Department of Parks and Wildlife

The Department of Parks and Wildlife protects and conserves the State’s natural environment on behalf of the people of Western Australia. The department was established on 1 July 2013, when the former Department of Environment and Conservation was split into the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Enviromental Regulation. Its key responsibilities include conserving biodiversity and managing the State’s national parks, marine parks and other reserves, which cover a total area of more than 27 million hectares. The department is also responsible for fire preparedness and pest animal and weed control over 89 million hectares of unallocated Crown land and unmanaged reserves. The department provides support to the Marine Parks Reserves Authority and the Conservation Commission (which will be replaced by a single authority named the Conservation and Parks Commission) to carry out its functions, which are integral to the department achieving its vision and mission. The department contributes to national and international programs through national Ministerial Councils, the Natural Heritage Trust and other national programs, the work of organisations such as the IUCN (the World Conservation Union), and to the implementation of international conservation treaties in WA. On 1 July 2017 the Department of Parks and Wildlife became part of the new Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. This new department brought together the functions and staff of the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Rottnest Island Authority and the Zoological Parks Authority.