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The Western Australia Government is seeking public comment on a new 10-year management plan proposed for more than a million hectares of parks and reserves in the Wheatbelt region.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has prepared the proposed management plan on behalf of the Conservation and Parks Commission.

The proposed plan covers 728 existing reserves of natural vegetation and is bounded by Dalwallinu, Cranbrook, Ongerup, York, Wandering, Darkan, Yellowdine and Lake King.

The reserves include valuable conservation areas such as Dryandra Woodland which is home to Western Australia's mammal emblem, the numbat.

Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson stated "the Wheatbelt is one of Australia's 15 national biodiversity hotspots, and remnant vegetation pockets and nature reserves support a remarkable diversity of wildlife and natural vegetation.

"The area is home to 23 threatened animal species, including the woylie, black-flanked rock wallaby, arid bronze azure butterfly and Yorkrakine trapdoor spider. It also contains 130 threatened plant species, the highest amount in the State, including the critically endangered lemon spider orchid and granite tetratheca.

"Conserving this special area's parks and reserves is a priority under the proposed management plan.

"I encourage people to provide their comment on the plan, which will help guide the management of the reserves within this unique and diverse biodiversity hotspot for many years to come."

Almost half of the reserves are less than 100 hectares. The two largest reserves, Karroun Hill and Jilbadji nature reserves within the Great Western Woodlands, together make up more than half a million hectares.

Public comment for the draft management plan is open until 5th April, 2019 at www.dbca.wa.gov.au/haveyoursay

Image: Dryandra Woodland

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