Caring for our Country

National Reserve System

National Reserve System Programme - 2006 Evaluation

Brian Gilligan
Commonwealth of Australia 2006
ISBN 0642553122

PDF file

About the Evaluation

In 2006, the former Director General of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr Brian Gilligan carried out an independent evaluation of the National Reserve System program.

Members of the public and interested parties were invited to provide their views.

This independent evaluation hailed the National Reserve System program as a flagship in biodiversity conservation, improving conservation in 50 of Australia's 85 bioregions.

The report recognised the cost effectiveness of this investment, with every dollar of investment from the Australian Government leveraging at least another dollar from state and territory governments, conservation groups or private landholders to purchase properties with threatened species and rare landscapes. The cost to the Australian taxpayer averaged only $10.61 per hectare.

The Gilligan report found that the National Reserve System program is based on good science, targeting ecosystems that are poorly protected, and building strong partnerships. It praised the program for effectively raising the awareness and capacity of governments and non-government organisations to achieve enduring conservation results on the ground.

The report also offered recommendations on how the program might be enhanced to deliver greater conservation, economic, cultural and social benefits.