Australia

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Australias Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
20102020
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Biodiversity what is it?

• Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on
  earth genes, species, ecosystems.
• Not just endangered or iconic species.
• Biodiversity - and its interactions through
  healthy ecosystems - is essential for our
  existence.
• We need biodiversity for the ecosystem services -
  including clean air, water, carbon storage - that
  support all life forms.

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Why do we have an NBS?

• Australias obligations under the United Nations
  Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Global agreement addressing all aspects of
  biodiversity
• CBD commits parties to develop national
  strategies for the conservation and sustainable
  use of biodiversity.

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Why do we have an NBS?

• Biodiversity decline requires serious ongoing
  attention.
• Increasing pressures on terrestrial, aquatic and
  marine environments.
• Threats climate change, habitat loss and
  fragmentation, invasive species, unsustainable
  use of natural resources, changes to the aquatic
  environment and water flows, inappropriate fire
  regimes.

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Why do we have an NBS?

• We need a coordinated national approach.
• Alignment and integration of commitments and
  opportunities for biodiversity conservation
  across all governments and with the community
• and private sectors.
• Ensure effort is focussed and prioritised around
  agreed objectives.

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Role of NBS

• Overarching policy framework
• Guidance on policy directions and actions
• Intended for all sectors community, business,
  scientific, governments
• Broader role in raising awareness in general
  public mainstreaming.

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What is NRMMC?

• Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
  (NRMMC)
• Sits under COAG (PM and Premiers)

NRMMC
NRM Standing Committee
National Biodiversity Strategy Review Task Group
Natural Resource Policies and Programs Committee
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National strategy - how that works

• Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
  NRMMC
• Australian Government, states and territories, NZ
• Environment, primary industries, natural
  resources, and water policy portfolios
• chaired by Ministers Garrett and Burke
• Other NRMMC strategies e.g. weeds, pests, climate
  change adaptation, native vegetation
• Review every five years

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A little bit of history
Australias first national biodiversity
strategy The National Strategy for the
Conservation of Australias Biological Diversity
1996
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1996 Strategy strategic elements

• Conservation of biological diversity across
  Australia
• Integrating biological diversity conservation and
  natural resource management
• Managing threatening processes
• Improving our knowledge
• Involving the community
• Australias international role
• Implementation.

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2001 review findings

• Some advances had been made - e.g. implementation
  of sustainable forestry management practices.
• Several strategy objectives had not been met e.g.
  management of threatening processes.
• National Objectives and Targets 2001-2005 - 10
  priority outcomes
• did not have national consensus.

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Biodiversity policy landscape

• Rapid pace of change significant changes even
  since we started the review in 2006.
• Related issues including
• climate change
• water
• carbon and water trading
• coasts and marine
• global financial crisis, livelihoods
• technology.
• New regional approach to NRM.

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Implementation challenges approaches

• Adaptation to climate change ecosystem
  resilience and connectivity
• Linking ecological, economic social systems
  awareness, partnerships, valuing biodiversity,
  use of market-based instruments
• Acting at the right scale building flexible
  management
• Dealing with uncertainty understanding
  thresholds.

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Revised National Biodiversity Strategy

• 2006 Review Process
• Preliminary consultation
• Strategy content and structure
• Public consultation process
• Next steps

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2006 review process

• Review Task Group established
• Scientific input - CSIRO, BOM, reports
• - Terrestrial and Marine Decline
  Working Group reports
• - SOE 2006
• - Biodiversity Vulnerability Assessment

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2006 review process

• Early stakeholder consultation on issues
  building ownership, mainstreaming
• Consultation and joint drafting with Indigenous
  peoples
• Draft revised strategy cleared by NRMMC March
  2009.

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Key stakeholder consultation

• Background paper to about 150 groups and
  discussions with about 30 groups
• Groups consulted include
• Australian Conservation Foundation
• World Wildlife Fund Australia
• Business Council Australia
• Meat and Livestock Australia
• National Association of Forest Industries
• National Farmers Federation
• Chairs and CEOs of all NRM Regional Bodies
• Commonwealth Fisheries Association
• Australian Institute of Marine Science
• A list of all organisations consulted is
  available.

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Indigenous consultation

• One expert and two community workshops
• Feedback strategy structure, language,
• joint drafting
• Joint drafting day priority area 5 and other
  relevant content
• Ongoing consultation
• Indigenous environmental networks and
• Indigenous Advisory Committee (EPBC Act)

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Strategy content and structure

• Executive summary
• Call to action
• -building on current work
• -short-term and long-term actions
• -implementation timeframe and monitoring
  progress
• Background earlier reviews, biodiversity
• Making enduring changes-priorities for change
• Objectives, actions and results for each priority
• Appendices

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Priorities for change

• Six priorities for change in the new draft
• revised strategy
• 1. Building ecosystem resilience
• 2. Mainstreaming biodiversity
• 3. Knowledge for all
• 4. Getting results
• 5. Involving Indigenous peoples
• 6. Measuring success

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Building Ecosystem Resilience
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Ecological resilience case study

• Reef Rescue (Australian Government)
• Aim to improve quality of water entering Great
  Barrier Reef lagoon.
• Changing land management practices to reduce
  nutrient levels, pesticides and sediment in
  runoff.
• Connectivity between land and marine ecosystems.

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Ecological resilience case study

• Partnerships between governments, farmers, NRM
  groups.
• Recognises values of the reef ecological,
  economic, social, cultural.
• Reef is vulnerable to climate change minimising
  other threats helps to maintain reef health and
  ability to adapt.

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Public consultation process

• Press advertisements
• DEWHA web page with draft revised strategy and
  supporting information
• Direct emails and letters
• Public information sessions all state and
  territory capitals and Alice Springs, Dubbo,
  Townsville and Bendigo
• On-line submissions via the consultation website
  open from 23 March to 29 May 2009

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Review - next steps

• June and July consider public feedback
• Review Task Group revisions
• Jurisdictions whole of govt positions
• NRPPC, NRMSC, NRMMC Nov 2009
• 2010 International Year of Biodiversity

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Questions?