National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development
Prepared by the Ecologically Sustainable Development Steering Committee
Endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments
December, 1992
ISBN 0 644 27253 8
Nature Conservation System
Part 3 Intersectoral Issues - Chapter 10
Challenge
To establish across the nation a policy framework for the protection and management of nature conservation values, both inside and outside areas protected under legislation (ie protected areas).
Strategic Approach
This can best be done by continuing to develop and enhance natural resource inventories and valuations of areas with conservation values; clarify, rationalise and publish the categories of protected areas; establish criteria and measures for the access and use of those categories of protected areas; and develop criteria and processes for changes in the status of protected areas.
Objective 10.1
- to establish across the nation a comprehensive system of protected areas which includes representative samples of all major ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine; manage the overall impacts of human use on protected areas; and restore habitats and ameliorate existing impacts such that nature conservation values are maintained and enhanced
Governments will:
- request ANZECC, in consultation with other Ministerial Councils and relevant interest groups, to:
- clarify, rationalise and publish the categories of protected areas;
- establish criteria and measures for the access and use of those categories of protected areas which are clearly consistent with the principles and objectives of ESD;
- establish criteria and measures for the determination of new protected areas;
- establish criteria and processes for changes in the status of protected areas;
- report on programs to require scientific knowledge related to the habitat requirements of species and their tolerances to natural and human induces stresses on the biophysical environment
- develop measures to facilitate nature conservation on privately-owned land
- encourage enhanced public involvement and awareness in the planning, management, monitoring and review of Australia's conservation values and protected areas
- continue to develop and enhance natural resource inventories and valuations of areas with conservation values
- continue to develop biological diversity and/or conservation strategies within each jurisdiction
- assess the implications of the draft National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, and on the basis of this assessment, finalise, implement, monitor, and review the Strategy
- at the Commonwealth level, and following consultation with States and Territories, work towards ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity
- at the Commonwealth level, and following consultation with States and Territories, finalise other national initiatives in relation to weeds, vertebrate pests and the Ocean Rescue 2000 Program
- give consideration to work being undertaken by ANZECC, in consultation with relevant Ministerial Councils on development of a national approach to the protection of rare, vulnerable and endangered species, as outlined under Schedule 9 of the IGAE
- ensure this work takes into account the preparation of an 'Australian National Strategy for the Conservation of Species and Communities Threatened with Extinction' by the Commonwealth's Endangered Species Advisory Committee