Portfolio Budget Statements 2004-2005

Ecologically significant areas are protected and conserved by effectively managing Commonwealth reserves, and improving the comprehensiveness, adequacy and representativeness of the National Reserve System.

DESCRIPTION

This output aims to assist in the conservation and appreciation of Australia's biological diversity and associated cultural heritage through leadership and cooperation in the management of the Australian Government's marine and terrestrial protected areas and through cooperative development of the National Reserve System.

The Director of National Parks is a statutory authority established under the EPBC Act to administer, manage and control Commonwealth reserves, including marine reserves.

Under delegations from the Minister and the Secretary, the Director is also responsible for administering programmes that complement his statutory role. This includes the development of the National Reserve System, which includes the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas, and the Australian Biological Resources Study (reported at Output 1.2 Biodiversity).

Parks Australia, a Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, provides support to the Director in the performance of his functions.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The Australian Government's medium term strategic priorities for Output 1.9 are:

To contribute to the conservation of Australia's biodiversity and cultural heritage by developing and implementing management plans and programmes to:

To contribute to the conservation of Australia's biodiversity and cultural heritage by developing and implementing programmes to:

EFFECTIVENESS IN DELIVERING THE OUTPUT

Effectiveness Indicator: Australia's biodiversity and cultural heritage is protected

Graph 1.9.1 Area of land protected and managed through the National Reserve System programme

At 30 June 2003, the total area approved for funding under the National Reserve System programme of the Natural Heritage Trust was 20.569 million hectares (the size of Victoria). This comprises 6.783 million hectares purchased or covenanted, and 13.785 million hectares declared as Indigenous Protected Areas. This area added to the National Reserve System represents 3% of mainland Australia's landmass, and brings the total protected area estate in Australia to just over 10% of the country.

All properties approved through the National Reserve System programme contain ecosystems that are poorly represented or not represented at all in the National Reserve System. Many properties have rare or threatened species, communities and ecosystems listed under state or Commonwealth endangered species legislation. The programme also supports acquisitions that conserve species with specialised habitat requirements, wide-ranging or migratory species and species vulnerable to threatening processes, which may depend on reservation for their survival. Acquisitions are proposed by State agencies, local councils and non government organisations that purchase and manage approved properties.

Reporting of effectiveness against Sub output Protected areas (which is the statutory responsibility of the Director of National Parks and includes the management of Commonwealth Reserves) is presented at Part C Section 2 Director of National Parks.

PERFORMANCE IN DELIVERY OF DEPARTMENTAL OUTPUTS

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.
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.
Stakeholder awareness	Quantity	Information and education products distributed to stakeholders (measured by website hits, information material distributed, etc).
Price – Protected areas* Price – National Reserve System Total Price Output 1.9		$38.765m $0.360m $39.125m
* Reporting of performance against Sub output Protected Areas (which is the statutory responsibility of the Director of National Parks and includes the management of Commonwealth Reserves) is presented at Part C Section 2 Director of National Parks

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Achievement of planned performance will be reported in the Department of the Environment and Heritage's 2004-05 Annual Report.

Achievement of planned performance against output 1.9 Parks and reserves Sub output Protected areas will be reported in the Director of National Park's 2004-05 Annual Report.

EVALUATIONS

An evaluation of the progress of the National Vegetation Framework, including recent reforms on land clearing is expected to be completed during 2004-05.

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 1.9 Parks and reserves

SUB OUTPUT:

EFFECTIVENESS STATEMENT