Environment Minister builds China links

The State Government has forged Western Australia's first sister park relationship between China's Danxiashan National Park and WA's Purnululu National Park, which are both World Heritage-listed.

  • Sister park relationship established with World Heritage-listed Purnululu and Danxiashan national parks 

  • Agreement signed between plant conservation research facilities  

The State Government has forged Western Australia's first sister park relationship between China's Danxiashan National Park and WA's Purnululu National Park, which are both World Heritage-listed.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the newly signed agreement between the WA Government  and the People's Republic of China would help forge strong relationships in tourism, park management and plant conservation research.

Mr Jacob recently travelled to China with Department of Parks and Wildlife director general Jim Sharp to finalise the agreement.

A second co-operative agreement was signed between the Institute of Botany and Chinese Academy of Sciences in Jiangsu province and the Department of Parks and Wildlife's Plant Science and Herbarium Program.

"The agreements, signed for an initial period of five years, will see collaboration on joint activities and projects, sharing of information and staff training," the Minister said.

"The parks are both major visitor attractions and their striking natural landscapes, together with plant and animal biodiversity, as well as being the focus for scientific study, have inspired outstanding historical artworks."

Danxiashan is renowned for its cliff and stone inscriptions while Purnululu's Bungle Bungle Range, with its magnificent orange and grey sandstone formations, contains hundreds of archaeological sites highlighting ancient rock art, stone quarries and burial places.

Mr Jacob said the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Jiangsu Institute of Botany and Chinese Academy of Sciences carried out botanic studies and plant conservation research.

"There are exciting opportunities for both parties as a result of these agreements," he said.

      Fact File

  • Purnululu National Park is 300km south of Kununurra in the East Kimberley and was  listed as a World Heritage site in 2003

  • Danxiashan National Park is 290km north of Hong Kong and was World Heritage-listed in 2010  

Minister's office - 6552 5800