Strategies Program 1.1: Sustainable management of natural resources and the environment

The National Reserve System

Underpinning Australia’s National Reserve System is a scientific bioregional framework, which sets out targets required to achieve a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system. The aim is to fill notable gaps in the system by increasing the level of protection in bioregions that are less than 10per cent protected in reserves. The creation of a comprehensive, adequate and representative National Reserve System also plays an important role in protecting habitat for threatened species and ecosystems as well as land in recognised biodiversity corridors, better enabling species to migrate through the landscape and adapt to future climate change.

The National Reserve System program provides financial assistance to organisations buying high conservation value land for the creation and consolidation of conservation reserves and supports covenanting agencies in protecting areas of high conservation value on private land.

During 2011–12 the Australian Government contributed nearly $26.4 million towards the purchase of 11 properties covering approximately 233525 hectares. It also contributed just over $1.49 million to accelerate the registration of conservation covenants over private lands.

Land purchases supported this year included:

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  Thelangerin, a 20164 hectare property located north-west of Hay in New South Wales. The property contains habitat for at least 16 nationally threatened species in the under-represented Riverina Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bioregion. Thelangerin also contains the most easterly occurrence of two saltbush communities in New South Wales and protects habitat for nationally listed migratory species. With its river red gum and black box communities, semi-arid shrub lands, a nationally important wetland (the Lachlan Swamp) and extensive Lachlan River frontage, Thelangerin’s biodiversity values are extensive. Thelangerin’s western boundary adjoins the Kalyarr sections of the Lachlan Valley National Park and its south-eastern boundary adjoins the Lachlan Valley State Conservation Area. This connection significantly enhances the viability of the biodiversity values in all three reserves and consolidates this important reserve node into a protected area of approximately 42335 hectares.
  
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  Eight Mile, a 13579 hectare property in north-central Queensland. The property contains habitat for eight nationally listed threatened species. Eight Mile also protects important wetlands associated with the Gilbert River and its tributaries and diverse ecosystems that transition across the poorly protected Gulf Plains and Einasleigh Uplands bioregions. Through its connection to the Gilbert River and Rungulla protected areas and the Great Artesian Basin Rim state-wide corridor, Eight Mile provides an important climatic refuge and enhances habitat continuity. The property shares its entire western boundary with the Gilbert and Rungulla protected area node, increasing the overall protected area to more than 130000 hectares.
  

Indigenous Protected Areas

The government’s Caring for our Country initiative provides funding over five years to support Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs)—non-statutory protected areas that form part of the National Reserve System. The funding assists Indigenous landowners to establish and manage IPAs on their lands and supports them through contractual arrangements with the government. The program also promotes the integration of Indigenous ecological and cultural knowledge into the management of these areas.

In 2011–12 the Indigenous Protected Areas program supported 51declared IPAs. Another 43 consultation projects explored the potential for IPA declaration over additional areas of Indigenous-owned land.

The government’s Caring for our Country initiative provided over $12.5million in grants and project support during 2011–12.

Seven new IPAs, covering 10.296millionhectares, were declared in 2011–12:

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  Dorodong IPA covers 85 hectares in the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion and provides habitat for several rare and unusual species of frog.
  
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  Weilmoringle IPA in central New South Wales covers 4073 hectares of mixed eucalypt forest with shallow creeks and swamps, providing habitat for several listed vulnerable species.
  
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  Yanyuwa IPA covers more than 130000 hectares of land in the Gulf Coastal Bioregion adjacent to the McArthur River at Borroloola and incorporates five Sir Edward Pellew archipelago islands.
  
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  Minyumai IPA includes more than 2000 hectares of paperbark groves and eucalypt and bloodwood forests, as well as rare patches of rainforest that help to form a crucial wildlife corridor of more than 20000 hectares linking Tabbimobile Swamp Nature Reserve with Budjalung National Park.
  
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  Gumma IPA includes 111 hectares of salt marshes and mangroves with dense, old-growth eucalypt forest adjacent to Nambucca Heads in New South Wales. The area provides habitat for arboreal mammals and micro-bats, with the dense undergrowth home to a number of rare or threatened species.
  
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  Mandingalbay Yidinji IPA, adjacent to Cairns in Queensland, became the first IPA to be recognised over a range of conservation tenures through agreement with the relevant management agencies. It includes Aboriginal land and existing government protected areas, including Grey Peaks National Park, East Trinity Environmental Reserve, and the Trinity Inlet Fish Habitat Area.
  
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  The Southern Tanami IPA covers 10.158 million hectares of the Tanami Desert and the Great Sandy Desert in the Northern Territory, making it the largest terrestrial protected area in Australia. It provides habitat for an extremely diverse reptile fauna as well as several listed threatened species (see Case study, below).
  

