Gibson Desert Nature Reserve

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Western Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = protected

| name = Gibson Desert Nature Reserve

| state = wa

| city =

| iucn_category = Ia

| iucn_ref =

| force_national_map =

| image = Gunbarrel Hwy, Gibson Desert Nature Reserve, Western Australia, Australia.June 2017.IMG1243.jpg

| caption = The Gibson Desert Nature Reserve from Gunbarrel Highway

| image_alt =

| local_map = yes

| zoom = 6

| coordinates = {{coord|-24.748619|125.251404|display=inline,title}}

| relief =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| pushpin_label_position = top

| map_alt =

| nearest_town_or_city = Wiluna

| area = {{convert|1,842,053|hectare|abbr=on}}

| area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/capad2022-terrestrial-wa.xlsx |title=Terrestrial CAPAD 2022 WA summary |author= |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |access-date=8 September 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/dashboard |title=Australian Protected Areas Dashboard |author= |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |access-date=8 September 2023}}

| established = 1977

| established_footnotes =

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| visitation_footnotes =

| managing_authorities = Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

| url =

| footnotes =

}}

File:Pano of Gunbarrel grasslands and dune in the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve. (6937186643).jpg

The Gibson Desert Nature Reserve is an 18,900 km² nature reserve located in the Gibson Desert in central Western Australia. The nature reserve is remote and rarely visited by tourists, and is administered by the Kalgoorlie regional office of the Department of Environment and Conservation.{{cite web |author=Central Desert Native Title Services |title=Other projects |url=http://www.centraldesert.org.au/what-we-do/by-category/other-projects/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130195729/http://www.centraldesert.org.au/what-we-do/by-category/other-projects/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 January 2013 |accessdate=26 July 2012 }}

Located in Australia's arid zone, the reserve's landscape features include sand dune and plains, stony mesaform hills and undulating laterite plains. The dominant vegetation is spinifex interspersed with low shrubs and trees.{{cite Q|Q60895001 | last1 = Burrows| first1 = N.D. | last2 = Algar| first2 = D. | last3 = Robinson | first3 = A.D. | last4 = Sinagra | first4 = J. | last5 = Ward | first5 = B. | last6 = Liddelow | first6 = G. |}}

The vast pebbles, red sand plains, and hills of this wilderness are home to many diverse reptiles. Here one can find yellow and brown striped snakes and the thorny devil.{{Cite web |last=Shorowarthy |first=Shahab Uddin |date=2022-11-26 |title=Gibson Desert Nature Reserve: A Beautiful Place in Australia |url=https://nehrin.com/gibson-desert-nature-reserve/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=nehrin.com |language=en-US}}

In 2020, an agreement with the Gibson Desert People and the Western Australian Government, gave the name Pila Reserve to the area, with management to be shared by the traditional owners, the Gibson Desert People and the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions.{{citation|title=Agreement between the Gibson Desert People and State Government of Western Australia|date=2020-10-28|url=http://www.centraldesert.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/201030_Media-Release-GDNR.pdf|access-date=2021-04-23|author=Gibson Desert Native Title Services}}