Nature reserve (Australia) is the title of a type of protected area used in the Australian jurisdictions of the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.
As of 2014, 1767 (or 17%) out of a total of 10339 protected areas listed within the Australian National Reserve System were “nature reserves.” The term “nature reserves” is only used in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.
[4] In New South Wales, a nature reserve is defined by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 as land being reserved to “identify, protect and conserve areas containing outstanding, unique or representative ecosystems, species, communities or natural phenomena.”[5] As of 2014, a total of 418 nature reserves have been listed as part of the New South Wales contribution to the National Reserve System with a total area of 9,514.67 square kilometres (3,673.63 square miles).
[7][8] The first statute defines a nature reserve in respect to “an area of land” as “the conservation of the natural biological diversity or geological diversity of the area of land, or both, and the conservation of the natural values of that area of land that are unique, important or have representative value.”[7] The second statute includes a list of seven objectives for the management of nature reserves concerned with matters such as “natural biological diversity”, “geological diversity”, water quality & catchment protection, “sites or areas of cultural significance”, education, research, protection & rehabilitation, and engagement with Aboriginal people.
[9] In Western Australia, a nature reserve is defined in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 as being used for land which has been vested in a government agency known as the Conservation Commission either by a person or persons, or by other state legislation where land has been reserved for “ the conservation of flora or fauna, or both flora and fauna.”[10] As of 2014, a total of 1226 nature reserves have been listed as part of the Western Australian contribution to the National Reserve System with a total area of 102,525.28 square kilometres (39,585.23 square miles).