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NATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS

FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

2001–2005

A U S T R A L I A

NSW NATIONALPARKS AND

WILDLIFE SERVICE

Natural Resources and EnvironmentAGRICULTURE • RESOURCES • CONSERVATION • LAND MANAGEMENT

© Commonwealth of Australia 2001

ISBN 0642547432

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permittedunder the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproducedby any process without prior written permission from theCommonwealth, available from Environment Australia.Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rightsshould be addressed to:

Assistant SecretaryNatural Heritage Trust and Biodiversity Policy BranchEnvironment AustraliaGPO Box 787Canberra ACT 2601

The publication can also be downloaded from the followingsite: http://chm.environment.gov.au

For additional copies of this publication, please contact theCommunity Information Unit of Environment Australia on tollfree 1800 803 772.

The views expressed in this report are not necessarily those ofthe Commonwealth of Australia, or those of the Australian Stateand Territory Governments. The Commonwealth, States andTerritories do not accept responsibility for any advice orinformation in relation to this material.

For bibliographic purposes this report may be cited as: National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation2001–2005, (2001), Canberra.

This report was printed in Australia on recycled paper by Pirie Printers.

Designed by: Fusebox Design.

COVER PHOTO CREDITS

Wetland: Sarah Young

Everlasting wildflower: Steve Szabo

Two men measuring tree growth: Tony Karacsonyi

Satellite picture: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

‘At the dawn of a newcentury, we have the abilityto change the vital ecosystemsof this planet, for better orworse. To change them for thebetter, we must recognise thatthe well-being of people andecosystems is interwoven andthat the fabric is fraying.’ 1

1 Brown, Topfer, Wolfensohn and Lash, 2000, World Resources 2000–2001 – People and Ecosystems, World Resources Institute, Washington, USA

Robert HillCommonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Bob DebusNew South WalesMinister for Environment

Judy EdwardsWestern Australia Minister for Environment and Heritage

Brendan SmythAustralian Capital TerritoryMinister for the Environment

Iain EvansSouth AustraliaMinister for the Environment and HeritageMinister for Recreation, Sport and RacingMinister responsible for Volunteers

Sherryl GarbuttVictoriaMinister for Environment and Conservation

Biodiversity describes the organisms in thenatural environment, which provide theecosystem services that form our natural capital:fresh water, clean air, soil fertility and biologicalpest control. Biodiversity is fundamental to thefuture sustainability of the world’s naturalresources. A recent report by the WorldResources Institute values the ‘free’ ecosystemservices at over $30 trillion to the globaleconomy each year. Conservation ofbiodiversity, on economic grounds alone, needsto become core business in the management ofour natural resources.

These ecosystem services are under threat,globally and nationally, because the world isfacing a wave of extinctions at a scale not seenbefore in human history. Australia has a uniqueresponsibility to conserve our biodiversity: weare a wealthy nation and are custodians of oneof 17 megadiverse nations. Over 80 per centof our plants and animals are endemic toAustralia – that is, they are found nowhereelse in the world2.

In 1996 Australia recognised the importanceof biodiversity conservation when the Councilof Australian Governments (COAG) adoptedthe National Strategy for the Conservationof Australia’s Biological Diversity. In 2000,ANZECC3 commissioned a progress report.The report found that whilst significant advanceshad been made since 1996, a number ofobjectives had not been achieved.

This document sets objectives and targets forten priority outcomes which the Commonwealth,States and Territories should pursue betweennow and 2005. The challenges and opportunitiesfor biodiversity conservation are not uniform acrossAustralia, so there will be some regional variationin the timing of the application of these targets.

The priority actions are to:

1. protect and restore native vegetation andterrestrial ecosystems;

2. protect and restore freshwater ecosystems;

3. protect and restore marine and estuarineecosystems;

4. control invasive species;

5. mitigate dryland salinity;

6. promote ecologically sustainable grazing;

7. minimise impacts of climate change onbiodiversity;

8. maintain and record indigenous peoples’ethnobiological knowledge;

9. improve scientific knowledge and accessto information; and

10. introduce institutional reform.

