Program 1.3 Carbon pollution reduction—land sector initiatives

Review of recovery plans

Case Study 1: Southern Tanami Indigenous Protected Area (part of Working on Country)

Eddie Jampijinpa Robertson

A huge new reserve has been declared in central Australia, becoming Australia’s largest ever land conservation zone and creating a major link in the Trans-Australia Eco-link corridor—a globally significant wildlife corridor stretching 3500 kilometres from Arnhem Land to the Great Australian Bight.

At 10.15 million hectares the Southern Tanami Indigenous Protected Area is the same size as Portugal or Hungary.

The IPA is dominated by stunning expanses of the Tanami and Great Sandy Deserts. Rising from the arid landscape in the south are the red rocky hills of the Reynolds and Truer Ranges. Dotting the sand dunes and plains are salt pans, spinifex tussocks and flowering shrubs. Hidden beneath the desert sands are threatened animals such as the iconic walpajirri, bilby, colourful warrana, great desert skink, and jajina, brush-tailed mulgara—a small marsupial hunter.

Over 70 types of bird occur in the Southern Tanami, including those of conservation significance like the beautiful jarrurlujarrarlu, princess parrot, and larger wardilyka bustard and yankirri, emu. Following heavy rains, thousands of waterbirds flock to large inland lakes such as Yinapaka, Lake Surprise, and Yirninti Warrku Warrku, Lake Mackay, to feed and breed.

Around 100 reptile species live here leaving telltale signs in the sand, like the erratic tracks of wigi, military dragons, the sand wiggles of semi-legless lizards and the burrows of wardarpi, large sand goannas.

Traditional Owners, with Central Land Council staff, have developed a management plan to guide the work of Warlpiri Rangers in maintaining the natural and cultural assets of this vast area. There are Warlpiri Ranger teams in each of the communities in the Southern Tanami, Yuendumu, Willowra and Nyirripi.

The Warlpiri Rangers combine Aboriginal knowledge and contemporary science to look after country. For example, they learn from Elders about patch burning to rejuvenate country and reduce wildfires, as well as working with scientists, helicopters and satellite imagery to burn remote areas and monitor their fire management. Other Warlpiri Ranger tasks include surveying wildlife, monitoring bilbies, controlling weeds, maintaining water places and feral animal control.

Traditional Owners and Warlpiri Rangers also work with community-based organisations, such as schools and youth programs, to teach younger generations about land management practices such as burning country and sustainably harvesting wildlife.

The Australian Government’s Indigenous Protected Areas and Working on Country programs are supporting the Southern Tanami IPA and its rangers with $1.6 million over two years.

Like all Indigenous Protected Areas, Southern Tanami IPA is a story of partnerships—between federal and state governments and their agencies, land councils and not-for-profit organisations.

The Nature Conservancy, an international philanthropic organisation, played a key role in helping traditional owners dedicate their country for conservation. Their $500,000 investment in Southern Tanami IPA is helping to ensure this vast area will continue to be managed appropriately.

For 15 years Indigenous Protected Areas have been a conservation success story. Today they protect more than 36 million hectares across Australia.

Yinapaka (Lake Surprise) an area of high cultural and biological significance. (Central Land Council)

Case Study 2: Bush Blitz Northern Territory style

Using helicopters and boats to access remote sites on this stunning 178000 hectare property, still awash from wet season rains, a team of 20 top biodiversity scientists spent two weeks in March 2012 documenting Fish River Station’s plant and animal life and looking for new species.

Their final tally included over 400 plant species, 27 species of fish, including a possible new species of the delicate blue-eye (Psuedomugil tenellus), about 15 snail species (of which one quarter are likely to be new to science), more than 20 dragonfly species, and 70 butterfly species, including the purple beak butterfly (Libythea geoffroy), an extremely rare find in the top end.

It was Bush Blitz’s fourteenth biodiversity discovery survey and the first held in the Northern Territory. This $10 million program is a partnership between the Australian Government, BHP Billiton and Australia and to date has surveyed more than 2million hectares of Australia’s National Reserve System.

