Managing Wetlands
Moulting Lagoon, Tasmania (2009)
Photo: M.McAulay
Who manages Australia's Wetlands?
In Australia, primary responsibility for managing wetlands and their associated flora and fauna is vested in the appropriate landholders/land managers.
Individual state and territory governments have the primary legislative and policy responsibility for natural resource management.
The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is the administrative authority within Australia for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The Australian Government meets its obligations under the Ramsar Convention by providing national wetland policy leadership and direction, working with state and territory governments through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, implementation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and through the development of programs with the goal to improve the management of wetlands.
Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) is the peak government forum for consultation, coordination and, where appropriate, integration of action by governments on natural resource management issues, which would not otherwise be possible because of the limitations imposed by the division of constitutional powers between Australian, State and Territory governments. The NRMMC comprises Australian Commonwealth/State/Territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for primary industries, natural resources, environment and water policy.
The Wetlands and Waterbirds Taskforce (WWTF) provides nationally coordinated advice to the NRMMC on wetland-related issues. The WWTF also advises the NRMMC on the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Australia.
The WWTF is made up of wetlands experts from the relevant Australian and New Zealand, state and territory agencies. The WWTF has led the way in implementing strategies promoting the study, conservation, repair and ecologically sustainable use of wetlands.
See also:
- Australian, state and territory environment departments
- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- EPBC Act
- Wetland Programs
- Australian Ramsar management principles
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