NATURE ~ FORLIFE ~ NATIONAL PARKS a Matter of National Significance

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Research papers of the National Parks Australia Council The National Parks Australia Council presents a series of five research papers to influence public debate and government decision making concerning the enhancement and management of Australia's terrestrial and marine estate. • Maintaining the Values of Australia's National Reserve System of Protected Areas • Completing Australia's National Reserve System of Protected Areas • Enhancing Landscape Connectivity • National Parks - a Matter of National Environmental Significance • Australia's Marine Protected Areas

The National Parks Australia Council has a mission to protect, promote and extend national parks systems within Australia . NPAC was formed in 1975. We are a national body that coordinates and represents the views of a range of State and Territory non-government organisations concerned with protecting the natural environment and furthering nat ional parks. NPAC provides a forum for regular communicat ion between state and territory national parks associations and related organisations to act as a united voice supporting conservat ion of the Nat ional Reserve System across Australia. To learn more about NPAC visit www.npac.org.au

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NATURE FOR LIFE

2 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System CONTENTS

Executive Summary...... 4

Enhance Landscape Connectivity...... 6 01 The Issues...... 10 1 ‘Adequacy’ of the National 8 Ecosystem Restoration...... 15 Reserve System...... 12 9 Lack of National Cohesion Towards 2 National Reserve System...... 12 Common Environmental Goals...... 15 3 Aichi Target 11: A Protected Area 10 Perceived ‘Risks’ Associated Network that is ‘Well connected’ with Connectivity and ‘Integrated into the Wider Conservation Areas...... 15 Landscapes and Seascapes’...... 13 11 Funding...... 16 4 Threats...... 13 12 20 Million Trees Program and 5 Land Clearing...... 14 the Green Army...... 17 6 Governance...... 14 13 Monitoring, Evaluation 7 Threat Abatement Plan for and Reporting...... 17 Land Clearing...... 15 02 Role of the Australian Government...... 20 1 Leadership...... 22 6 Legal Tools...... 24 2 Funding...... 22 7 Connectivity Conservation Areas...... 24 3 Prioritising Investment in Connectivity 8 Land Clearance...... 24 Conservation Areas within Existing 9 Special Legal Instruments Government Programs...... 23 for Voluntary Conservation...... 25 4 Economic Inventives...... 23 10 Alignment with Existing Australian 5 Strategic Investment...... 23 Government Environment Program...... 25

Endnotes ...... 26

References...... 27

National Parks Australia Council...... 28

3 Executive summary

he Australian Government has committed Our environment is a national issue requiring to the establishment of a National Reserve leadership at the highest level. System that is effectively and equitably T It is time for the Australian Government to managed, well connected and integrated into the demonstrate strong commitment and leadership country’s wider landscapes. in implementing this essential component of Connectivity - turning islands into networks - is our nation’s approach to the environment. This the single most important consensus direction in commitment must be demonstrated through global conservation, recognising that protected the Government’s own actions for the national areas may not in themselves be enough to support protection of biodiversity. This includes instigating self-sustaining populations of all the species they stronger national environmental laws, providing a contain. Connectivity is essential for building national coordinating role and oversight to ensure resilience in the face of rapid change, especially Australia meets its international and national climate change, into the system. commitments to protect biodiversity, including through the establishment of Connectivity The short-lived National Wildlife Corridors Plan Conservation Areas (CCAs) that effectively link and provided a national framework to guide and co- integrate protected areas into the wider landscape. ordinate the planning and establishment of wildlife Required actions include: corridors and was to be the primary delivery mechanism of the Australian Government’s • Establish a strategic, coordinated framework commitment to “a long-term strategy designed to retain, restore and manage ecological to retain and restore ecological connectivity and connections across the landscape. facilitate connectivity conservation”. One year • Support the planning and implementation that after its introduction, the Australian Government have gone into existing initiatives. abandoned the plan. • Provide guidance and oversight of planning Regardless, efforts by a wide spectrum of and development for further complementary Australian society are continuing to push this vision initiatives. forward, though many initiatives are struggling and are being abandoned due to a lack of reliable funding and support. Ambitions such as these require massive coordination and the cooperation of multiple jurisdictions and collaborations ‘across tenures’ and are dependent on reliable resourcing – financial and human. Substantially more encouragement, direction and support, including financial and human resources, are needed if these nation-wide endeavours are to be successful. Meanwhile, the continuing loss of native vegetation and fragmentation continue to be among the top pressures facing threatened species, highlighting the need to act now to ensure Australia’s landscapes and the biodiversity within, are connected.