In recognition of its outstanding natural values, Fish River Station was purchased for conservation in August 2010 through a groundbreaking collaboration by the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC), The Nature Conservancy and the Pew Environment Group with assistance from the Australia Government’s Caring for our Country Initiative and support by Greening Australia. The ILC owns and manages the $13 million property and will eventually hand it back to its Traditional Owners to manage for conservation, thereby providing jobs and enabling Indigenous people to reconnect with their land.

Fish River’s extensive range of habitats includes long stretches of the Daly River—one of the Territory’s few permanent water courses—as well as billabongs fringed by savannah woodland and pockets of rainforest rising to spectacular ranges, making it a treasure trove for biodiversity scientists.

Bush Blitz manager Jo Harding said the program was all about increasing our knowledge of Australia’s biodiversity, 75 per cent of which is largely unknown.

“These surveys are always exciting because invariably we turn up new species,” Ms Harding explained. ‘Our focus tends to be on smaller creatures, such as invertebrates, as well as vascular plants and fungi, as these haven’t been studied as well as some of the larger specimens in our living world.

Since the program began in 2009, Bush Blitz scientists have discovered more than 600 new species of plants and animals—adding significantly to our knowledge about our remarkable natural environment.

‘If we don’t know what’s out there, how can we protect it?

Photo of a male Katydid (genus Orthoptera) found during Bush Blitz at Fish River Station. (Robert Whyte)

Case Study 3: Dugongs (part of Caring for our Country)

In November 2010 an intergovernmental dugong taskforce was established, involving Australian and Queensland government agencies, with the aim of promoting dugong conservation and management in Queensland. The primary role of the taskforce was to establish a comprehensive understanding of existing dugong conservation and management arrangements for the waters off Queensland, and to identify areas for improvement.

The taskforce identified that better conservation of dugong required improved cooperation between government agencies with responsibilities in dugong management. It also identified that better information on dugong biology and habitats is a priority and that Traditional Owners and key stakeholders should be more closely involved in local management initiatives.

The taskforce developed a number of recommendations, including the following (identified as being of high priority):

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  undertake a strategic assessment of coastal developments in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
  
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  assess the impacts of toxic pollutants on dugongs and increase water quality monitoring
  
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  establish a Protected Species Working Group to identify target areas for the implementation of best practice conservation and management approaches including introduction of new net fishing regulations within the Bowling Green Bay Dugong Protection Area
  
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  develop projects to inform hunting management in the Torres Strait involving Traditional Owners.
  

Case Study 4: Working on Country (part of Caring for our Country)

The Working on Country program provided real employment and training opportunities for some of the most remote and economically marginalised Indigenous communities in Australia. From this base the program made a contribution to the Closing the Gap targets and better outcomes for Indigenous peoples as it included training and education opportunities, employment and support for cultural maintenance and wellbeing, recognition and valuation of the intrinsic cultural relationship, family and community bonds between Indigenous Australians and their country, and is designed to incorporate the aspirations and ambitions of Indigenous people who want to care for their country.

The program employs over 690 Indigenous rangers to manage significant environmental services across Australia. An expansion of Working on Country to deliver an additional 50 ranger positions in the Northern Territory was announced in November 2011.

Waanyi Garawa and Garawa Rangers are two Aboriginal community ranger groups hosted under the Northern Land Council’s Working on Country project. These ranger groups provide employment outcomes and support traditional ecological knowledge in delivering mainstream environmental services. Projects such as this contribute to multiple building blocks under the Closing the Gap framework (economic participation, governance and leadership). Commencing in late 2008, through Working on Country, this project employs and provides training for seven Indigenous people on a full-time basis to manage the 16000 square kilometres of land trusts in the Gulf of Carpentaria on behalf of Traditional Owners.

For 15 years prior to 2008 the Gulf region had been plagued by large, frequent, hot wildfires occurring late in the dry season. These fires—some of which were up to 18000 square kilometres in size—burnt across property boundaries and had a major impact on the region’s biodiversity, cultural sites, infrastructure and pastoral values. During the 2009–11 early dry season periods (before the end of June), rangers worked hard in close collaboration with the community to reinstate a traditional fire regime. Using a blend of modern methods (for example, using helicopters) and traditional ecological knowledge, the program implemented a prescribed burning program of early dry season patch burning.

