AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST NATIONAL PARK- THE PROPOSED EXPANDED KIMBERLEY NATIONAL PARK

The Kimberley National Park is due to be proclaimed by 2019. It will be about 5 times the area of Australia's current largest National Park - Kakadu. It will have large areas of land - absorbing 5 present parks and encompassing areas of Aboriginal interest. In terms of landscape it will incorporate coastal islands, vast tidal river flats, swamps, river valleys, mountain ranges, plateaux with a large variety of wildlife and vegetation communities. It will have guardianship over a vast area which is referred to as "Australia's last great wilderness". Such a vast and diverse area will pose issues of control and management. The dilemma of how to maintain the integrity of the natural and cultural features is mentioned. The issue of allowing access and sustaining the natural environment is raised. This is an area of unique landscape with a long history of Aboriginal contact. It is also an area where dinosaurs roamed and left their imprint. There is ample opportunity for students to recognise the variations. There is also scope for debate as the 6 situations provided as attachments are considered. These can be used as class/group discussions or provided as individual worksheets. If you are looking for material that can provoke discussion and debate this unit will provide this opportunity. The material on ecotourism is provided as a parallel issue because the presence and type of tourism contact in this area will be a factor. Enjoy the excursion into the wilderness. Look around and discover the need fro protection and regulation/permits of entry.