South Australia’s Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy
Consultation has concluded
Help shape how our protected and conserved areas are expanded and enhanced into the future. Have your say on the draft strategy!
What's being decided?
We are developing a Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy. This strategy will drive the expansion and enhancement of South Australia’s protected and conserved areas, so that biodiversity can thrive, and that places of special value are protected.
Your feedback will help ensure a range of ideas and interests are considered in shaping how our protected and conserved areas are expanded and enhanced into the future.
Background
In 2012, the Conserving Nature 2012-2020 strategyContinue reading
Help shape how our protected and conserved areas are expanded and enhanced into the future. Have your say on the draft strategy!
What's being decided?
We are developing a Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy. This strategy will drive the expansion and enhancement of South Australia’s protected and conserved areas, so that biodiversity can thrive, and that places of special value are protected.
Your feedback will help ensure a range of ideas and interests are considered in shaping how our protected and conserved areas are expanded and enhanced into the future.
Background
In 2012, the Conserving Nature 2012-2020 strategy was adopted by the South Australian Government to guide the establishment of protected areas in South Australia.
Following the expiration of that strategy, the department has been working closely with the Parks and Wilderness Council and other key stakeholders on the development of South Australia’s Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy. This updated strategy will ensure that new additions to the state’s reserve system are carefully targeted to enhance biodiversity and improve the long-term sustainability of our environment.
Get involved
To find out more about the strategy:
- Read the Draft Strategy and Draft Strategy on a page
- Read the Background on the Strategy and Supporting Technical Report
- take a look at our FAQs
Have your say by:
- Taking our survey
- Emailing a submission to: DEWProtectedAreaManagement@sa.gov.au (please include 'Protected and Conserved Area Strategy' in the email subject heading)
- Posting your written submission to:
Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy
National Parks and Protected Area Program Unit
Department for Environment and Water
GPO Box 1047, Adelaide SA 5001
Submissions close at 11:59pm 31 August 2025.
Please note: your feedback may be made publicly available, in part or in entirety, unless you indicate on your submission that you wish for it to remain confidential. If published, submissions would not include personal names or contact details but would include group/organisation name (if applicable). Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.
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Consultation Update
The department sought community feedback on the draft strategy to help ensure a range of ideas and interests were considered in shaping how our protected and conserved areas are expanded and enhanced into the future.
From 4 to 31 August 2025, the department hosted a YourSAy consultation, where the community were invited to provide their feedback via an online survey or written submission. During the community consultation period, the department and council met to discuss additional feedback internally.
This feedback has been collated and used in the development of the final strategy.
Key Dates
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31 August 2025
Lifecycle
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Open
South Australia’s Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy has finished this stageThis engagement was open for contributions from 4 August to 31 August 2025
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Under Review
South Australia’s Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy has finished this stageContributions to this consultation are closed and have been evaluated and reviewed. The project team has reported back on key outcomes.
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Final report
South Australia’s Land-based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy is currently at this stageThe final outcomes of the consultation are documented on this page.
Documents
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Strategy for Protected and Conserved Land Areas in South Australia.pdf (13.5 MB) (pdf)
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Strategy for Protected and Conserved Land Areas in South Australia_Strategy on a Page.pdf (394 KB) (pdf)
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Strategy for Protected and Conserved Land Areas in South Australia_Community consultation report.pdf (385 KB) (pdf)
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Draft South Australias Land based Protected and Conserved Area Strategy.pdf (15.7 MB) (pdf)
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Draft - Strategy on a page.pdf (921 KB) (pdf)
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Background on the Strategy.pdf (93.7 KB) (pdf)
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Supporting Technical Report.pdf (3.24 MB) (pdf)
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Community Consultation Report Appendix A Survey Questions.pdf (144 KB) (pdf)
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Community Consultation Report Appendix B Survey Responses.pdf (453 KB) (pdf)
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Community Consultation Report Appendix C Submission Responses.pdf (250 KB) (pdf)
FAQs
- What are South Australia’s land-based protected and conserved areas?
- Why are protected and conserved areas important?
- What does the strategy actually mean? What will it do? What are the benefits?
- Why aren’t marine parks included?
- What will happen with the land that has been identified as a priority?
- How does this strategy align with new legislation and commitments?
- How does it sit within other governance arrangements for parks and protected areas?
Who's Listening
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Department for Environment and Water