New protection for five million hectares around Uluru

FIVE million hectares of land around Uluru has been declared an Indigenous Protected Area.

The declaration will allow traditional owners to better preserve sites of cultural significance in the region through federal government funding.

Central Land Council director David Ross said on Thursday that the new protected area in the Northern Territory would help the Anangu people re-engage in traditional cultural practices.

"They can get out on country for burning, clearing of water holes or ceremony and to take young people out with them and pass on cultural knowledge," he said.

Australia has 51 Indigenous Protected Areas covering more than 36 million hectares in total.

- APN NEWSDESK.