NATIONAL PARK [CYPAL]
“National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land)”
March 2012

A new class of protected area has been created on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland as above, which allows for some existing and proposed national parks to become aboriginal land and also be dedicated and managed as a National Park (CYPAL). Traditional Owners (TO’s) will be the owners of the land through a grant of Aboriginal freehold title, provided the area will always be managed as a national park.

The Cape York Peninsula Region covers mainland and offshore areas including islands, but some areas are excluded being under a separate process.

There will be joint management of the national park land by the Traditional Owners (represented by a land trust) and the Environmental Agency (EPA), through an Indigenous Management Agreement (IMA) and a Park Management Plan. The Nature Conservation Act 1992 states that this management, to the greatest possible extent, will observe the cardinal principal for management of national parks.