Commonwealth Government links to
the National Biodiversity Strategy
Overview of:
•the Commonwealth Government's
constitutional responsibility for the
environment and in particular biodiversity
•links between the draft strategy and
Commonwealth Government policies and
programs
Commonwealth Government
constitutional responsibility for the
environment
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) – matters of
national environmental significance
• managing Australia’s international border
• managing Commonwealth lands, such as defence
lands and national parks
• managing Commonwealth waters – between the
state/territory limit (3 nautical miles) and the
boundary of Australia’s exclusive economic zone
(200 nautical miles).
State and territory boundaries and the EEZ
Commonwealth Government
policies and programs
• Legislation – e.g. EPBC Act
• Caring for our Country
initiative – targeted $
• Marine environment
• Climate change
• Water
• National policy frameworks
EPBC Act
Matters of national environmental significance
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World Heritage properties
National Heritage places
wetlands of international importance
listed threatened species and ecological
communities
• listed migratory species
• nuclear actions
• Commonwealth marine environment.
EPBC Act - Review
Terms of reference (extract)
The review will examine:
– the operation of the EPBC Act generally
– the extent to which the objects of the EPBC
Act have been achieved
– the appropriateness of current matters of
national environmental significance
– the effectiveness of the biodiversity and
wildlife conservation arrangements.
Caring for our Country
 ongoing initiative
 more than $2 billion over five years to June 2013
 integrates the delivery of the Commonwealth's
previous NRM programs including:
- the Natural Heritage Trust
- the National Action Plan for Salinity
and Water Quality
- National Landcare Program
- Environmental Stewardship
- Working on Country Indigenous
land and sea ranger program.
Caring for our Country
‘… seeks to achieve an environment
that is healthy, better protected,
well managed and resilient, and
provides essential ecosystem
services in a changing climate.’
Marine environment
• Marine bioregional planning
- 5 marine regions
• Marine Protected Areas
- Commonwealth reserves
(under the EPBC Act)
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Marine protected areas
Climate change
3 pillars:
• reducing Australia’s carbon pollution - CPRS
• adapting to unavoidable climate change
• helping to shape a global solution
CPRS White paper
- complementary measures to avoid unintended
detrimental impacts – these include the NBS
Water for the Future
Commonwealth Government framework that
provides national leadership in water reform.
Water for the Future is built on 4 key priorities
• Taking action on climate change
• Using water wisely
• Securing water supplies
• Healthy rivers and waterways.
Working with the states and territories
– national policy work
Engagement in national policy development:
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Native Vegetation Framework
Australian Weeds Strategy
Australian Pest Animal Strategy
AusBIOSEC
National Water Initiative
Regional Forest Agreements
National Reserve System
Climate change adaptation
Integrated coastal zone management
Private land conservation
Market-based instruments
- Environmental stewardship
- Forest Conservation Fund
- Conservation covenants
Landscape scale approaches
- incentives and design
Complementary land-use practices
- links with protected areas
- connectivity
Questions?