Department of Conservation and Land Management (Western Australia)
The Department of Conservation and Land Management was a department of the Government of Western Australia that was responsible for implementing the state's conservation and environment legislation and regulations. It was created by the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, also known as the CALM Act, which is still in force as of 2020.
The Department of Conservation and Land Management was responsible from 22 March 1985 to 30 June 2006 for protecting and conserving the State of Western Australia’s environment; this included managing the state's national parks, marine parks, conservation parks, state forests, timber reserves and nature reserves.
The Conservation Commission of Western Australia, responsible for assessing and auditing the performance of the department, was also created by the CALM Act. Now, its functions have broadened, with its purpose stated as "to act as an independent and trusted community steward and government advisor for the protection of Western Australia’s biodiversity and conservation estate while fostering its appreciation and sustainable use".
Status (at dissolution, 30 June 2006)
CALM had management responsibilities in:- 97 national parks
- conservation parks
- 9 marine parks
- 1 marine nature reserve
- 2 marine management areas
- nature reserves
- state forests
- timber reserves
- other recreational / conservation reserves, freehold and other managed lands
CALM-managed lands and waters received 11,842,000 visits during 2005–2006.
Between 1998 and 2006, the number of people registered as volunteers with the Department grew from 836 to 3,882 with 470,600 hours contributed.
Between 2000 and 2006, the CALM Bush Ranger cadets program showed an increase from 800 to 1,215 Bush Ranger cadets that contributed a total of 268,375 hours to conservation projects just on the last scholar year.
CALM was responsible for the wildlife conservation project Western Shield which is pest animal control.
CALM also managed two long distance trails:
- the Bibbulmun Track for walkers, where the analysis of the data collected from the campsite registers has revealed that:
- *the average length of a walk was 17.5 days
- *more than 20% of the walkers were from interstate and overseas
- *122 people registered as End to End walkers in 2005–2006
- the Munda Biddi Trail for cyclists, where the analysis of the data collected from the campsite registers has revealed that:
- *the average length of a ride was 3.6 days
- *more than 20% of cyclists are from interstate and overseas
- managing fuel loads through prescribed burning and other means
- responding to wildfires
- undertaking research into fire behaviour and effects
| Fire | Location | Area burned | Date | Human fatalities | Livestock death/properties damaged |
| 1997 Perth and SW Region wildfires | Western Australia | 23,000 ha | 2 December 1997 | 2 | 1 home lost |
Preceding agencies
Earlier forms of nature conservation in Western Australia were under:- Department of Lands and Surveys: 1 January 1890 – 31 December 1895
- Wood and Forests Department: 1 January 1896 – 31 December 1918
- Forests Department: 1 January 1919 – 21 March 1985
- State Gardens Board: 15 December 1920 – 30 April 1957
- National Parks Board: 1 May 1957 – 30 July 1977
- Department of Fisheries and Fauna: 1 October 1964 – 31 December 1973
- National Parks Authority: 1 August 1977 – 15 April 1985
- Wildlife section of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife: 1 January 1974 – 21 March 1985