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The rangelands of Western Australia cover about 85% of the state. Many ecosystems are contained within pastoral leases, where after about 150 years of settlement, extensive changes to vegetation and soils have occurred. The recognition of the need to conserve the full array of indigenous ecosystems and species has occurred at all community and political levels in various international, national, state and territory, and local settings. One of the keys to conservation of the State's biodiversity is the establishment of a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserve system. In WA a pastoral land acquisition program aimed at increasing the conservation reserve system has resulted in about four million hectares within the Gascoyne-Murchison region being acquired. Planning and management activities on this land have begun, with the primary aim being to ensure that land and biological assets return to their pre European state. Ongoing management of the conservation reserve system seeks to resolve conflicts resulting from differences in land use objectives.