Wildlife trade management plans
If you want to export for commercial purposes an Australian native wildlife specimen (unless exempt) and/or CITES-listed specimen sourced from Australia, it must come from an approved program such as a wildlife trade management plan. You can seek an export permit from the federal environment department (applicants still have to apply and be assessed as suitable under national environment law).
Wildlife trade management plans are generally large scale and are developed by the state or territory government agency responsible for managing the species. Wildlife trade management plans may be approved for up to five years. There are two types of wildlife trade management plans:
- Approved wildlife trade management plans are described in section 303FO of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .
- Accredited wildlife trade management plans are described in section 303FP(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Accredited wildlife trade management plans must meet all the legislative requirements for an approved wildlife trade management plan as well as additional monitoring and reporting. Under an accredited wildlife trade management plan, only specimens included on CITES require a permit. Although most specimens covered by an accredited wildlife trade management plan would not need an export permit from the federal environment department, the agency responsible for implementing the management plan would be required to monitor and report on exports.
Wildlife trade management plans are made and amended in the following ways:
- A declaration of a wildlife trade management plan is made through an instrument signed by the Australian Government environment minister and published in the Australian Government Gazette.
- A declaration may be varied by specifying additional or new conditions or revoking or varying existing conditions by a subsequent instrument published in the Australian Government Gazette.
Accredited wildlife trade management plans
Currently there are no accredited wildlife trade management plans
Approved wildlife trade management plans
Approved wildlife trade management plans are listed below. Conditions of approval, additional to the species covered and period of approval, are specified in the individual declarations.
| State | Program name | Species | Organisation | Approval period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||||
| New South Wales | NSW Cut-flower Management Plan | Protected plants | Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW | 14 January 2009 | 31 December 2012 |
| New South Wales | New South Wales Commercial Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan 2012-2016 | Macropus rufus |
New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage | 1 January 2012 | 31 December 2016 |
| Northern Territory | Management program for cycads in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2009–2014 | Cycas spp. | Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport | 14 October 2009 | 13 October 2014 |
| Northern Territory | Management Program for the Freshwater Crocodile in the Northern Territory of Australia 2010-2015 | Crocodylus johnstoni | Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport | 12 January 2011 | 30 June 2015 |
| Northern Territory | Management program for the saltwater crocodile in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2009–2014 | Crocodylus porosus | Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport | 29 September 2009 | 30 June 2014 |
| Queensland | Queensland Wildlife Trade Management Plan for Export of Commercially Harvested Macropods, 2013-2017 | Macropus rufus Macropus giganteus Macropus robustus |
Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection | 1 January 2013 | 31 December 2017 |
| Queensland | Approved Wildlife Trade Management Plan for flora in Queensland | Protected plants | Queensland Environmental Protection Agency | 18 April 2011 | 31 December 2015 |
| South Australia | South Australian Kangaroo Management Plan | Macropus rufus Macropus fuliginosus melanops Macropus robustus |
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | 1 January 2013 | 31 December 2017 |
| Tasmania | Management Plan for the Commercial Harvest and Export of Brushtail Possums in Tasmania 2010 - 2015 | Trichosurus vulpecula | Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment | 27 October 2010 | 30 June 2015 |
| Tasmania | Tree Fern Management Plan for the Sustainable Harvesting, Transporting or Trading of Dicksonia antarctica in Tasmania | Dicksonia antarctica | Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority | 18 October 2012 | 17 October 2017 |
| Western Australia | Management Plan for the Commercial Harvest and Farming of Crocodiles in Western Australia | Crocodylus porosus, C. johnstoni | Department of Environment and Conservation | 1 January 2009 | 31 December 2013 |
| Western Australia | Management Plan for the Commercial Harvest of Kangaroos in Western Australia | Macropus rufus Macropus fuliginosus |
Department of Conservation and Land Management | 1 January 2008 | 31 December 2012 |
| Western Australia | Western Australia Flora | See Plan | Department of Environment and Conservation | 2 July 2008 | 30 June 2013 |
Application form
Application for approval of a wildlife trade management plan
If you would like your operation to be approved as a wildlife management plan, use the form below to apply for an approved wildlife management plan.
Approval processes and submission details are all included with the form.
No guidelines have been prepared for the approval of a wildlife trade management plan. If you intend to apply for approval of a wildlife trade management plan, please contact us for a copy of the model management plan.
Commercial trade
- Approved sources for commercial trade
- Aquaculture programs
- Artificial propagation programs
- Captive breeding programs
- Commercial import programs
- Wildlife trade management plans
- Wildlife trade operations
Before you download
Some documents are available as PDF files. You will need a PDF reader to view PDF files.
List of PDF readers
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.