Over 7.5 million hectares of NSW are managed and protected for conservation by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). That’s around 9.5% of the state. This is the legacy of farsighted actions by governments, conservation organisations and individuals, going as far back as the late 1800s. However, as nearly half of all terrestrial ecosystems in NSW remain poorly reserved and many aren’t protected in reserves at all, the job isn’t over yet. NPWS continues to acquire land for conservation, acknowledging the creation of a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system is a long-term proposition.

Acquiring land

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service acquires land either through transfers from other government agencies, or by purchasing private land from willing landholders. If you’re interested in protecting the natural and cultural values of your property and looking to sell, NPWS can assess the conservation value of your land to determine its suitability and priority for acquisition as part of the national parks system. If your property is eligible for acquisition we will provide you with information about the acquisition process.

New parks

New parks and reserves are created all over the state every year to protect the state’s ecosystems. These vary in size from just a few hectares, to large areas like Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park which spans 153,843 hectares.