Conservation society and council plus science boost South Australian nature cause 1962-72

South Australian parks and reserves, from Torrens Island mangroves to the Gammon Ranges, expanded rapidly between 1962 and 1972.
Image courtesy Conservation Council of South Australia

The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia (1963) and Conservation Council of South Australia (1971) – both active in lobbying and advising government and community groups in preserving biodiversity – were well timed to resist a post-World War II grains and wool-boom pushback by agricultural interests against nature reserves.

On Eyre Peninsula in the mid 1950s, strong pressures saw 5250ha retaken for argiculture from Hambidge reserve, 392ha from Peebinga in the Murray Mallee in 1958, and 9168ha from Hincks on central Eyre Peninsula in 1960. New groups such as the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, providing -organised opposition to farmer groups.

Influential state government lands and agriculture departments had been generally ignorant of the subtleties of changing plant and animal populations in selecting areas needing protection.

A hallmark of expansion – from South Australia’s 19 listed key parks and reserves (total 233,620ha) in 1962 to 99 parks and reserves (3,546 465ha) in 1972 – was the academic science and professional rigour injected into targeting specific areas: Torrens Island, Port Gawler and Clinton for mangroves; Elliot Price, the Simpson Desert and Gammon Ranges for arid plant and animal communities, Calectasia in the south east for the blue tinsel lily, Swan Reach for the hairy nosed wombat and Para Wirra and Kyeema for recreation on the outskirts of greater metropolitan Adelaide.

Science continues as basis for the non-profit Nature Conservation Society of South Australia voluntary group, with emphasis on public education through activities and its journal Xanthopus.

The Conservation Council of South Australia (Conservation SA) exercises political clout as peak body for 50 groups (from Adelaide Hills Climate Action Group to ZoosSA), with 90,000 members. It has headquarters in the former Franklin Street terminal, owned by Adelaide City Council, creating a community environment space called The Joinery.