In October 2011 the project received additional recognition when it won a Northern Territory Landcare Award, presented for the rangers’ significant achievements in reinstating a traditional fire regime across Waanyi and Garawa country.

Results for Deliverables and Key Performance Indicators

Program 1.1: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Environment

Deliverables	2011–12 Results
Complete a review of the Caring for our Country initiative, including an examination of the role of the Australian Government in natural resource management and the opportunities to integrate delivery of the initiative with other biodiversity reforms.	The Report on the review of the Caring for our Country initiative was released in April 2012.
Release the 2012–13 Caring for our Country Business Plan.	The 2012–13 Caring for our Country Business Plan was released in December 2011.
Invest in projects under the annual Caring for our Country Business Plans.	$172.4 million in projects were funded through the 2011–12 business plan for investment through to 2012–13.
Release the 2010–11 annual report card for Caring for our Country, reporting progress towards achieving outcomes.	The 2009–10 annual report card was released in January 2012. The 2010–11 annual report card is being prepared for release.
Release the 2010–11 Natural Heritage Trust Annual Report.	The 2010–11 Natural Heritage Trust Annual Report was included in the department’s annual report for 2010–11; the 2011–12 report is included in the department’s annual report for 2011–12.
Develop Indigenous partnerships that engage Indigenous communities in delivering Caring for our Country outcomes.	$245.2 million was committed over five years to June 2013 for the employment of over 690 Indigenous rangers under Working on Country, part of Caring for our Country.
Implement Indigenous Emissions Trading for Indigenous Fire Management in northern Australia and Indigenous Carbon Market Participation.	$10 million was committed over four years to June 2012. 6 projects successfully completed to facilitate Indigenous engagement in carbon markets.
Increase the area that is protected within the National Reserve System (including Indigenous Protected Areas).	10529814 hectares were added to the National Reserve System (including 10296289 hectares of Indigenous Protected Areas) in 2011–12.
Invest in projects that address threats to the Great Barrier Reef.	$45.05 million was invested in the Reef Rescue program during 2011–12.
Invest in projects that protect or conserve the values of World Heritage areas, Ramsar wetlands, critical aquatic habitats and coastal hotspots.	In 2011–12, $3.27 million was invested to address threats from invasive plant and animal species and improve land management practices in priority Ramsar wetlands and high ecological value aquatic ecosystems across Australia. A further $7.2 million was invested to conserve the values of Natural Icons and World Heritage, and $13.99 million to improve the water quality of coastal hotspots.
Invest in Environmental Stewardship to conserve high-quality public assets on private land or affected by activities on private land.	As a result of the 2011–12 funding round held in South Australia, 860 hectares of peppermint box grassy woodland and 5223 hectares of iron grass natural temperate grassland were identified on private land. These 2 ecological communities are listed as matters of National Environmental Significance under the EPBC Act. Over 55000 hectares are now covered by the Environmental Stewardship program.
Continue to implement Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–30.	Developed landscape-scale guiding principles and criteria to help inform future biodiversity investments. Examined the financial services sector’s consideration of biodiversity in its investment activities. Led Australia’s participation in 2 plenary meetings of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
Review and release Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework (NVF) 2011–31.	Reviewed and revised draft of the NVF.
Establish the National Wildlife Corridors Plan and associated management arrangements.	A draft National Wildlife Corridors Plan was developed by the National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group. The draft plan was publicly released on 8March2012, with an online submission process to gather views and ideas from the community. A total of 194 submissions were received. Stakeholder meetings were also held in all capital cities and selected regional centres. The advisory group factored stakeholder views into its revised draft for the government’s consideration.
Manage the Australian Government’s reserve estate to a high standard through the Director of National Parks.	The Director of National Parks continued to manage seven terrestrial parks and reserves, including the World Heritage listed Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks in the Northern Territory and Booderee National Park in the Jervis Bay Territory. Under delegation from the director, the Australian Antarctic Division manages the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, while the Marine Division manages the remaining 25 Commonwealth marine reserves.
Establish a nationally consistent and effective legal framework for managing access to genetic resources to facilitate research and development while protecting biodiversity from over-exploitation.	In January 2012 Australia signed the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation. The department continued to work with state and territory jurisdictions to promote nationally consistent policy and legislation to facilitate access to genetic resources and provide legal certainty for researchers and innovators.
The protection and ongoing management of significant areas of high-conservation-value Tasmanian native forest in additional formal legislated reserves, where compatible with industry wood supply guarantees.	A conservation agreement between the Australian and Tasmanian governments and Forestry Tasmania was signed on 13 January 2012 to provide interim protection for an area of almost 430000 hectares while negotiations continue among key stakeholders to develop an agreed wood supply and conservation outcome. Lead responsibility for this element rests with the Tasmanian Government. The department has provided significant support to signatories to the Tasmanian Forests Statement of Principles to develop a durable agreement that optimises wood supply, conservation and community outcomes. The Tasmanian Government introduced legislation to create additional reserve areas on 21 June 2012.

