A federal plan to protect threatened species has neglected almost all of central Australia and will not stop extinctions, wildlife advocates say.

The 10-year Threatened Species Action Plan was released last month, highlighting 20 important natural places and 110 national species of concern to be prioritised for protection.

Mount Sonder at dawn in the West MacDonnell National Park.
Central Australia’s only priority area

Through the Northern Territory’s Central Land Council, traditional owners co-manage the MacDonnell Ranges National Park, which is the only priority area in central Australia listed in the federal plan. 

Eastern Arrente man and land council chief executive Les Turner said rangers were poorly funded and unable to adequately manage the millions of hectares they were responsible for.

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