- Yawuru conservation estate in Broome now complete
- Yawuru traditional owners to manage land and sea country around Broome
A joint land management plan has officially been launched for Guniyan Binba Conservation Park in Broome.
Spanning 2,511 hectares within the existing Yawuru conservation estate, Guniyan Binba Conservation Park is an intertidal reserve located from north of Broome to Willie Creek.
The land will be jointly managed by Nyamba Buru Yawuru, the Shire of Broome and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' (DBCA) Parks and Wildlife Service.
Following consultation and collaborative development, the plan works to protect unique wildlife, celebrate cultural values and landmarks, and deliver sustainable nature-based tourism opportunities.
Under the plan, Yawuru rangers will work on country to manage the land and protect important cultural heritage sites through a blend of traditional practices and modern science.
Key features of the plan also aim to protect the diverse wildlife within the wetlands, and coastline where more than 170 bird species, unique invertebrate communities and endemic plant species reside.
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Guniyan Binba Conservation Park holds immense cultural significance for the Yawuru people, and I am proud to see this joint management plan both highlighting and celebrating those cultural values.
"For countless generations, Yawuru people have managed this country sustainably and used their knowledge of the natural environment and practices passed down from their ancestors.
"And with Broome's growing population and infrastructure, more people are travelling north to take up nature-based tourism opportunities like visiting Cable Beach.
"Not only does this plan have a strong emphasis on cultural values and unique wildlife, it also focuses on offering recreational activities in a way that remains environmentally sustainable and culturally appropriate."
