An area two-thirds the size of Tasmania has come under a landmark agreement with Traditional Owners, meeting a major environment target for Australia.
A huge swath of the Simpson Desert in the Northern Territory's southeast is now protected through Aboriginal management, ensuring a quarter of Australia's landmass is under some form of conservation agreement.
The Indigenous Protected Area signing took place on Wednesday at the remote Uluperte homelands, an agreement that covers 47,311 square kilometres.
The IPA will be managed by the Central Land Council, who said the homelands was buzzing as bush medicine workshops began and cultural knowledge was shared.
"The country's looking good after rain a couple of weeks ago, and all the people are excited and proud for this," the council's chief executive officer Les Turner told AAP.
"It gives an opportunity for Traditional Owners to teach young ones and go on to Country."
The agreement ticks off the federal government's interim target for the 2025/26 financial year to protect 25 per cent of Australia's landmass, up three per cent from when Labor was first elected.
They have set a target of protecting 30 per cent of Australia's landmass by 2030.
Environment Minister Murray Watt congratulated the region's Traditional Owners as the government worked toward hitting the final target through the $250 million Australian Bushland program.
“This is crucial to supporting threatened species and the habitats they call home, and ensuring generations to come can enjoy Australia’s unique native wildlife and landscape," he said.
Back at Uluperte, Mr Turner said Wednesday's events were just the start for land management and cultural connection in the area.
He said the agreement's $1.3 million in federal government support over the next two years would allow for an IPA co-ordinator and new ranger positions.
"The important things is it's Aboriginal people in control and managing the land, and this has been done in consultations with pastoralists and Traditional Owners," he said.
"It's also two-way learning ... in terms of Western and traditional ways."
IPAs cover areas Traditional Owners have agreed to manage biodiversity through agreements with the federal government and represent more than 55 per cent of Australia's National Reserve System.
Mr Turner hopes the IPA can increase protection for endangered animals in the area and expand into developing a junior ranger program.
"It's over 47,000 square kilometres, about two thirds the size of Tasmania, and we have IPAs to the west of Alice Springs which cover an area larger than the size of the state of Victoria ... these groups all work together," he said.
Traditional land custodian Damien Ryder said the IPA would help them protect sacred sites, aid fire management and control feral animal numbers.
"It's good to have families all to come together as a group and all involved in the protection of the country," he said.
Mr Ryder hoped the increased support would also help them manage remote outstations in the area and improve resources for people living on Country.
The IPA runs across the Pmere Nyente, Atnetye and Pmer Ulperre Ingwemirne Arletherre Aboriginal land trusts, with East Arrernte and Lower Southern Arrernte language and cultural groups in the area.