These priority outcomes, objectives and targetscomplement the Prime Minister’s National ActionPlan for Salinity and Water Quality initiativeadopted by COAG in November 2000; theNational Framework for Management andMonitoring of Australia’s Native Vegetation;the National Greenhouse Strategy; the RamsarConvention Strategic Plan 1997–2002; theAsia–Pacific Migratory Waterbird ConservationStrategy and Shorebird Action Plan 2000–2005;and COAG water reforms.

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1 Brown, Topfer, Wolfensohn and Lash, 2000, World Resources 2000–2001 – People and Ecosystems, World Resources Institute, Washington, USA

2 State of the Environment Council (eds), Australia: State of the Environment 1996, Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Vic

3 ANZECC: The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council which comprises the environment ministers from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and all States and Territories of Australia and the Commonwealth.

NATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 2001–2005

‘At the dawn of a new century, we have the ability to change the vital ecosystems ofthis planet, for better or worse. To change them for the better, we must recognise thatthe well-being of people and ecosystems is interwoven and that the fabric is fraying.’ 1

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KEY ACTIONS TO MITIGATE THREATS OBJECTIVES(Outcomes needed to achieve the key actions)

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1 Protect and restore native vegetationand terrestrial ecosystems.

1.1 Reverse the long-term decline in the qualityand extent of Australia’s native vegetationand ecological communities and theecosystem services they provide.

1.2 Protect a representative sample of Australia’sterrestrial ecosystems.

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TARGETS 2001–2005(What can be achieved in 2001–2005)4

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION(A measure that indicates the degree to which a target has been met)

VEGETATION& TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

4 Dates are indicative and application of the targets will vary in time across the jurisdictions5 ‘Native vegetation communities’ means all vegetation communities that are indigenous to Australia.

1.1.1 By 2001, all jurisdictions have mechanisms inplace, including regulations, at the State andregional levels that:

• prevent decline in the conservation status of native vegetation communities as a result of land clearance; and

• prevent clearance of ecological communities with an extent below 10 per cent of thatpresent pre-1750.

1.1.2 By 2003, all jurisdictions:

• have clearing controls in place that prevent clearance of ecological communities with an extent below 30 per cent of that present pre-1750; and

• have programs in place to assess vegetation condition.

1.1.3 By 2005, all jurisdictions have programs inplace to protect areas of high quality nativevegetation.

1.1.4 By 2001, all jurisdictions have clearing controlsin place that will have the effect of reducing thenational net rate of land clearance to zero.

1.2.1 By 2001, management plans are developed andimplemented for:

• protected areas in the National ReserveSystem;

• informal protected area networks;

• indigenous estates; and

• private land covered by formalisedconservation agreements.

1.2.2 By 2001, ANZECC has developed an actionplan for the National Reserve System whichincludes targets for the protection andrestoration of terrestrial ecosystems onindigenous-owned estates and private land.

• Number of jurisdictions with native vegetationclearing regulations.

• Number and percentage of native vegetationcommunities with declining conservation statusdue to land clearing or the effects of land clearing(eg salinity) as a significant cause.

• Number of jurisdictions and area of clearingof ecological communities with an extentbelow 10 per cent of that present pre-1750.

• Number of jurisdictions and area of clearingof ecological communities with an extentbelow 30 per cent of that present pre-1750.

• Percentage of area of native vegetationcommunities covered by programs to assessvegetation condition, by jurisdiction.

• Percentage of area of native vegetationcommunities covered by programs to protectareas of high quality native vegetation, byjurisdiction.

• Net rate of land clearance by jurisdiction per year,comprising:

– area of native vegetation communities cleared,by jurisdiction per year; and

– area being revegetated to native vegetationcommunities5, per year.

• Number of management plans and areacovered by plans being implemented for:

– all protected areas;

– indigenous estates;

– informal protected area networks; and

– private land covered by formalisedconservation agreements.

• Progress towards an action plan being developed.

• Improvement in the comprehensiveness of theformal and informal reserve systems

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1 Protect and restore native vegetationand terrestrial ecosystems. (continued)


NATIVE

1.2 Protect a representative sample of Australia’sterrestrial ecosystems. (continued)

1.3 Protect threatened species and ecologicalcommunities.

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1.2.3 By 2005, a representative sample of eachbioregion (as specified by the ANZECC actionplan) is protected within the National ReserveSystem or network of Indigenous ProtectedAreas or as private land managed forconservation under a conservation agreement.

