Nature and biodiversity
The Alpine and subalpine ecosystems of the Australian Alps national parks are unique. Climate, landforms and soils vary as altitude increases and so create a variety of environments where different plants grow together in communities. These in turn provide habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
Many of these plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world and their uniqueness demands their preservation.
There exists a very small amount of alpine and sub-alpine terrain in Australia. For Australians, the area is unique and highly valued for its environmental, cultural, historic and recreational significance. Today most of the Australian Alps lie within national parks with state and federal governments work cooperatively to manage these reserves as one biogeographical area.
Conservation in the alps
Nature conservation is now recognised by governments as the most important land use for the Australian Alps. National parks are an accepted way to manage the land for conservation. The Australian Alps national parks now includes two parks in the ACT, four in NSW and five in Victoria.
It is accepted that in order to do the best for the environment, the land should be managed jointly as one biogeographical region, regardless of whether land crosses different State and Territory borders.
More information can be found in the Australian Alps education kit >> and in our research and reports publications >>