New Cape York national park helps protect endangered parrot

Media Release
The Wilderness Society (Qld) Inc
May 26, 2010

Representatives of the Wilderness Society today traveled to Cape York Peninsula to celebrate the transfer of two properties to Aboriginal ownership, as well as the declaration of Alwal National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land), Queensland's newest National Park.

'Alwal' is the Indigenous name for the Golden Shouldered Parrot which is one of Australia's most Endangered bird species. The Alwal National Park (CYPAL) is home to some of the last known populations of the parrot. It has conservation values of national, regional and local significance and includes escarpments, springs, tall woodlands, and the headwaters of the Morehead River. 

The 42,000 hectare park has been created on a property previously known as Mulkay, and ownership has been granted to the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation Land Trust as Aboriginal freehold and dedicated as a National Park. It will be managed by the Traditional Owners with the support of the Queensland Government.

"This is a great day for conservation and for the Traditional Owners. The new National Park appropriately recognises the seriously endangered Golden-Shouldered Parrot, and hopefully offers a lifeline to its continued existence. We wish the Traditional Owners well in their endeavours to manage the area, and welcome the return of their traditional lands to them", said Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society, who was at today's ceremony.

The ceremony was also attended by acting Queensland Climate Change and Sustainability Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, along with Traditional Owners, conservation groups and Indigenous organisations. It took place at Kalinga, a cattle property adjacent to the new National Park, which has now been handed back to the Kyerrwanhdha Thingalkal Land Trust.  Kalinga has special significance to conservation groups as it has previously been the focus of much concern about broadscale tree clearing and the planting of invasive Gamba Grass, a declared weed species.

Today is the latest outcome from a unique initiative designed to jointly deliver new Aboriginal owned and managed National Parks on Cape York and the return of homelands to Traditional Owners. The process involves The Wilderness Society and the Australian Conservation Foundation working with the Queensland Government, the Cape York Land Council and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation to enable properties to be purchased for both conservation and land justice outcomes.

"Today demonstrates that conservation and Indigenous groups can work closely to successfully deliver a mix of outcomes. The Wilderness Society is urging the Commonwealth and State Governments to provide further financial support to this successful initiative to secure future outcomes for conservation and return of Aboriginal homelands", Dr Seelig concluded.