4 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System 5 Enhance Landscape Connectivity

Recommendation Support nationwide bio-link projects that enhance connectivity between key habitats and engage the community in collective effort.

Background size restraints and isolation, protected areas must also be well-connected and integrated into wider Australia’s unique and incredibly diverse wildlife land and seascapes.5 is under threat: since European settlement, more than 200 years ago, numerous species have Connectivity Conservation Areas (CCAs) - known become extinct and many more are threatened. by a variety of names, including ‘wildlife corridors’ The threats to biodiversity include invasive species, and ‘bio-links’) - provide an essential ‘whole of habitat loss, degradation and loss of connectivity landscape’ strategy for achieving a well-connected 2 across the landscape due to land clearing and network of protected areas. development. Attempts to ameliorate these threats Connectivity Conservation Areas complement the have proven difficult and Australia’s biodiversity National Reserve System – Australia’s network of continues to be imperiled. protected areas – by: The single most effective action that protects 1. Promoting conservation outcomes in biodiversity is the establishment of a protected the landscape matrix and enhancing the area network. However, on their own, protected comprehensiveness, representativeness and areas, such as national parks and other adequacy of the conservation estate. conservation reserves, may not be large enough 2. Improving conservation outcomes for species, to support self-sustaining populations of all the particularly those that present special species they contain. The degree of isolation conservation challenges (e.g. are not found and the nature of the surrounding matrix of land- within the protected area network). uses can further confine and limit populations of species to protected areas, restricting the ability 3. Explicitly considering the various ecological and of species to disperse and recolonise after local evolutionary processes that operate at scales extinctions (e.g. arising from stochastic events, larger than even the biggest and most extensive 6 such as fire, and persistent threats such as of our terrestrial reserves. introduced predators). It also hinders the ability This wisdom is reflected in theC onvention of species to adapt to climate change or other on Biological Diversity’s 2011-2020 Strategic environmental changes.4 To compensate for these

Conservation depends on protection and connection.1 The concept of ecological networks is the single most important consensus direction in global conservation. It has been strongly endorsed at an international level.2 and recognises that connectivity - turning islands into networks - is essential for building resilience in the face of rapid change, especially climate change, into the system.3

6 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System 7 Plan (CBD) - Aichi Target 11 – which commits Australian governments, including state and signatories, including the Australian Government, to: territory governments, agree that landscape connectivity (at all scales, but especially at the By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and larger-scale) is crucial for strengthening the inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal resilience of ecosystems and species, particularly and marine areas, especially areas of particular under a scenario of climate change. For example, importance for biodiversity and ecosystem Australia’s National Reserve System Strategy services, are conserved through effectively and 2009-2030 (the Strategy) includes the objective equitably managed, ecologically representative of “protecting critical sites for climate change and well-connected systems of protected areas resilience, that includes broad landscape-scale and other effective area-based conservation corridors, to act as core lands of a broader measures, and integrated into the wider whole of landscape approach to biodiversity landscape and seascape. (Aichi Target 11). conservation.”8 Until recently, the concepts ‘well-connected’ and The Australian Government also recognises that ‘integrated into wider landscapes and seascapes’ this will only be achieved with the collaboration have been vague and open to interpretation, of private landholders, and investment in the which means that token, ad hoc development conservation and management of private land that of Connectivity Conservation Area could be complements the National Reserve System. These argued as fulfilling this requirement. However, the include areas of intact vegetation, or habitat, that International Union for the Conservation of Nature improve connectivity between protected areas, as (IUCN) is in the process of refining these concepts7 well as priority areas requiring restoration. to mean: Several other national conservation strategies, “ … a large and/or significant spatially defined including the National Biodiversity Conservation geographical space of one or more tenures that Strategy 2010-2030 and Australia’s Native is recognised as a Connectivity Conservation Vegetation Framework, endorse the fundamental Area and actively, effectively and equitably role landscape connectivity has for the protection governed and managed to ensure that viable of biodiversity.9,10 For example, the first of five populations of species are able to survive and targets in the Native Vegetation Framework is to move between systems of protected areas and “increase the national extent and connectivity of other effective area based conservation areas. vegetation”. The purpose of a Connectivity Conservation Area is to connect protected areas and other effective Clearly, Connectivity Conservation Areas are area based conservation areas and to maintain an integral part of Australia’s National Reserve or restore ecological and evolutionary processes System, and the reserve system is inadequate of species and ecosystems across a landscape, without them. freshwaterscape or seascape that may also be used and occupied for a variety of human purposes, so that people and other species are The Emergence of Bio-links in able to survive and to adapt to environmental Australia change, especially climate change.”2 Awareness that long-term conservation of This definition provides guidance for delivering the biodiversity requires a well-connected protected quality targets agreed to under the Convention on area network stimulated on-ground, collective Biological Diversity.

