The Department of Environment and Conservation manages more than 26 million hectares, including more than nine per cent of WA's land area: its national parks, conservation parks, regional parks, nature reserves, State Forest and timber reserves (vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia) on behalf of the people of Western Australia.

Management Plans

As an agency with integrated responsibilities, we manage lands and waters for the conservation of biodiversity at ecosystem, species and genetic levels, including management for the renewable resources they provide, and for the recreation and visitor services they can sustainably support.

In accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, we prepare management plans for these protected areas on behalf of the Conservation Commission and the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.

Management plans are prepared in consultation with the community to identify and guide long-term management directions and strategies for protected areas.

A draft management plan is usually prepared following discussions with key stakeholders, public meetings and various other forms of public participation. The draft management plan is then released for a minimum two-month period, during which time members of the public can submit comments about the proposed management. All submissions to the draft plan are taken into consideration in the preparation of a final management plan. The plan is then approved by the Minister for the Environment. See flowchart for an explanation of the process.