About National Parks
Director of National Parks | Structure | Marine Protected Areas | Contacts
Our vision
A natural and cultural environment, valued, enhanced and protected in harmony with the nation's social and economic goals.
Our Mission
To assist the Minister and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in the conservation and appreciation of Australia's biological diversity and associated cultural heritage, through leadership and cooperation in the management of the Australian Government's protected areas.
Director of National Parks
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the principal Commonwealth legislation for establishing and managing protected areas. The Director of National Parks is a corporation established under the Act, with the function of managing Commonwealth reserves. The Director is assisted in performing this function by the staff of Parks Australia (a division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts).
Some Commonwealth reserves are managed in conjunction with a Board of Management whilst Management Committees provide advice to the Director on the management of other reserves. These Boards and Committees play crucial roles in determining the policies and priorities for the management of each protected area.
Under the EPBC Act, the Director of National Parks is responsible for:
- the administration, management and control of Commonwealth reserves and conservation zones;
- the protection, conservation and management of biodiversity and heritage in Commonwealth reserves and conservation zones;
- consulting and cooperating with other countries with regard to matters relating to the establishment and management of national parks and nature reserves in those countries;
- the provision of training in the knowledge and skills relevant to the establishment and management of national parks and nature reserves;
- research and investigation relevant to the establishment and management of Commonwealth reserves;
- making recommendations to the Australian GovernmentMinister for the Environment; and,
- administration of the Australian National Parks Fund.
Read the Director of National Parks Annual Reports
See also:
Structure
Administrative responsibilities within the division are carried out by three main areas: Parks Australia Executive; Parks Australia North, and Parks Australia South.
Parks Australia Executive
Parks Australia Executive includes the Director of National Parks and his executive assistant, supported by the Business Management Section, the Parks Strategic Development Section and his Legal Counsel.
Parks Australia North
Consistent with Parks Australia's vision of leadership in natural and cultural heritage conservation through establishing and managing protected areas; acquiring and using biodiversity knowledge; and building and maintaining partnerships with Indigenous Australians, the mission of Parks Australia North is to:
- Protect and promote cultural and natural values of Uluru - Kata Tjuta and Kakadu National Parks, and Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands;
- Provide for sustainable recreational, educational and tourist use in the context of the above;
- Extend knowledge about our biodiversity;
- Build and maintain partnerships, and relationships with stakeholders, and;
- Participate in national and international activities.
Managed by the Assistant Secretary, Parks Australia North, this Branch of Parks Australia is composed of the following Sections:
- Darwin Office - Parks Australia North - located on the corner of Henry Wrigley Drive & Pederson Road, Darwin Airport
- Christmas Island National Park
- Kakadu National Park
- Pulu (Keeling) National Park (Cocos (Keeling) Islands)
- Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park
Parks Australia South
Consistent with Parks Australia's vision of Leadership in natural and cultural heritage conservation through establishing and managing protected areas; acquiring and using biodiversity knowledge; and building and maintaining partnerships with Indigenous Australians, the mission of Parks Australia South is to:
- Protect and promote cultural and natural values in the Commonwealth national parks, botanic gardens and areas for which Parks Australia South is responsible1 and provide for sustainable recreational, educational and tourist use
- Progress the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative National Reserve System
- Extend and disseminate knowledge about our biodiversity
- Build and maintain partnerships, and relationships with stakeholders, and
- Participate in national and international activities
Managed by the Assistant Secretary, Parks Australia South, this Branch of Parks Australia is composed of the following Sections:
- Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (a partnership between the ANBG and CSIRO) located at the foot of Black Mountain, Canberra.
- Australian Biological Resources Study based at the Australian National Botanic Gardens
- Booderee National Park which includes a Botanic Gardens zone, based at Jervis Bay, NSW
- Genetic Resources Management Policy Section based in the John Gorton Building in Barton, Canberra
- Indigenous Land Management Section based in the John Gorton Building
- National Reserves System based in the John Gorton Building
- Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden
Marine Protected Areas
The majority of Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas declared under the EPBC Act are managed by the Land, Water and Coasts Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts under delegation from the Director of National Parks. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division under delegation from the Director.
These parks and reserves, which are located generally in remote areas, protect tropical islands as well as cays and temperate and sub-Antarctic marine environments.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority under separate legislation.
1 - Areas for which Parks Australia South is responsible include:
a) eastern and southern areas declared under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 which are directly managed by the Branch, ie Booderee National Park (including its botanic gardens zone), Norfolk Island National Park, Australian National Botanic Gardens and Norfolk Island Botanic Gardens);
b) Calperum Station, which is managed under contract on behalf of the Director of National Parks. Calperum is part of the Riverland Biosphere Reserve