1.2.4 By 2003, all jurisdictions have in place:

• native vegetation restoration programsto recover ecological communities that arebelow 10 per cent of that present pre-1750or are nationally listed as criticallyendangered; and

• effective incentive mechanisms, targetedto bioregions, provinces and/or catchments,to support the protection of unreservedbiodiversity and all threatened ecosystems.

1.3.1 By 2002, all jurisdictions have effectivelegislation to protect threatened species andecological communities and to provide forrecovery planning.

1.3.2 By 2004, recovery plans are in place for allnationally listed critically endangered andendangered species and ecologicalcommunities.

1.3.3 By 2005, all jurisdictions have incorporated therecovery of threatened species and ecologicalcommunities into integratedcatchment/regional management plans.

• Percentage of bioregions represented in theNational Reserve System or in secure covenantson private land.

• Area where the condition of native vegetation isknown and mapped.

• Area covered by catchments/regions which haveset targets for revegetation and restoration thattake into account ‘priority areas’ and havedesignated a percentage of the region to berevegetated.

• Number and percentage of critically endangeredecological communities where the area coveredis: (a) rising and (b) falling.

• Area of private land covered by conservationcovenants, management agreements or otherformalised conservation agreements, byjurisdiction.

• Number of jurisdictions that have legislation toprotect threatened species and communities andprovide for recovery planning.

• Number and percentage of nationally listedendangered species and ecological communitieswith recovery plans being implemented, byjurisdiction.

• Number and area covered by catchment/ regionalmanagement plans providing for the recovery ofthreatened species and ecological communities.



VEGETATION& TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Biodiversity* see (BD): 1, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13• Land indicators** see (L): 4, 5.

* Biodiversity Indicators see: Saunders D., C. Margules and B. Hill (1998)** Land Indicators see: Hamblin A. (1998)

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2 Protect and restore freshwater ecosystems.

2.1 Achieve ecologically sustainable managementof Australia’s water resources and water-dependent ecosystems.

2.2 Manage threats, prevent degradation andmaintain the ecological character of Australia’snationally and internationally significantwetland-dependent and water-dependentecosystems.

2.3 Protect significant habitats for migratorywaterbirds.

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FRESHWATER

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2.1.1 By 2001:

• all jurisdictions have, in accordance with theCOAG Water Reform Framework, completedimplementation of environmental allocations forall river systems which have been over-allocatedor are deemed to be stressed;

• the majority of waterways substantially conformto the relevant standards in the guidelines of theNational Water Quality Management Strategy,including those for chemical composition,turbidity and temperature; and

• water resource management plans which includeflow allocations for the environment and addressin-stream barriers to movement of fauna are inplace in the majority of catchments.

2.1.2 By 2005, water resource management planswhich include and emphasise ecologicallysustainable use of groundwater resources arein place in relevant catchments.

2.2.1 By 2001, all jurisdictions have identifiedwetlands of national and internationalsignificance.

2.2.2 By 2003, management plans for 85 per cent ofinternationally significant wetlands listed underthe Convention on Wetlands are prepared andimplemented consistent with the AustralianRamsar Management Principles (Regulation10.02 – Environment Protection andBiodiversity Conservation (2000)).

2.2.3 By 2005, all jurisdictions have effectivelegislation and management plans in placeto protect wetlands of national significance.

• Percentage of area of river and groundwatersystems for which environmental allocations havebeen substantially implemented for all systemsidentified in implementation programs agreed andendorsed under the COAG Water ReformFramework.

• Percentage of waterways which conformto guidelines of the National Water QualityManagement Strategy using length of waterwayand number of waterways as measures.

• Percentage of area of catchments/regions coveredby water resource management plans detailingenvironmental flows.

• Percentage of area of catchments/regions withgroundwater resources which have water/resourcemanagement plans detailing groundwater usageand replenishment rates.

• Percentage of catchments with groundwaterresources which are over-allocated or areapproaching over-allocation.

