WA is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
We’ve got species found nowhere else, landscapes shaped over billions of years, and ecosystems that range from towering forests to vast deserts and the rugged north of the Kimberley and the Pilbara— our state is a place worth looking after.
What’s so special about WA?
- Global biodiversity hotspots: WA is home to 8 of Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots – we have many unique species found nowhere else on Earth.
- Extraordinary plant diversity: More than 12,000 native plant species exist in WA, and some of the most brilliant displays of wildflowers you’ve ever experienced.
- Unique animals: Iconic and rare species include numbats, our three black cockatoos, bilbies, night parrots, woylies, quenda and plenty more!
- Ancient landscapes: Some of the world’s oldest rock formations and geological features are right here, including the UNESCO World Heritage listed Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, or the Hamersley Range in Karijini National Park.
- Majestic forests & woodlands: The South West’s jarrah, karri, and marri forests are home to thousands of plants (about 4,000 unique plant species!). The Great Western Woodlands is the largest intact temperate woodland left on Earth.
- Western Deserts: One of the largest and most culturally connected places on the planet and the most intact desert landscape in the world rich in biodiversity.
- Wetland wonderland: WA has 12 RAMSAR-listed wetlands which contribute individually to unique biodiversity, water regulation and cultural heritage.
Our state’s diversity makes it one of the most significant areas for conservation in the world. With more protected areas, we can make sure our unique nature can withstand the BIG challenges it’s facing.
WA’s nature is under threat – and so is our way of life
WA’s nature is under pressure, and that means the WA lifestyle we know and love could be under threat.
What are the BIG challenges?
- Habitat loss & fragmentation: Native bushland, forests and vital ecosystems are being destroyed and fragmented faster than we can protect them
- Invasive species: Non-native species like feral foxes, cats and weeds are putting increasing pressure on our native animals, plants and landscapes. Feral cats alone kill 544 million animals every year in WA!
- Climate change and fire: More intense fires, longer dry spells and shifting seasons are making it harder for nature to bounce back.
- Under representation of bioregions: Some of WA’s most unique places, like the Wheatbelt, Goldfields and Mid West, don’t have much protection.
- Disruption to First Nations caring for Country: First Nations people have cultural obligations to care for Country and have successfully managed and cared for Australia’s land and waters for thousands of years.
We owe it to future generations to act now for WA’s nature before it’s too late.
The good news? We’re ready to do better!
Because WA is Better by Nature – we still have the areas, the opportunities, the space and the nature to protect – and we know how to do it. By expanding and strengthening our network of parks and protected areas, we can give nature the support it needs — and keep WA better by nature, for everyone.
Working together is WA’s nature legacy
Western Australia has always done things a little differently — and when it comes to looking after our nature, we’ve got a proud track record to back it up stretching back decades making conservation a part of who we are.
What we’ve already achieved
🌱 WA is leading the way
We’ve just wrapped up the biggest expansion of jointly managed national parks in Australia’s history through the WA Government’s Plan for Our Parks program – that’s nothing to sneeze at!
🏕 An area the size of Tasmania
Plan for Our Parks planned to protect 5 million hectares, but thanks to people like you, we pushed them to exceed their promise and achieved something even better. Together, we have voluntarily created 6.5 million hectares of new conservation areas. Now, that’s a legacy we can all be proud of.
🤝 Partnerships that work
Success didn’t happen by chance. It happened because we came together. Traditional Owners, regional communities, landholders, conservation groups, businesses and government – all playing a key role to do the right thing for people and nature.
📍WA is ready to lead again
Western Australia has what it takes to lead and step up once more. We have vast landscapes, strong community spirit, world-class biodiversity, and a growing network of jointly managed national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and private protected areas to prove we do nature bigger and better.
WA has the track record, the science and the people to be a conservation powerhouse and set world standards caring for nature and creating protected areas. We just need the political will and funding to make it happen. Join us so WA can do better by nature
WA’s special places — they’re worth protecting
The Pilbara
The Pilbara is shaped by deep time — red earth, ancient gorges, spinifex Country and some of the oldest rock formations on Earth. It’s a place that has been home to and managed by local First Nations for tens of thousands of years and is a place many West Aussies feel connected to through work and travel with Karijini National Park inspiring awe and adventure (and is on a lot of bucket lists!)
South West Forests
The South West is Noongar Booja and remains actively cared for by Noongar First Nations. The tall, majestic forests of the South West — karri, jarrah and marri — are among the most unique, culturally significant and ecologically rich trees on Earth. These ancient trees are home species like our black cockatoos and for many West Aussies, especially the Perth-bound, these forests are where childhoods are spent and memories are made.
The Kimberley
The Kimberley is one of WA’s most striking natural regions — home to sandstone ranges, dramatic waterfalls, boab-lined rivers and sweeping savannahs. Its massive scale and seasonal extremes create unique ecosystems found only in WA. From the coast to the ranges, it’s a special place that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who experiences it. The Kimberley’s First Nations manage land across almost the entire Kimberley region and the Kimberley Ranger Network is one of the most successful cultural and conservation programs in the country.
Great Western Woodlands
The Great Western Woodlands is the largest intact temperate woodland left on Earth — covering nearly 16 million hectares of uniquely Western Australian landscapes. This region is home to many First Nations who maintain deep cultural connections with the land and actively manage it and have done so thousands of years. It remains under-protected and deserves lasting care.
The Wheatbelt
The Wheatbelt is full of places where nature and community live side by side. It’s First Nations are active land managers and maintain strong connections to Country and the granite outcrops, wildflower corridors, and pockets of bush that support some of WA’s rarest species. It’s one of the most under-protected regions in Australia, making every remaining natural area even more important to protect and pass on for future generations.
These are the places that define us — and there are more out there just as special, still waiting for the care and protection they deserve. By building on what we’ve already achieved, we can make sure WA continues to be a place where nature, culture and community come together to look after each other for the future.
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