It was declared and formally recognised as an Indigenous Protected Area as part of the Australian Government's Caring for Country scheme on 10 June 2009.

As well as biodiversity value, it has significant Tjukurpa (Indigenous law and customary knowledge) places and sacred sites where ceremonies continue to occur.

Today the IPA provides employment and income for the Indigenous community, creates learning and training opportunities, and improves health (through exercise and diet).

There are many different types of vegetation and landscapes including mulga woodlands (Acacia aneura), gypsum depressions, limestone plains, spinifex (Triodia spp.)

Angas Downs has rich bird life and is home to many species of animals and reptiles many of which are important food and totems to the local Anangu people.

Vulnerable listed (NT) quandong (Santalum acuminatum) also occurs on Angas Downs, although they struggle against camel browsing.

Several species of native mammals including echidnas, Ooldea dunnart, lesser hairy-footed dunnart, kultarr, euro (eastern wallaroo), red kangaroo, Gould's wattled bat, lesser long-eared bat, spinifex hopping mouse, sandy inland mouse and dingos have been recorded on the Angas Downs Pastoral Lease.

[12] Rangers on Angas Downs are improving the environment to protect and increase important animals and plants using a combination of traditional knowledge and western science.

As with many pastoral enterprises during the 1980s and 1990s, Angas Downs struggled financially and was eventually taken over by the mortgagee in 1994 before being purchased by the nearby Imanpa community.

Tourists can join tours to Angas Downs led by members of the Imanpa community to learn about the pastoral, cultural and natural history of the property.

Residents of Imanpa include Matuntara descendants (the original occupiers of Angas Downs region), Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people.

Land management activities restore the station environment and also improve the self-esteem and motivation of the Indigenous people by appealing to their aspiration to care for their country, and provide opportunities for training, employment and economic development.

Anangu want to increase the amount of game animals like emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and plant food like quandong (Santalum acuminatum).

[9] To manage land and wildlife resources in order to maintain Anangu culture, conserve biodiversity and enable sustainable production in support of human communities and economic development.

[6][19][20] The IPA provides employment and income for theIndigenous community, creates learning and training opportunities, and improves health (through exercise and diet).

[6] Anangu rangers employed by the Indigenous Protected Area and Working on Country[3] program are putting in fences to keep ferals out, building a 288-square-kilometre (111 sq mi) wildlife sanctuary area, increasing watering points and cleaning water troughs to encourage more game species (red kangaroo, emu, perentie, goanna) and healthier landscapes.

In combination with land management and control of feral animals, Anangu rangers will implement an emu breeding program to increase emus in the landscape.

They were flown into Ayers Rock airport (Uluru) by Qantas and driven to the Angas Downs Indigenous Protected Area.

Species targeted/observed included camels, kangaroos, horses, feral cattle, emus, euros, dingos and bustards (turkeys).