UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

			Biosphere Reserve Information
			Australia UNNAMED


	General Description		The Unnamed Biosphere Reserve is located in the central desert biogeographical region of Australia and includes part of the Great Victoria Desert. It is one of the least altered landscapes in the region and consists of a semi-desert dune system, which comprises low dunes up to 20 metres high up and up to 100 km long with clay pans, and saline areas in lakebeds. It is covered with open woodlands and scrublands of mallee, marble gum, mulga and black oak, with spinifex or a varied shrub and grassland understorey with Triodia spp., Eucalyptus goniocarpa, E. oleosa, and E. transcontinentalis. The majority of the Biosphere Reserve is identified as a core area managed by the Department of Environment and Heritage and Maralinga Tjarutja organization. Surrounding the core area, Aboriginal lands from Oak Valley, Tjuntjuntjara, Wataru and Yulata communities provide buffer zones. Some 200 people live within the Biosphere Reserve (2002), mainly engaged in hunting and foraging activities. Aboriginal communities hunt kangaroos and reptiles and some plants are used for traditional foods. More than 328 tourists (2002) visit the Biosphere Reserve between May and November for nature study. The main goal is to develop networking with other Biosphere Reserves and develop research and monitoring activities.
	Major ecosystem type		Warm deserts and semideserts
	Major habitats & land cover types
	Location		28°05' to 30°11'S; 129°00' to 131°00'E
	Area (hectares)
	Total		2,132,600
	Core area(s)
	Buffer zone(s)
	Transition area(s) when given
	Altitude (metres above sea level)		+150 to +495
	Year designated		1977
	Administrative authorities		Department of Environment & Heritage South Australia

	Brief description		Fire history Genetic resource management Rare/endangered species Wildlife population dynamics Cultural anthropology Traditional land use Recreation/tourism
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		n.a.
	Biodiversity		Fires/fire ecology, genetic resources, population genetics/population dynamics, rare/endangered/threatened species, wildlife.
	Socio-economic		Anthropological studies/Anthropology, cultural aspects, recreation, tourism, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge.
	Integrated monitoring		Land use/Land cover, management issues.

	Contact address		Ross Allen (alt. Joe Tilley) Far West Region P.O. Box 22 5690 Port Lincoln - South Australia Australia
	Telephone		(61.8) 8688 3111
	Fax		(61.8) 86883110
	E-mail		rallen@deh.sa.gov.au Jtilley@deh.sa.gov.au

Last updated: 3/14/2005