Australia's Strategy for Nature

Australia’s biodiversity conservation strategy and action inventory

A new national approach

On 8 November 2019, Australian, State and Territory Environment Ministers endorsed a new approach to biodiversity conservation through the Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019-2030. The Strategy is supported by a dedicated website, Australia’s Nature Hub. Both the Strategy and the Hub are developed and owned by the Commonwealth, all state and territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association.

Australia’s Strategy for Nature and supporting website, Australia’s Nature Hub, bring together existing work across the country with the aim to guide the development of new and innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation. It focuses on overarching goals that support healthy and functioning biological systems by promoting a stronger connection between people and nature, improving the way we care for nature, and building and sharing knowledge. It is a shared roadmap to better understand, care for and sustainably manage nature to 2030.

The strategy provides an adaptive approach allowing each jurisdiction the flexibility to establish targets appropriate to the variety of environments across Australia and to change these as we continue to build knowledge during the life of the strategy.

The Strategy represents the continued commitment of governments to work together to address biodiversity decline and provides enhanced opportunity for collaboration and partnership across governments and sectors.

Australia’s Nature Hub website is a new website that for the first time showcases initiatives taking place under the Strategy for Nature at all levels across Australia.

Background

As Australia is a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the national biodiversity strategy and action plan is Australia’s national plan to implement the Convention’s Strategic Plan and Aichi Targets.

Australia became a party to the CBD in 1993 and has had a national biodiversity strategy and action plan in place since 1996.

Timeline

Nov 2019 – Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019-2030 released, supported by the Australia’s Nature Hub website.

Dec 2017 – March 2018 – A revised Strategy - Australia’s strategy for nature 2018–2030: Australia’s biodiversity conservation strategy and action inventory released for consultation.

2016 – Australian Environment Ministers agree to revise Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030 based upon recommendations of the 2015 review.

2015 – Review of the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.

2010 – Release of Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030.

2006 – Second review of the National Strategy.

2001 – First review of the National Strategy.

1996 – Release of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity.

Archived documents

• Draft revised Strategy, Australia’s strategy for nature 2018–2030: Australia’s biodiversity conservation strategy and action inventory, including responses and submissions (2017)
• Report on the Review of the first five years of Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (2016)
• Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: 2010 – 2030 (2010)
• Biodiversity: A summary of Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030 (2010)