Historic Announcement - Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area

The Wilderness Society (South Australia) Inc
Media Release
22 January 2010

The Wilderness Society welcomes today’s announcement by the South Australian Government to protect a vast area of the internationally iconic Nullarbor Plain.

In 2005, The Wilderness Society nominated the Nullarbor Plain for protection under South Australia’s Wilderness Protection Act. The nomination recognised the cultural significance of the region to its traditional owners.
Widely acclaimed for outstanding natural and cultural heritage values, the Nullarbor is the largest semi-arid karst cave system in the world.

The spectacular Bunda Cliffs are protected within the area and connect it to the Great Australian Bight Marine Park.

The Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area will cover 900,000 hectares, the same size as the famous Yellowstone National Park in the USA.

With this announcement the State Government has effectively doubled the size of the Wilderness Protection Area estate in South Australia, making it a grand initiative.

What is needed now is a commitment to ongoing management and funding for an Indigenous Ranger Program.