Key Performance Indicators	2011–12 Results
Increase the area that is protected within the National Reserve System by five million hectares a year, including Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs).	10529814 hectares were added to the National Reserve System (including 10296289 hectares of IPAs) in 2011–12. The KPI changed in 2011–12; however, the Caring for our Country objective (2008–13) was to increase the size of the National Reserve System by 25 million hectares, or 25 percent, by 2013. With 1 year of the program remaining, a total of 17895 633 hectares has been added.
Fund activities to address threats by invasive species to allow regeneration and recovery of at least 10000 hectares of high quality native habitat or vegetation that supports critically endangered, endangered and threatened species and communities.	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.
By June 2013:	All Australian properties in the World Heritage List have management arrangements that meet the requirements of the World Heritage Convention. Several plans were being reviewed in 2011–2012 to ensure their continuing effectiveness.
management arrangements in place for all World Heritage areas that meet the requirements of the World Heritage Convention
funded activities to address identified key threats to the ecological character of priority Ramsar-listed wetlands	In 2011–12 $3.27million was invested to address threats from invasive plant and animal species and improve land management practices in priority Ramsar wetlands and high ecological value aquatic ecosystems across Australia.
an additional 25 per cent of (non-Ramsar) priority coastal and inland high-conservation-value aquatic ecosystems are under management	Over 18 projects have engaged local landholders and communities to improve and protect the environmental values on over 3500 hectares of coastal and inland critical aquatic ecosystems. Their actions have reduced the impact of invasive plants and pest animals and rehabilitated degraded habitats and riparian corridors.
funded activities are addressing the threats contributing to poor or declining water quality in the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, Tuggerah Lakes Estuary in New South Wales and all other priority coastal hotspots	Strategies to improve water quality and reduce nutrient inputs from public and private land and to minimise the impacts of current and future developments have been developed. 33 projects have improved the protection and management of priority coastal hotspots. Changed management practices improved water quality in the Gippsland Lakes, which involved activities to improve irrigation practices, construction of run off dams to capture and re-use irrigation water, and improved land management practices that reduce nutrient run off.
engagement of at least 500 community organisations in coastal and marine rehabilitation, restoration and conservation actions	Caring for our Country exceeded the target of engaging at least 500 community organisations in coastal rehabilitation restoration and conservation projects under the Coastal Community Engagement target.
involvement of Indigenous organisations or groups in at least 20 projects to achieve Caring for our Country outcomes	38 Indigenous projects under the Community Action Grants totalling $786,000. 85 Working on Country ranger teams working across Australia, through which over 690 Indigenous rangers are employed.
funded activities have increased by at least 400000 hectares the area of native habitat and vegetation that is managed to reduce critical threats to biodiversity and enhance the condition, connectivity and resilience of habitats and landscapes.	270 projects were contracted to delivery just under 3 million hectares.
Independent verification of conservation values and wood supply requirements in Tasmania. The Independent Verification Group to submit a final report by March 2012 to the Australian and Tasmanian governments on the conservation values of nominated native forests and the wood supply requirements of the remaining forestry industry.	The Independent Verification Group provided its advice to the Tasmanian and Australian governments on 29 February 2012. This advice was released publicly by the Independent Verification Group on 23 March 2012.
Measures to facilitate implementation of Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement:	Lead responsibility for this element rests with the Tasmanian Government. Finalisation of the guidelines for the voluntary sawlog contract buyback program is awaiting the outcome of the signatories’ negotiations.
Applications called for and assessed by 30 June 2012 under a program to voluntarily buy back sawlog contracts from additional saw millers wishing to exit the industry.
Provide interim protection for the area of high-conservation-value native forest determined by the independent verification process to be compatible with industry wood supply guarantees, by negotiating and signing a Conservation Agreement with Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government by April 2012.	A Conservation Agreement between the Australian and Tasmanian governments and Forestry Tasmania was signed on 13 January 2012 to provide interim protection for an area of almost 430000 hectares of public native forest. A second Conservation Agreement will be put in place when a final wood supply and conservation outcome is agreed.
Formal legislative protection by the Tasmanian Government by October 2012, and ongoing management, of the areas of high-conservation-native forest determined by the independent verification process as compatible with guaranteed wood supply requirements.	The Tasmanian Government introduced legislation on 21 June 2012 to implement the wood supply and conservation outcomes that are subsequently agreed by signatories.

