Management | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Source: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/management
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Management | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
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Management
How we manage fire, and the lands and waters in our care.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions manages parks, reserves and forests across Western Australia. These are managed to protect plants, animals and ecosystems, working in partnership with Aboriginal people to conserve culture and heritage. We also connect people to natural areas, providing safe, environmentally responsible and inspiring experiences for the thousands of people who visit each year.
We have a strong focus on protecting communities and assets from bushfire, responding quickly and effectively to bushfires on, or near, department-managed land and using prescribed burning to manage fuel loads and minimise bushfire risk.
We have a strong regional presence throughout the State and our staff are in regular contact with neighbours. The activities of the department and its neighbours can impact each other, so it is mutually beneficial to maintain respectful relations. Access our
Good Neighbour Guideline
for more information on how we approach this.
As of February 2025, the department manages 34 million hectares of land and water. This includes 122 national parks, 12 regional parks, conservation parks, State forest, nature reserves and other land, 21 marine parks, two marine management areas and one marine nature reserve.
In addition, the department is responsible for fire preparedness, feral animals and declared weeds across 91 million hectares of unallocated Crown land and unmanaged Crown reserves outside of Perth and townsites.
Socials
Related
Park and infrastructure projects
Park and infrastructure projects
Investment by the State Government in Western Australia’s parks and attractions is providing opportunities to deliver significant improvement projects for the benefit of local communities and visitors.
Management plans
Management plans
The department is responsible for preparing and implementing management plans for marine and terrestrial parks and reserves in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984.
Trails
Trails
Western Australia has an amazing range of landscapes and remarkable flora and fauna just waiting to be explored.
Whale carcass management
Whale carcass management
Whale carcass removal can be a challenging undertaking.
Aboriginal engagement
Aboriginal engagement
Working together on Country.
Biodiversity Conservation Framework
Biodiversity Conservation Framework
Biodiversity conservation planning and delivery is a core function of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. This function is guided by the legislation that the department is responsible for administering, which provides for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and the natural areas and attractions that the department manages.
Fire management
Fire management
Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is responsible for managing fire in forests, parks, nature reserves and other lands that it manages.
Forests
Forests
Western Australia has close to 18 million hectares of forests and woodlands.
Gorgon Net Conservation Benefit Fund
Gorgon Net Conservation Benefit Fund
The Gorgon Barrow Island Net Conservation Benefits Fund is an initiative of the Western Australian Government, through which funding is provided for conservation work at the leading edge of scientific knowledge.
Kangaroo management in Western Australia
Kangaroo management in Western Australia
Management plan, quotas and annual reports for kangaroo management in WA.
Land use planning
Land use planning
Western Australia's land use planning system coordinates planning, land use and development through the review, approval and monitoring of planning schemes, policies, strategies, structure plans and subdivision and development applications.
Marine planning
Marine planning
Our marine areas are unique and many of them rival their terrestrial counterparts in scenic grandeur.
Muir's corella management in Western Australia
Muir's corella management in Western Australia
Muir’s corella, one of four corella species in the southern part of Western Australia, once inhabited most of the south-west of Western Australia from the Swan and Avon Rivers south to Broomehill and Augusta.
Nature-based tourism
Nature-based tourism
The Nature-based Tourism Division is a dedicated team that is the point of contact for the tourism industry to facilitate sustainable, nature and culture-based commercial tourism and attractions, in areas managed by DBCA's Parks and Wildlife Service.
Parks
Parks
Western Australia’s conservation lands and waters extend over more than 31 million hectares.
Pilbara
Pilbara
The Pilbara is recognised as one of Australia’s biodiversity hotspots, and is an area of high conservation value with a largely intact ecosystem that can be protected, and potentially enhanced, through focused and directed land management.
Reserve activity management plans for mineral exploration
Reserve activity management plans for mineral exploration
Applying for exploration and prospecting activities on land managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood
Santalum spicatum
(Sandalwood) is Western Australia’s native aromatic sandalwood species that grows wild among vegetation of the Wheatbelt and rangelands.
Swan Canning Riverpark
Swan Canning Riverpark
The Swan Canning Riverpark and the rivers at its heart are the centrepiece of Perth.
Threat management
Threat management
Managing key invasive pest animals, weeds and plant diseases.
Threatened species and communities
Threatened species and communities
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 provides for the listing of threatened native plants, animals and ecological communities that need protection.
Wedge and Grey reserves
Wedge and Grey reserves
Wedge and Grey reserves on the Turquoise Coast.
Wetlands
Wetlands
Western Australia is home to many different varieties of wetlands, from tidal mangroves and billabongs, to salt lakes and fresh water springs.
World Heritage areas
World Heritage areas
World Heritage areas are the most exceptional and unique places on Earth.
