Portfolio Budget Statements 2004-2005

Australia's biological resources are conserved and managed in an ecological sustainable way.

The conservation of biological diversity provides significant cultural, economic, educational, environmental, scientific and social benefits for all Australians.

Key elements in the conservation of Australia's biodiversity are the conservation of broad vegetation communities, forests and other ecosystems, the protection of threatened wildlife, the conservation of other native species, and the management and prevention of invasive species where they may significantly impact on Australia's biodiversity or industry. The conservation of vegetation is integral to land management and is discussed under Output 1.8.

Australia's native wildlife is protected through an integrated approach under the EPBC Act. This includes the identification, recovery and conservation of nationally threatened species and ecological communities, and listed migratory and marine species. Regulation of wildlife trade ensures the ecologically sustainable management of Australian export industries, for example, the sustainable management of Australian fisheries is promoted through the strategic assessment of export fisheries. Internationally endangered wildlife is protected through the regulation of wildlife trade in accordance with Australia's international obligations.

Australia is a world leader in the protection and sustainable management of forests. The Australian Government has ensured the ecologically sustainable management of Australia's forest estate through the negotiation of Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs). These Agreements strike a balance between protection of a comprehensive, forest reserve system and the forest industry's need to create regional jobs.

The Australian Government has worked with scientists, conservationists, industry, community groups and state and local governments resulting in 10 RFAs covering 11 regions in four states. The implementation of these Agreements is subject to annual reporting and five yearly reviews. The Tasmanian RFA has been reviewed, with the report currently being considered by the Government.

The $30 million Tasmanian Private Forest Reserve Programme under the Tasmanian RFA aims to secure priority forest areas for conservation. Of the $20 million provided under the first phase of the Trust, $11.9 million had been approved by early 2004 for over 39,826 hectares of forest.

Introduced species can have a major impact on Australia's environment. They can be aggressive and competitive; competing for food and natural resources, occupying and destroying habitat, predating on native species and spreading diseases. They can affect a range of native species, which is especially significant when a species is dependent on another or others for survival. This can lead to reducing species abundance and diversity and the displacement of native species.

Both national and regional approaches are required to address the impact of invasive species, and the Australian Government supports both of these. At the national level, approaches have been adopted to address:

At the regional level, actions to address invasive species are key elements of regional plans being developed under the Trust. These plans build on the national approaches to determine priorities and approaches appropriate for each region.

Awareness and understanding of biodiversity in the community are built through making information readily accessible on species, wildlife permits, and biodiversity strategies and conventions. The Australian Government, in collaboration with State and Territory Governments and the private sector, is making information on native flora readily available through Australia's Virtual Herbarium, which makes the resources underpinning the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) available on line in a readily accessible form.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The Australian Government's medium term strategic priorities for Output 1.2 are to:

The Australian, state and territory governments, together with regional bodies and the community are seeking to recover species and ecological communities listed as threatened under the EPBC Act. As a priority, the Government is committed to developing recovery plans for all species listed under the EPBC Act as critically endangered and endangered.

To protect and conserve Australia's animals and plants, the Department of the Environment and Heritage will:

EFFECTIVENESS IN DELIVERING THE OUTPUT

The Australian Government takes a lead role in recovering threatened species and ecological communities. To ensure that the most effective and efficient actions are taken to recover species, the Government develops or adopts recovery plans that outline the research required and actions needed to protect and recover listed species.

Graph 1.2.1 shows the number of recovery plans in force under the EPBC Act. In addition, a further 400 recovery plans are currently in preparation, many of which cover more than one species. As a result, almost 700 nationally threatened species and ecological communities now have recovery plans in place or in preparation.

Graph 1.2.1 Number of recovery plans for critically endangered and endangered species in force under the EPBC Act

A key indicator for the protection of wildlife is the number of times listed species and communities are protected by the referral, assessment and approval processes under the EPBC Act. This performance indicator is included at Output 1.4.

Australia's native wildlife is protected through the regulation of the exports. Wild harvests and artificial propagation programmes are assessed to ensure that wildlife industries are ecologically sustainable and are conducted humanely.

Graph 1.2.2 Total number of wild harvests and artificial propagation programmes assessed under the EPBC Act

As a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Australia is required to implement controls on the import and export of an agreed list of species that are endangered, or at risk of becoming endangered, due to trade in them or their products. These obligations are exercised through the EPBC Act. Graphs 1.2.3 and 1.2.4 provide information on the number of export/import permits issued since 2000-01 and the number of seizures of illegally import wildlife specimens.

Graph 1.2.3 Annual number of export/import permits issued since 2001-02 through the EPBC Act

Graph 1.2.4 Annual number of seizures of illegally import wildlife specimens

The Australian marine native fish resources are being protected through the strategic environmental assessment of export fisheries under the EPBC Act. This assessment ensures that ecological sustainability is specifically recognised in managing Australian fisheries.

Graph 1.2.5 Total number of fisheries that have been the subject of strategic assessment under the EPBC Act

PERFORMANCE IN DELIVERY OF DEPARTMENTAL OUTPUTS

Sub-output Biodiversity
Programme administration	Quantity	Number of projects/ activities approved under each programme.
	Quantity	Number of agreements, plans and management arrangements put in place.
	Quality	Extent to which (self-imposed, Ministerial or external) timeframes are met.
	Quality	Accurate and timely approval, payment and acquittal of grants in accordance with legislation and guidelines.
	Quality	Accurate and timely payment of monies.
	Quality	Degree to which projects, activities, agreements/plans contribute to the output.
Statutory administration	Quantity	Extent to which statutory timeframes are met under legislation.
	Quantity	Number of permits considered (granted and refused) under legislation.
	Quantity	Number of referrals considered under legislation.
	Quantity	Number of plans/arrangements assessed under legislation.
	Quality	Extent to which stakeholders meet legislative requirements.
Policy advising, ministerial and parliamentary	Quality	Minister is satisfied with the timeliness and quality of briefs provided by the Department.
	Quality	Minister is satisfied with the timeliness and quality of draft ministerial correspondence by the Department.
International	Quantity	Percentage of written pre meeting objectives at international meetings achieved.
	Quality	Extent to which Australia's strategic objectives is achieved through international fora.
Stakeholder awareness	Quantity	Information and education products distributed to stakeholders (measured by website hits, information material distributed, etc).
Research, analysis and evaluation	Quantity	Number of research reports, articles and papers prepared and publicly released.
Price - Biodiversity		$10.640m
Sub-output Wildlife protection and trade
Statutory administration	Quantity	Number of permits considered (granted and refused) under legislation.
	Quantity	Number of plans/arrangements assessed under legislation.
Policy advising, ministerial and parliamentary	Quality	Minister is satisfied with the timeliness and quality of briefs provided by the Department.
	Quality	Minister is satisfied with the timeliness and quality of draft ministerial correspondence by the Department.
International	Quantity	Extent to which Australia's strategic objectives is achieved through international fora.
Stakeholder awareness	Quantity	Information and education products distributed to stakeholders (measured by website hits, information material distributed, etc).
Price - Wildlife protection and trade		$13.848m
Total Price Output 1.2		$24.488m

Portfolio budget statements

Part C - Agency Budget Statements (continued)
Department of the Environment and Heritage (continued)

Section 2 - Outcomes and Outputs Information Outcome 1 - Environment (continued)
Performance Information for Departmental Outputs - Output 1.2 Biodiversity

SUB OUTPUT:

EFFECTIVENESS STATEMENT

DESCRIPTION