Program 1.2: Environmental Information and Research

Deliverables	2011–12 Results
Through the National Environmental Research Program, deliver public good-focused environmental research designed to engage with end users and support evidence-based decision making by environmental managers and policy makers.	5 multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research hubs were established and commenced 4 year research programs to improve our capacity to understand, manage and conserve Australia’s unique biodiversity.
Develop and implement a National Plan for Environmental Information (NPEI), in conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology.	The development of the NPEI is underway. The Environmental Information Advisory Group (supported by the Bureau of Meteorology) has developed a Statement of Requirements for Environmental Information to prioritise and guide Australian Government effort in environmental information activity. An independent review, commenced in December 2011, is examining how environmental information is acquired, managed and used by the Australian Government. Findings are expected by December 2012.
Finalise the National State of the Environment (SoE) 2011 report.	Suite of SoE 2011 products developed, including report, supplementary reports and online content at . Australia State of the Environment 2011 was tabled in parliament and released by the minister in December 2011.
Finalise marine bioregional plans for the South-west, North-west, North and East marine regions following public consultation on draft plans.	Draft Marine Bioregional Plans for the South-west, North-west, North and Temperate East marine regions were released for public comment. Final plans for these regions were publicly released in August 2012.
Finalise Commonwealth-proposed marine reserve networks for the South-west, North-west, North and East marine regions, including preparation of associated Regulation Impact Statements, following public consultation.	Commonwealth marine reserves network proposals for the South-west, North-west, North, Temperate East and Coral Sea marine regions were finalised and publicly released.
Continue collaboration with like-minded countries to achieve reform of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) through conservation and governance reform initiatives agreed by the IWC.	Australia has worked closely with other member countries of the IWC to provide a package of conservation and governance reform initiatives for consideration at the IWC’s 2012 annual meeting.
Provide technical support for Australia’s legal action in the International Court of Justice to stop Japanese so-called ‘scientific’ whaling.	Australia’s legal action against Japan’s program of ‘scientific’ whaling is being led by the Attorney-General’s department. The department has assisted in providing resources, policy support and technical advice.
Implement the International Whale and Marine Mammal Conservation Initiative.	The department is continuing to implement the six-year, $32million International Whale and Marine Mammal Conservation Initiative, ensuring non-lethal whale research is aligned to the government’s overarching policy objectives.
Implement best practice approaches to cetacean management within Australia in partnership with the states and Northern Territory.	Coordinated national management of cetacean conservation is ongoing through continual liaison with state and territory management agencies.
Manage the Commonwealth marine reserve estate, including by developing a framework for network-scale management, to be implemented in the South-east marine region and applied to future networks in other marine regions.	The existing Commonwealth marine reserve estate was managed through research, surveillance, compliance and monitoring and other management activities. For example, a total of 553 aerial surveillance flights were undertaken by Border Protection and the department, resulting in 577 individual visits to Commonwealth marine reserves and covering more than 507000 square kilometres of reserve area. A total of 670 permits and approvals were issued in compliance with EPBC Regulations, and in response to compliance incidents in Commonwealth marine reserves, the department executed 35 enforcement actions. A framework for marine reserve network-scale management was developed through a draft management plan for the South-east Marine Reserves Network. The draft management plan was released for public comment in July 2012.
Develop, review and implement species recovery plans and conservation advice for marine listed threatened species.	Recovery plans for all threatened cetacean species remain in place. The recovery plans for southern right whales and blue whales have undergone a process of revision and updating during 2011–12. All 7 recovery plans for marine listed threatened species are being implemented (relating to 25 of 31 marine listed threatened species). Each of these plans is also under review. A further two recovery plans are in development (relating to 6 of 31 marine listed threatened species).
Assess individual Australian fisheries against the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries.	Assessments of the environmental performance of fisheries under the EPBC Act were completed for 2 Commonwealth-managed fisheries and 25 fisheries managed by the states and territories.
Work with the states and the Northern Territory, and engage internationally, to progress complementary approaches to marine issues of national interest.	A range of activities were implemented with the states, Northern Territory and international partners to progress marine conservation and management initiatives of national interest. Australia worked internationally to ensure that a number of key priorities were progressed at the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) 10th Conference of Parties in November 2011 in Bergen, Norway. 2 species for which Australia is a range state were included in the Appendices to the CMS during that meeting—the eastern curlew and the giant manta ray—and a resolution proposed by Australia on marine debris was adopted.
Develop threat abatement plans for invasive species-related key threatening processes where such plans are appropriate.	The draft threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia’s biodiversity by the 5 listed grasses was released for public consultation, revised in light of that consultation and presented to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee for review.
Engage effectively in the national biosecurity system.	The department collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and state and territory governments through the national biosecurity system, to develop national policy on pest plants, animals and diseases that cause harm to the environment. In April 2012, the Australian Weeds Committee declared an additional 12 weeds of national significance. These weeds were selected based on their economic, environmental and social impacts and their potential to spread. The department provided advice to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on the environmental impact of nationally significant biosecurity threats, such as electric ants and red imported fire ants in Queensland, and myrtle rust, which shifted to a ‘transition to management program’ in July 2011.

