Protected areas are set aside for conservation and managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), part of the Department of Planning and Environment. NPWS also jointly manages over 30 reserves in partnership with Aboriginal people.
The protected area network in New South Wales includes a range of habitats and ecosystems, a diversity of plant and animal species, significant geological features and landforms, as well as Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, heritage buildings and historic sites.
The category of a protected area guides its management, and this differs according to the natural, cultural and social values of an area.