• Percentage increase in number of, and areacovered by, wetlands of national and internationalsignificance by jurisdiction.

• Number and percentage of Ramsar and otherinternationally significant wetlands withmanagement plans.

• Number of jurisdictions that have effectivelegislation and management plans to protectwetlands.

ECOSYSTEMS

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2. Protect and restore freshwaterecosystems. (continued)

2.3 Protect significant habitats for migratorywaterbirds. (continued)


FRESHWATER 2

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2.3.1 By 2001, all jurisdictions have identifiedimportant areas of habitat for migratorywaterbirds.

2.3.2 By 2003, all jurisdictions have programs inplace, both on and off reserve, to protectsignificant habitats for migratory waterbirds.

• Extent to which migratory waterbird habitats havebeen identified, by jurisdiction.

• Percentage area of significant waterbird habitatscovered by site management plans, speciesconservation plans, conservation agreementsand other conservation programs.

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Biodiversity (BD) see: 2, 8 • Inland Water* (IW) see: 1–15.



ECOSYSTEMS

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* Inland Water Indicators see: Fairweather P. and G. Napier (1998)

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MARINE AND

3 Protect and restore marine and estuarine ecosystems.

Objectives 2.2 and 2.3 contribute to achieving Action 3.

3.1 Contribute to:

• the long-term ecological viability of marineand estuarine systems including seagrasses,saltmarshes and mangroves;

• the maintenance of marine ecologicalprocesses and systems;

• the protection of Australia’s marine biologicaldiversity at all levels;

• the protection of migratory and residentwaterbirds;

• the prevention of marine and estuarine pestintroductions and control of existingintroduced marine and estuarine pests; and

• the reduction of marine and estuarinepollution.

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* Estuaries and the Sea see: Ward T., E. Butler and B. Hill (1998).

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3.1.1 By 2003, all jurisdictions have developedstatutory instruments for marine and estuarinewater quality standards.

3.1.2 By 2003, substantial progress has been madetowards the establishment of the NationalRepresentative System of Marine Protected Areas.

3.1.3 By 2003, additional Commonwealth marineprotected areas have been established inthe large marine ecosystem covered by theSouth-East Regional Marine Plan.

3.1.4 By 2005, the number of Australian sitesthat have been included in the East Asian–Australasian Shorebird Site Networkhas increased from 11 in 2001 to 36.

3.1.5 By 2002, the Commonwealth has in place arevised coastal policy that details coastal andestuarine biodiversity conservation in a naturalresource management framework.

3.1.6 By 2003, a national comprehensive system for prevention and management of introducedmarine pests is in place.

3.1.7 By 2003, recovery plans for all marinelisted threatened species are in place.

3.1.8 By 2003, the Commonwealth has completedecological performance assessments of allexport fisheries.

3.1.9 By 2005, strategic environmental impactassessment has commenced for allCommonwealth-managed fisheries.

3.1.10 By 2003, substantial progress has been madeon the implementation of Commonwealthcommitments outlined in Australia’s OceansPolicy targeting the management, conservationand protection of marine biodiversity.

• Extent to which statutory instruments for marineand estuarine water quality standards have beendeveloped and implemented.

• Progress towards the establishment of acomprehensive, adequate and representativesystem of marine protected areas by jurisdiction.

• Number of marine protected area declarations(Commonwealth/State/Northern Territory) andarea covered by them.

• Increase in the number of and area covered byCommonwealth marine protected areas in thesouth-east region.

• Number of additional sites included in the EastAsian–Australasian Shorebird Site Network.

• Progress towards completing a revised coastalpolicy and extent to which policy targets are met.

• Progress towards establishing and implementing anational comprehensive system for the preventionand management of introduced marine pests.

• Percentage of marine listed threatened species forwhich recovery plans are in place.

• Percentage of export fisheries for which ecologicalperformance assessments are completed.

• Percentage of Commonwealth-managed fisheriesfor which strategic environmental impactassessment has commenced.

• Extent of progress in implementingCommonwealth commitments in Australia’sOceans Policy targeting biodiversity conservation.

ESTUARINEECOSYSTEMS

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Biodiversity (BD) see: 4,5,11,12 • Estuaries and the Sea* (E+S) see: 2,4.



