A conservation area larger than Tasmania is to be set aside in Western
Australia, to be managed by the local indigenous community.

It will be Australia's largest land conservation area.

The Government will is set to announce that nearly 100,000 square
kilometres of land near the junction of the borders of Western Australia,
South Australia and the Northern Territory will be protected by the
traditional owners, the Yarnangu people.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Environment Minister, Sharman Stone,
says the Commonwealth will provide funding to help the community protect
the area.

"The land goes on to the national reserve system and they undertake to
manage the country in line with international environmental standards,"
she said.

The region is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals, including
at least five threatened species.