Indigenous Emissions Trading Scheme

The Indigenous Emissions Trading Scheme positioned Indigenous land managers for entry into emerging carbon markets. The government’s commitment under the Caring for our Country initiative provided $10 million over four years (2008–12) to facilitate Indigenous participation in carbon markets. The scheme was delivered in two project streams: Indigenous Fire Management in Northern Australia aimed to generate carbon market opportunities through traditional fire management; and Indigenous Carbon Market Participation supported Indigenous engagement in carbon market opportunities beyond the northern savannah regions.

Indigenous programs

Caring for our Country programs that support Indigenous people and communities contribute to the Australian Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap.

Under Caring for our Country, the Working on Country program met its target, with over 690 Indigenous rangers employed to manage and deliver significant environmental outcomes over 1.5 million square kilometres of land and sea country in remote and regional Australia. Working on Country provides nationally accredited training and career pathways for Indigenous Australians.

As part of the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory jobs package, Working on Country is on track to employ up to an additional 50 Indigenous rangers by June 2016. These ranger positions have created real jobs, giving individuals, their families and their communities greater economic certainty whilst delivering improved environmental outcomes for the nation.

Sustainable agriculture

Through the sustainable farm practices national priority area, the Australian Government is committed to increasing the adoption of management practices that continue to maintain and improve production whilst also delivering ecosystem services that benefit the whole community.

Over 453 projects helped over 30200 farmers to adopt improved sustainable farm and land management practices to reduce soil loss and improve soil quality on their land, to adopt activities that contribute to the ongoing conservation and protection of biodiversity, and to improve their knowledge and skills in managing natural resources and environmental assets.

Funding for Landcare in 2011–12 is consistent with funding levels provided under previous years of the program. Since its inception in July 2008, Caring for our Country funding has provided $448.34million for Landcare and sustainable farm practice projects.

Weeds and pest animals

Over $81.6 million was invested in projects that have a significant component of weed and pest animal management through Caring for our Country business plan open-call grants. This included more than $280,000 in Caring for our Country funds to learn more about the introduced plant disease myrtle rust and recommend management strategies to counter its effects on the rainforests of Queensland’s World Heritage areas.

In addition, 664 Community Action Grants worth over $7.4 million focused on weed or pest animal control and management. This included 153 projects worth $2.6 million announced under the 2011–12 funding round.

Caring for our Country will have invested a total of $711 million through regional base-level funding to regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies from 2008 to 2013. Over $92 million of this funding relates to managing the impact of weeds and pests.

The successful eradication of rabbits and rodents from Macquarie Island is on track to leave the island free of vertebrate pests for the first time in over 150 years. The Australian Government will have provided more than $9 million to the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication program over 2008–13.

Environmental Stewardship program

The delivery of the Environmental Stewardship program is guided by a strategic plan, a project plan and funding and implementation guidelines. The on-ground delivery of the funding rounds is supported by delivery agents who work closely with eligible land managers to develop expressions of interest and funding bids. Funding agreements set out the roles and obligations to be undertaken by land managers if they are to receive support, which may be for up to 15 years.

National Wildlife Corridors Plan

The National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group comprises representatives from conservation non-government organisations, academia, regional NRM organisations, peak industry groups and Indigenous groups. The department provided secretariat support to the Advisory Group, which held 10 meetings in 2011–12 and was supported by two technical expert working groups (a social and institutional group and a climate change and biodiversity group).

On 8March2012 the draft National Wildlife Corridors Plan was publicly released. Meetings were held in all capital cities and selected regional centres with the following stakeholder groups: agriculture, mining, Indigenous groups, state and local governments, environment groups and academia, regional NRM organisations, urban developers, and the tourism industry. An online submission process was also established to gather views and ideas from the community.

The National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group has factored stakeholder views into its revised draft for government consideration.

Reef Rescue

Reef Rescue aims to improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef and its resilience to climate change by improving water quality in the reef catchment. The initiative is helping land managers adopt practices that reduce the nutrients, pesticides and sediments leaving their properties and entering the reef lagoon. Reef Rescue also supports monitoring, assessment, reporting and research.

Funding of $200million over five years through Caring for our Country was committed for activities under the Reef Rescue program. The initiative is administered jointly by this department and by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The $10 million Reef Rescue Research and Development program is midway through its implementation phase. The 18 projects dedicated to improving our understanding of the link between land management practice and environmental impacts are expected to be completed before June 2013.

Community Coastcare

The government’s Community Coastcare commitment is providing funding over five years to help local communities protect and restore the Australian coastline and prepare for the impact of climate change. Since 2008, $71.7 million (GST exclusive) has been approved and allocated to projects thatinvolve community groups. The funding has contributed projects which are increasing the capacity of coastal communities to adapt, restore and protect the local coastal environment. Coastcare investment is also supporting coastal communities to protect our coastal biodiversity from key threats and pressures.