4 Control invasive species.

All targets in 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3are Commonwealth responsibilities.

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INVASIVE

4.1 Prevent or control the introduction andspread of feral animals and weed species.

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4.1.1 By 2001, the import of all new live organisms issubject to a risk-based assessment processthat identifies the conditions necessary tominimise threats to the environment.

4.1.2 By 2001, no new non-native species aredeliberately introduced into Australia unlessassessed as being of low risk to theenvironment.

4.1.3 By 2003, all naturalised non-native specieshave been assessed and assigned to broad-based threat categories according to theirthreat to biodiversity.

4.1.4 By 2005:

• all regional/catchment management plansinclude actions to reduce the threat tobiodiversity from naturalised non-nativespecies; and

• programs are in place to manage invasivespecies that are major threats to biologicaldiversity at sites of national environmentalsignificance6.

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SPECIES

• Percentage of new live organisms proposed forimport subject to a risk assessment that identifiesthe conditions necessary to minimise threats to theenvironment.

• Number of new non-native species that aredeliberately introduced to Australia and have notbeen assessed as being of low risk to theenvironment.

• Number and percentage of introduced non-nativespecies categorised into broad-based threatcategories or uncatergorised.

• Number of regional/catchment management plans,which include actions to reduce the threat tobiodiversity from naturalised non-native species.

• Number of introduced plants, mammals, birds,fish, invertebrates and pathogens that pose majorthreats to biological diversity and are beingcontrolled at sites of national environmentalsignificance.

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Biodiversity (BD) see: 4.

6 ‘National environmental significance’ includes actions that have a significant impact on World Heritage Areas, wetlands of international importance, nationally listed threatened species and ecological communities, nationally listed migratory species and the marine environment.



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5 Mitigate dryland salinity.

DRYLAND

5.1 Protect and restore native biodiversity throughretention and improved management of nativevegetation, and revegetation aimed atreversing lost agricultural productivity,deteriorating water quality, and damage tonative ecosystems caused by dryland salinity.

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SALINITY

5.1.1 National standards will be developed andagreed under a COAG intergovernmentalagreement to implement the National ActionPlan for Salinity and Water Quality. Standardswill cover salinity, water quality and associatedwater flows and stream and terrestrial biodiversity.

• Performance indicators will be developed andagreed in the processes to implement the NationalAction Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Land (L) see: 4, 5.



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6 Promote ecologically sustainablegrazing.


ECOLOGICALLY

6.1 Protect areas of high conservationsignificance at risk of unsustainablegrazing pressure.

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• Number of jurisdictions that have identifiedthreatened native grasslands and areas of highconservation significance.

• Number of jurisdictions that have identifiedsustainable levels of domestic grazing acrosscatchments and bioregions and in differentecosystems.

• Number of jurisdictions that protect threatenednative grasslands and areas of high conservationsignificance in integrated catchment/regionalmanagement plans.



SUSTAINABLEGRAZING

6.1.1 By 2002, all jurisdictions have identifiedthreatened native grasslands and areas of highconservation significance that may be subjectto unsustainable grazing pressure.

6.1.2 By 2003, all jurisdictions have identifiedsustainable levels of grazing by domesticanimals within threatened native grasslandsand areas of high conservation significancethat may be subject to unsustainable grazingpressure.

6.1.3 By 2005, all jurisdictions have incorporatedinto integrated catchment/regional managementplans, the protection of threatened nativegrasslands and areas of high conservationsignificance which may be subject to grazingpressure.

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Land (L) see: 1.

7 Minimise impacts of climate changeon biodiversity.

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IMPACTS OF CLIMATE

7.1 Minimise the impacts of human-inducedclimate change on biological diversity.

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7.1.1 By 2003, ANZECC has developed an actionplan to identify the potential impacts of climatechange on Australia’s biodiversity andmeasures to address these impacts.

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CHANGEON BIODIVERSITY

• Progress by ANZECC towards developing anaction plan to identify the potential impacts ofclimate change on Australia's biodiversity andmeasures to address these impacts.

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ETHNOBIOLOGICAL

8 Maintain and record ethnobiologicalknowledge.

8.1 Ensure indigenous communities have accessto resources to enable them to preserve theirethnobiological knowledge about biodiversityconservation.

