The National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity
About the Strategy
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a global agreement addressing the conservation of biodiversity-namely, genes, species and ecosystems. Article 6 of the CBD commits parties to develop national strategies, plans or programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and to, as far as possible, integrate biodiversity conservation into broader policies and programs.
In 1996, Australia's first national biodiversity strategy, the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, was prepared by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments.
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity - 1996
First five-year review of the strategy 2001
The 1996 biodiversity strategy required a five-yearly review of the strategy's implementation. In June 2001, ANZECC systematically assessed the extent to which the strategy's objectives had been achieved. The review found that some advances had been made (e.g. the adoption of ecologically sustainable wildlife management practices and the implementation of sustainable forestry management practices). However, several of the strategy's objectives had not been fully met, including:
- recognition of the contribution of Indigenous peoples to biodiversity conservation
- adoption of ecologically sustainable practices in fisheries, agricultural and pastoral management
- management of threatening processes
- effective controls on the clearance of native vegetation.
These objectives were not met for a number of reasons including an incomplete knowledge of Australia's biodiversity, the long timeframes required to see change, competing priorities and the difficulty of objectively measuring performance and assessing progress.
To address these gaps, ANZECC developed the National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation 2001-2005, which set objectives and targets for 10 priority outcomes. These objectives and targets were endorsed by the Australian Government; the states of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia; and the Australian Capital Territory.
Second five-year review of the strategy 2006-2009
A National Biodiversity Strategy Review Task Group was set up in 2006 under the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC), which superseded ANZECC, to manage the second five-yearly review of the strategy. The NRMMC consists of the government ministers from the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and the New Zealand Government who are responsible for primary industries, natural resources, environment and water policy.
The National Biodiversity Strategy Review Task Group includes members from state and territory governments, the Australian Government, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The Review Task Group has developed a draft revised strategy which was made available for public comment.
The public submission period for the review of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity 2010-2020 is now closed.
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