Ramsar wetlands and high ecological value aquatic ecosystems

Since 2008, $30.4 million has been approved under Caring for our Country for the protection and restoration of significant aquatic ecosystems. Priority was given to Ramsar wetlands in northern and remote Australia and high ecological value aquatic ecosystems in the Murray–Darling Basin. Ramsar wetlands are recognised as internationally important sites for flora, fauna and the ecological communities they support. High ecological value aquatic ecosystems include rivers, wetlands, floodplains, lakes, inland saline ecosystems, groundwater-dependant ecosystems and estuaries of high environmental value. This funding helped communities to implement measures to protect, restore and manage nationally and internationally significant wetlands sites through on-ground activities, information gathering and community engagement and capacity building.

Gippsland Lakes

The Gippsland Lakes area is a significant Ramsar-listed wetland system. Through Caring for our Country, $5.25 million has been invested over three years in planning and on-ground actions to protect the conservation values of the area. Strategies were developed to improve water quality and reduce nutrient inputs from public and private land and to minimise the impacts of flooding. Actions to address these issues continue to be implemented.

Improved water quality management in the Tuggerah Lakes

Caring for our Country invested in planning and on-ground actions that protect the conservation values of coastal and inland high ecological value aquatic ecosystems, including the Tuggerah Lakes estuary in New South Wales.

The project is managed through a range of partnerships with the NSW Government, the Hunter–Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Landcare groups and local landholders. Funding of $20 million has been provided from 2007 to 2013 for the works under this program.

Activities funded through Caring for our County contributed to the rehabilitation of watercourses and salt marsh communities.

Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–30

National and international workshops and meetings of key government and non-government officials from a broad range of disciplines were held to inform key activities to implement Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. Committees and working groups of the COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water were actively supported in order to encourage implementation of the strategy nationally.

Biodiscovery

Australia’s vast biodiversity offers huge potential for basic and applied scientific research. Investigation of the biochemical and genetic makeup of our native species can be used to produce products with social, economic and environmental value in, for example, agriculture, bioremediation, alternative fuels and for new pharmaceuticals.

The department manages a regulatory and policy framework for access to native genetic resources in Commonwealth areas and sharing benefits arising from their use. The purpose of the framework is to provide legal certainty for researchers and innovators, ensure sustainable use of biological resources, and obtain tangible benefits for Australia and the conservation of our biodiversity.

The department is responsible for providing policy advice on the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation (the Nagoya Protocol). Australia signed the Nagoya Protocol on 20 January 2012 and the department commenced consultations to inform the Australian Government’s decision on its ratification. To support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in the Pacific region, departmental staff, with support from AusAid’s Environment and Climate Change Program Fund, organised two capacity-building workshops and a number of country visits in the Pacific region.

Convention on Biological Diversity

The department plays an important role in protecting and conserving biodiversity whilst supporting Australia’s global leadership role in relation to the sustainable management of biodiversity and wildlife, domestically and internationally. The primary forum through which Australia exercises its leadership role is the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is supported by a number of bodies, such as the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, the Working Group on Review of Implementation and a Working Group on Article 8(j), which provides advice on Indigenous issues. The department was represented at all meetings of these bodies during the year and ensured that Australia’s reputation as a constructive participant in the Convention on Biological Diversity was further enhanced.

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity meets every two years, with the eleventh meeting scheduled for October 2012.

Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement

The landmark Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement aims to provide certainty for Tasmania’s forestry industry, support local jobs and communities, and protect additional areas of native forests. It will help the forest industry adapt to market changes while protecting the communities and families that rely on the sector for their livelihoods. Responsibility for implementing many elements of the agreement, such as support for displaced workers, economic diversification, and formal legislative protection of reserve areas, rests with other portfolios and the Tasmanian Government. This report deals only with those items in which this department has had significant involvement.

In addition to negotiating a conservation agreement to provide interim protection for almost 430000 hectares of public native forest while the independent verification process is underway, the department’s main focus has been on supporting the Signatories to the Tasmanian Forests Statement of Principles to develop a durable agreement that optimises wood supply, conservation and community outcomes.

The Australian and Tasmanian governments are continuing to support the signatories in working together to assist the forestry industry to transition to a more sustainable long-term future and to provide protection to additional areas with significant conservation values.

Directory: system -> files -> resources
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resources -> The National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List: 1 july 2008 30 june 2013
resources -> Reference list for waterrelated coal seam gas and coal mining research
resources -> Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators isd sections of Law
resources -> Executive Summary 3 Background 4 Developing the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme 4
resources -> Threat abatement plan for disease in natural ecosystems caused by
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resources -> Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Queensland Crocodile Farming

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