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KNOWLEDGE

8.1.1 By 2002, all jurisdictions have, in cooperationwith indigenous peoples:

• established mechanisms to facilitate the intergenerational transfer of ethnobiological knowledge; and

• identified high priority regions for ethnobiological research.

8.1.2 By 2005, in cooperation with indigenouspeoples, ethnobiological research hascommenced in all high priority regions.

8.1.3 By 2003, all jurisdictions have developedmechanisms to ensure indigenouscommunities can protect their interestsin ‘indigenous peoples’ ethnobiologicalknowledge and information.

• Number of jurisdictions that have negotiatedmechanisms with indigenous people to facilitatethe intergenerational transfer of ethnobiologicalknowledge.

• Number and percentage of high priority regions,by jurisdiction, in which ethnobiological researchhas commenced.

• Number of jurisdictions with programs to facilitatethe intergenerational transfer of ethnobiologicalknowledge.

• Number of jurisdictions that have negotiatedmechanisms with indigenous people to protecttheir ethnobiological knowledge and information.

9 Improve scientific knowledge andaccess to information.

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KNOWLEDGE

9.1 Improve our scientific knowledge by:

• identifying and monitoring Australia’s biodiversity;

• identifying and understanding threatsto biodiversity;

• monitoring the effectiveness of management techniques; and

• identifying the economic value of biodiversity.

9.2 Ensure the maintenance of scientificcollections.

9.3 Verify, and make accessible, existing scientificknowledge and scientific collections.

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• Progress toward the identification by ANZECC ofhighest priority biodiversity research up to 2005.

• Percentage of identified high priority researchareas where research (a) has begun and (b) isbeing applied to biodiversity conservation.

• Percentage of area in catchments/regions inwhich the flora and fauna have beensystematically surveyed.

• Percentage of high priority areas which haveprograms to monitor biodiversity.

• Percentage of area of catchments and bioregionswhere biogeographically important populations ofnative flora and fauna have been systematicallyidentified and mapped.

• Number of, and area covered by, research projectson the economic value of biodiversity conservationthat have been completed or are in progress.

• Area covered by published data sets on theeconomic value of biodiversity, by jurisdiction.

• Number and percentage of taxa described forAustralian fungi, non-vascular plants,invertebrates, bacteria and other microorganisms.

• Comparison of the taxonomic groups representedin scientific collections in 2005 as compared to2000, including:

– number of additional groups represented; and

– number of and percentage of groups that werepoorly represented and have becomesignificantly better represented.

• Number and coverage of agreements to sharedata and information about biodiversity.

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AND ACCESSTO INFORMATION

9.1.1 By 2001, ANZECC has identified prioritiesfor biodiversity research up to 2005.

9.1.2 By 2003, all jurisdictions have identified andmapped the biogeographically importantpopulations of native flora and fauna, takinginto account centres of endemism, refuges forprimitive species, significant sites for migratoryspecies, critical habitat for threatened speciesand ecological communities.

9.1.3 By 2003, all jurisdictions are developingcomprehensive data on the economic valueof biodiversity conservation.

9.1.4 By 2005, there is a 20 per cent increasenationally in the number of taxa described forAustralian fungi and non-vascular plants; anda 5 per cent increase in the number of taxadescribed for Australian invertebrates, bacteriaand other microorganisms.

9.2.1 By 2005, scientific collections are beingconserved and augmented.

9.3.1 By 2003, there is a networked and distributedsystem of databases that is accessible toscientists, planners, decision-makers and thecommunity containing information about theimportant components of biodiversity.



9 Improve scientific knowledge andaccess to information. (continued)

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KNOWLEDGE

9.3 Verify, and make accessible, existing scientificknowledge and scientific collections. (continued)

9.4 The community understands the concept ofbiodiversity and actions that can be taken toconserve species, ecological communities andecosystems.

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• Extent of land area covered by geographicinformation system data that is accessible for useby local government in land use approval andother processes.

• Percentage of the community which understandsthe concept of biodiversity, the major issuesimpacting on its conservation, and the personal,local and national actions required to conservebiodiversity.

