ecology and cultural values of the region, and to ensure land justice and economic opportunities for the region’s Traditional Owners.
Scientists have sent the Premier, and Minister for the Environment, Donna Faragher, the Woodlands Declaration, which details the importance of protecting the Great Western Woodlands - the largest remaining habitat of its type on Earth.
The Wilderness Society welcomes today’s announcement by the South Australian Government to protect a vast area of the internationally iconic Nullarbor Plain.
Subscribe to email updates