Deliverables	2011–12 Budget Target	2011–12 Results
Researchers supported under the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) National Taxonomy Research Grants Program [#].	64	67
Biodiversity research projects co-funded with other agencies [#].	11	20
Value of contribution made by other agencies to co-funding biodiversity research projects [%].	33	36.2%

Program 1.2: Environmental Information and Research

Key Performance Indicators	2011–12 Results
A package of governance reforms to be considered by the IWC Finance and Administration Committee (chaired by Australia) is endorsed by International Whaling Committee meeting 63.	Australia continued its close cooperation with like-minded pro-conservation countries to advance the global conservation of cetaceans. Key elements of Australia’s proposals have been presented to the IWC and endorsed at its 63rd annual meeting.
In 2011–12, a national report on the state of the environment is released.	Australia State of the Environment 2011 tabled in parliament and released by the minister in December 2011.
A national framework is in place to guide coordinated approaches to cetacean conservation.	A set of shared issues relating to cetacean conservation and management have been agreed with the states and Northern Territory. The agreed common priority areas for consideration include whale watching, ship strikes, research, guidance on strandings, entanglements and euthanasia, and conservation management planning. Work continues to develop and implement measures under each identified area.
Marine bioregional plans for the South-west, North-west, North and East marine regions are finalised.	Draft marine bioregional plans for the South-west, North-west, North and Temperate East marine regions were released for public comment. Final marine bioregional plans for these regions were publicly released in August 2012.
Proposed marine reserve networks for the South-west, North-west, North and East marine regions are finalised.	Following formal public consultations, Commonwealth marine reserves network proposals for the South-west, North-west, North and Temperate East marine regions and the Coral Sea were finalised and publicly released.
A socioeconomic assessment is undertaken in relation to proposed marine reserve networks in each marine region and published.	Socioeconomic assessments of the final Commonwealth marine reserve proposals for the South-west, North-west, North and Temperate East marine regions and the Coral Sea were completed by the Australia Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences and were published.
A management plan for the South-East marine reserve network is in place.	Not achieved, but a draft was released for public comment in July 2012.
Threat abatement plans are in place as required to guide efforts to address invasive species-related Key Threatening Processes.	The draft threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia’s biodiversity by the five listed grasses was released for public consultation, revised in light of that consultation, and presented to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee for review in June 2012. The department is developing a revised draft threat abatement plan for disease in natural ecosystems caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. The minister reviewed the threat abatement plan for predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs and decided not to revise the plan but to pursue a collaborative national approach to mitigating the impacts of feral pigs through the Australian Pest Animal Strategy, and to develop a threat abatement advice for feral pigs. Statutory 5 year reviews were initiated for the threat abatement plans for: reduction in impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus, resulting in chytridiomycosis beak and feather disease affecting endangered psittacine species.

