• Change text size
• Skip to content

• About us
• Contact us

Environment home

• SoE
• SoE 2006
  • SoE 2006 report
  • SoE2006 at a glance
  • Theme commentaries
  • Integrative commentaties
  • Current or emerging issues
  • Technical reports
  • Data Reporting System
• SoE 2001
  • Report
  • Key findings
  • Fact sheets
  • Theme reports
  • Technical papers
• SoE 1996
  • SoE 1996 report
  • Key findings brochure
  • Technical papers
• Publications

SoE themes

• Atmosphere
• Biodiversity
• Coasts & oceans
• Human settlements
• Inland waters
• Land
• Natural & cultural heritage
• Australian Antarctic Territory

Issue: Utilisation and value of biodiversity - Incentives for biodiversity management

This is an issue under the Biodiversity theme of the Data Reporting System.

Why we need to know about this issue

In many areas of the country some current land management practices are affecting the economic well being of whole communities through decline in farm productivity and a decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services. Governments are in a position to establish incentive schemes that encourage landholders to become partners in conserving biodiversity. Incentives are part of an integrated approach that includes planning, regulation, education, and encouragement of community participation in a partnership between landholders and governments and the community.

Incentives may include: financial incentive mechanisms (rate rebates, grants or annual payments); non-financial motivational incentives (local awards, community recognition, training and technical support, materials); and development incentives (tradable or transferable development rights). Supporting mechanisms can include: property right mechanisms (management agreements and revolving funds); and revenue raising mechanisms (environmental levies and developer contributions).

The application of financial incentives and other related mechanisms are still at an early stage throughout most of Australia.

Indicators

• BD-06 Measures taken to conserve species or ecological communities on land that is not part of the national reserve system 
  Measures taken to conserve species or ecological communities on land that is not part of the national reserve system include incentives for biodiversity management. An inventory of measures taken will include incentive measures and is therefore an indicator for this issue.
• HS-67 Environmental awareness 
  Public awareness of environmental problems may be an indicator of how people will respond to incentives for biodiversity management. Awareness of environmental problems may also itself be an indicator of the issue.

Related issues

• Biodiversity - Landscapes - Government action on landscape protection 
• Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Conservation status of species and ecological communities 
• Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Community action on species and ecological communities