Skip to main content
Management
How we manage fire, and the lands and waters in our care.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions manages parks, reserves and forests across Western Australia. These are managed to protect plants, animals and ecosystems, working in partnership with Aboriginal people to conserve culture and heritage. We also connect people to natural areas, providing safe, environmentally responsible and inspiring experiences for the thousands of people who visit each year.
We have a strong focus on protecting communities and assets from bushfire, responding quickly and effectively to bushfires on, or near, department-managed land and using prescribed burning to manage fuel loads and minimise bushfire risk.
We have a strong regional presence throughout the State and our staff are in regular contact with neighbours. The activities of the department and its neighbours can impact each other, so it is mutually beneficial to maintain respectful relations. Access our
Good Neighbour Guideline
for more information on how we approach this.
As of February 2025, the department manages 34 million hectares of land and water. This includes 122 national parks, 12 regional parks, conservation parks, State forest, nature reserves and other land, 21 marine parks, two marine management areas and one marine nature reserve.
In addition, the department is responsible for fire preparedness, feral animals and declared weeds across 91 million hectares of unallocated Crown land and unmanaged Crown reserves outside of Perth and townsites.
Socials
Related
Park and infrastructure projects
Park and infrastructure projects
Investment by the State Government in Western Australia’s parks and attractions is providing opportunities to deliver significant improvement projects for the benefit of local communities and visitors.
Management plans
Management plans
The department is responsible for preparing and implementing management plans for marine and terrestrial parks and reserves in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984.
Trails
Trails
Western Australia has an amazing range of landscapes and remarkable flora and fauna just waiting to be explored.
Whale carcass management
Whale carcass management
Whale carcass removal can be a challenging undertaking.
Aboriginal engagement
Aboriginal engagement
Working together on Country.
Biodiversity Conservation Framework
Biodiversity Conservation Framework
Biodiversity conservation planning and delivery is a core function of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. This function is guided by the legislation that the department is responsible for administering, which provides for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and the natural areas and attractions that the department manages.
Fire management
Fire management
Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is responsible for managing fire in forests, parks, nature reserves and other lands that it manages.
Forests
Forests
Western Australia has close to 18 million hectares of forests and woodlands.
Gorgon Net Conservation Benefit Fund
Gorgon Net Conservation Benefit Fund
The Gorgon Barrow Island Net Conservation Benefits Fund is an initiative of the Western Australian Government, through which funding is provided for conservation work at the leading edge of scientific knowledge.
Kangaroo management in Western Australia
Kangaroo management in Western Australia
Management plan, quotas and annual reports for kangaroo management in WA.
Land use planning
Land use planning
Western Australia's land use planning system coordinates planning, land use and development through the review, approval and monitoring of planning schemes, policies, strategies, structure plans and subdivision and development applications.
Marine planning
Marine planning
Our marine areas are unique and many of them rival their terrestrial counterparts in scenic grandeur.
Muir's corella management in Western Australia
Muir's corella management in Western Australia
Muir’s corella, one of four corella species in the southern part of Western Australia, once inhabited most of the south-west of Western Australia from the Swan and Avon Rivers south to Broomehill and Augusta.
Nature-based tourism
Nature-based tourism
The Nature-based Tourism Division is a dedicated team that is the point of contact for the tourism industry to facilitate sustainable, nature and culture-based commercial tourism and attractions, in areas managed by DBCA's Parks and Wildlife Service.
Parks
Parks
Western Australia’s conservation lands and waters extend over more than 31 million hectares.
Pilbara
Pilbara
The Pilbara is recognised as one of Australia’s biodiversity hotspots, and is an area of high conservation value with a largely intact ecosystem that can be protected, and potentially enhanced, through focused and directed land management.
Reserve activity management plans for mineral exploration
Reserve activity management plans for mineral exploration
Applying for exploration and prospecting activities on land managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood
Santalum spicatum
(Sandalwood) is Western Australia’s native aromatic sandalwood species that grows wild among vegetation of the Wheatbelt and rangelands.
Swan Canning Riverpark
Swan Canning Riverpark
The Swan Canning Riverpark and the rivers at its heart are the centrepiece of Perth.
Threat management
Threat management
Managing key invasive pest animals, weeds and plant diseases.
Threatened species and communities
Threatened species and communities
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 provides for the listing of threatened native plants, animals and ecological communities that need protection.
Wedge and Grey reserves
Wedge and Grey reserves
Wedge and Grey reserves on the Turquoise Coast.
Wetlands
Wetlands
Western Australia is home to many different varieties of wetlands, from tidal mangroves and billabongs, to salt lakes and fresh water springs.
World Heritage areas
World Heritage areas
World Heritage areas are the most exceptional and unique places on Earth.