Key Performance Indicators	2011–12 Budget Target	2011–12 Results
National Environmental Research Program (NERP) research information products publicly available [%].	95	100% of research information was made publicly available.
NERP research projects that support evidence-based decision making by environmental managers and policy makers [%].	80	100% of research projects under the five NERP research hubs addressed biodiversity policy questions developed by the department, in consultation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The projects will inform evidence-based decision making.
Australian Government stakeholders that support the National Plan for Environmental Information (NPEI) [%].	90	100% of Australian Government stakeholders are supporting the NPEI through their involvement in the Australian Government Environmental Information Advisory Group.
Non-lethal research activities undertaken demonstrating that research lethal to whales is unnecessary [#].	29	The department provided approximately $1.5 million in grants to support non-lethal marine mammal research nationally, regionally and globally, through the Australian Marine Mammal grants program, the Bill Dawbin Post-Doctoral Fellowship, and the Indo-Pacific Cetacean Research and Conservation Fund. Department officials attended a global review of non-lethal research into southern right whales, held in BuenosAires 13–16 September 2011. Australia continued to lead on the development and implementation of core projects of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership, including: supporting and presenting at the Symposium and Workshop, Living Whales in the Southern Ocean, held in PuertoVaras, Chile, 27–29 March 2012
		preparations for a major Australian research expedition to Antarctica in the summer of 2012 optimise non-lethal research techniques through surveys of blue whales off the coast of southern Australia in January and March 2012. Note: The 2011–2012 budget target of 29 is incorrect. A number is not applicable.
Outputs of Annual Business Agreements with state agencies for the management of existing Commonwealth marine reserves delivered [%].	100	100% Note: some priority patrol times were substituted with lower priority times due to weather and asset availability.
Recovery plans are in place as required to guide efforts to support the recovery of threatened marine species [% of threatened marine species for which recovery plans are in place].	100	100% of cetacean species listed as threatened have a recovery plan in place. Revision and update of each of plan is sequentially underway. 81% of listed threatened marine species have recovery plans in place for their protection. The development of two recovery plans have been delayed but are on track to be finalised during 2012–13.
Taxa revised or newly described under the Australian Biological Resources Study [#].	200	540 ABRS has exceeded the target of at least 200 revised or newly described taxa over the last three years.
Fisheries assessments completed within statutory timeframes [%].	100	100% Assessments have been completed within agreed timeframes for all Commonwealth-managed and state-managed fisheries requiring approvals under the EPBC Act. A total of 27 fisheries were assessed in 2011–12, with one being considered by the minister and the remainder by the departmental officers under delegation.