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AND ACCESSTO INFORMATION

9.3.2 By 2005, a universally accessible, Internet-based, integrated Australian flora informationsystem is completed.

9. 4.1 By 2005, there is a 50 per cent increase in theawareness by the community of the conceptand significance of biodiversity and actionsthat can be taken to conserve species,ecological communities and ecosystems.

Relevant 2000 ANZECC State of the Environment Indicators for:• Biodiversity (BD) see: 9.



10 Introduce institutional reform.

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10.1 Biodiversity conservation is recognised ascore business in the management of Australia’snatural resources.

10.2 Market-based instruments and formalisedconservation agreements are used to assistin the conservation of biodiversity.

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• Percentage of area covered by bioregional andcatchment strategies which have been developedor reviewed since 2000 and which identifybiodiversity conservation priorities and targets.

• Percentage of area covered by propertymanagement plans, which have biodiversityconservation priorities and targets.

• Percentage of catchment, regional and localgovernment development plans developed orreviewed since 2000 that include biodiversityconservation targets and identify theresponsibilities of State/Territory Governments,local government and the community.

• Number of, and area covered by, formalisedconservation agreements in operation, byjurisdiction. Agreements include conservationcovenants, management agreements and/orother formalised conservation agreements.

• Percentage of area in catchments/regions withineach State and Territory and the number of localgovernments where legislative and economicinstruments are used to conserve biodiversity.

• Percentage of area in catchments/bioregions,by jurisdiction, where economic instruments areassessed by an independent body to be effectivein conserving biodiversity.

• Number of perverse incentives identified.

• Number of jurisdictions where legislative andregulatory impediments to biodiversityconservation and perverse incentives thatencourage biodiversity loss have been removed.

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10.1.1 By 2005, all jurisdictions have in place:

• integrated regional and catchmentmanagement plans in which biodiversityconservation is a core component; and

• partnership arrangements where State,local government and communityresponsibilities for biodiversity conservationare clearly identified.

10.2.1 By 2001, all jurisdictions have reviewedtheir legislative and regulatory frameworks toidentify any impediments to the introductionand use of formalised conservationagreements.

10.2.2 By 2003, all jurisdictions have reviewedtheir legislative and regulatory frameworksto identify:

• impacts on the appropriate use of naturalresources and the effectiveness ofeconomic instruments and incentive-basedpolicies (such as tradeable permit schemes,taxes, charges and subsidies) that promotebiodiversity conservation; and

• perverse incentives encouragingbiodiversity loss or environmental damage.

10.2.3 By 2005, jurisdictions have removed orare removing legislative and regulatoryimpediments to biodiversity conservation,including perverse incentives that encouragebiodiversity loss.

REFORMTARGETS 2001–2005(What can be achieved in 2001–2005)4


REFERENCES

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council(ANZECC) State of the Environment Reporting Task Force, 2000,Core Environmental Indicators for Reporting on the State of theEnvironment, Environment Australia, Canberra, endorsed by ANZECCin December 1999, http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/envindicators/coreindicators.html

Brown, Topfer, Wolfensohn and Lash, 2000, World Resources 2000–2001 –People and Ecosystems: The Fraying Web of Life, World ResourcesInstitute, Washington, USA

Fairweather P. and G. Napier (1998) Environmental indicators for nationalstate of the environment reporting – Inland waters, Australia: State ofthe Environment (Environmental Indicator Reports), Department of theEnvironment, Canberra.

Hamblin A. (1998) Environmental indicators for national state of theenvironment reporting – The Land, Australia: State of the Environment(Environmental Indicator Reports), Department of the Environment,Canberra.

Saunders D., C. Margules and B. Hill (1998) Environmental indicators fornational state of the environment reporting – Biodiversity, Australia:State of the Environment (Environmental Indicator Reports),Department of the Environment, Canberra.

State of the Environment Council (eds), Australia: State of the Environment1996, Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, CSIROPublishing, Melbourne, Vic

Ward T., E. Butler and B. Hill (1998) Environmental indicators for nationalstate of the environment reporting – Estuaries and the Sea, Australia:State of the Environment (Environmental Indicator Reports),Department of the Environment, Canberra.

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