Program 1.3: Carbon Pollution Reduction–Land Sector Initiatives

Deliverables	2011–12 Results
Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board	The Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board Annual Report 2011–12 will be tabled in Parliament as soon as practicable after the end of the 2011–12 financial year.
Report annually to Parliament about the progress of the land sector measures.
Advise the relevant minister(s) on implementation of the land sector package.	Since its establishment, the Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board provided advice to minister on the implementation of a number of measures in the Land Sector Package.
Advise on coordinated research activities to reduce duplication across the research community, target gaps and leverage investment.	The Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board has successfully identified areas of research collaboration across a number of measures in the Land Sector Package. Feedback from the board will also strengthen the government’s capacity to better align research with ongoing program needs and maximise investments.
Advise on key performance indicators for the land sector measure.	The Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board has provided input into to the development of key performance indicators for the measures in the Land Sector Package.
Biodiversity Fund	313 projects will receive funding through Round One of the Biodiversity Fund over 6 years. These projects will revegetate, rehabilitate and restore around 18 million hectares of the Australian landscape.
Increase the quantity and resilience of biodiverse vegetation.
Enhance landscape connectivity.	11 projects that promote landscape connectivity and align with the principles of the draft National Wildlife Corridors Plan were supported under the first round of the Biodiversity Fund. Projects selected for Round 1 will increase the size of habitat areas for a range of native species and improve connectivity between them.
Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund	Design and implementation concepts for the Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Planning for Climate Change Fund (Stream 1) underwent extensive consultation with key stakeholders, researchers and NRM planning practitioners. Independent input will help ensure the updated 56 regional NRM plans provide effective guidance for locating biodiverse carbon projects throughout the landscape. Ultimately, the plans will help build and maintain a resilient landscape by assisting land managers to reinstate and protect natural ecosystems and avoid/reduce unintended impacts on biodiversity, water and agricultural production from revegetation activities.
Ensure that the 56 regional NRM plans guide land use planning that maximises carbon co-benefits, such as landscape resilience and connectivity, and avoid/reduce unintended impacts on biodiversity, water and agricultural production from revegetation activities.
Support the restoration and protection of landscapes and improve the resilience of Australia’s landscapes to the impacts of climate change.	Guiding principles have been developed and will underpin the process to update regional NRM plans. Final updated regional NRM plans will articulate actions and strategies to support the restoration and protection of Australia’s landscapes and improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund	The Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund is on track to commence and deliver funding in 2012–13.
Indigenous Australians seeking to engage in the carbon market will have access to the knowledge and information required to help guide their decision making on whether or not to participate, and capacity-building support will be delivered to help develop and implement Indigenous carbon businesses. Legal and governance support will be provided to help develop the contractual and governance arrangements around Indigenous carbon businesses.

Key Performance Indicators	2011–12 Results
Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board	On 28 November 2011 the Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board was announced by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon. Greg Combet AM MP. There have since been 3 meetings held.
Establishment and operation of the Board to advise ministers on Land Sector Package.
Biodiversity Fund	Biodiversity Fund Round One 2011–12 was successfully launched on 9December 2011 by the Minister for the Sustainability, Environment Water, Population and Communities, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon. Greg Combet AM MP.
Successful launch of the Biodiversity Fund Round One 2011–12 (development phase).
Assessment of applications from Biodiversity Fund Round 1.	Applications for the Biodiversity Fund Round 1 were managed and assessed in accordance with the Commonwealth Grant Guidelines.
Development of Round 2 of the Biodiversity Fund, incorporating stakeholder input into the Biodiversity Fund’s focus, processes and materials by early 2012–13 financial year.	Planning for Round 2 of the Biodiversity Fund has commenced in consultation with the Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board.
Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund	The Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (Stream 1) is on track to commence and deliver funding in 2012–13.
Deliver funding to improve existing NRM plans from 2012–13.
56 regional NRM plans updated by 2015–16 to guide carbon biosequestration opportunities in the landscape.	Design and implementation concepts for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (Stream 1) underwent extensive consultation, including with key stakeholders, researchers and NRM planning practitioners, to ensure the fund will effectively support regional NRM organisations to update their regional NRM plans to guide carbon biosequestration opportunities in the landscape.
Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund (ICFF)	The Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund is on track to commence and deliver funding in 2012–13.
Complete program design and implementation phase for Round One of ICFF funding and open first application round by mid-2012.

Directory: system -> files -> resources
resources -> Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An Analysis of International Approaches
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
resources -> Sawfish and River Sharks Multispecies Issues Paper
resources -> Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Queensland Crocodile Farming

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