8 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System action in Australia. Grassroots and conservation National Wildlife organisations as well as governments initiated consolidation of lands across tenures and Corridors Plan jurisdictions to be managed for connectivity In 2012, in response to these initiatives and conservation, at landscape and sub-continental recognition of the need for a nationwide framework scales. to guide and co-ordinate the planning and Six of these corridor initiatives have been identified establishment of ‘wildlife corridors’ (referred to as as important foundation stones for a network of Connectivity Conservation Areas in this document), wildlife corridors11 (see Figure 1): the then federal Labor government introduced the National Wildlife Corridors Plan (NWCP).11 1. Gondwana Link This was the primary delivery mechanism of 2. The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative the Australian Government’s commitment to “a long-term strategy designed to retain and restore 3. Habitat 141° ecological connectivity and facilitate connectivity 4. Trans-Australia Eco-Link conservation”. 5. NatureLinks (SA)12 The National Wildlife Corridors Plan was devised 6. Tasmanian Midlandscapes to promote guidance on linking national parks and reserves and well-managed private land. Its While the positive involvement of people in primary aim was to build the resilience within connectivity conservation work has been a Australia’s environment to the impacts of climate significant social phenomenon for Australia, change by working with regional Natural Resource it is one that needs encouragement and Management groups and local communities to support to grow. For example, the sheer scale develop a national plan for wildlife corridors/ of these endeavours requires the coordination Connectivity Conservation Areas. and cooperation of multiple jurisdictions and collaborations across multiple forms of tenure The plan provided guidance for collaborative, including public, private, Indigenous and other whole-of-landscape approaches to conserving tenure arrangements, and as such, they require Australia’s native species. It also signalled a reliable resourcing, expert planning, policies and national commitment to address landscape instruments to consolidate their continuing role in problems at the appropriate landscape scale and facilitating biodiversity conservation.14,15 mobilised $10 million to establish a framework for connectivity conservation on a national level, These efforts recognise implicitly that considerably prompting the investment of almost $1 billion greater financial and human resources are needed through the former Biodiversity Fund.19 It was than are currently being invested to alleviate anticipated that the focus would not only be the impacts of threatening processes that are on supporting existing initiatives, but also to undermining the conservation of Australia’s encourage and enable a rapid expansion of more 4 wildlife. landscape connectivity initiatives. There needs to be a bold, guiding vision that The introduction of the National Wildlife Corridors provides direction and the ‘glue’ for the many Plan was a critical milestone in Australia’s attempts individual initiatives that help to conserve to respond to its international commitments biodiversity within individual corridors and at a (e.g. the Convention on Biological Diversity), the national scale. effects of past habitat loss, pervasive threats from

9 introduced species and land management, and the rapidly emerging impacts of climate change. Yet in 2013, one year after its introduction, the Australian Government reported that the National Wildlife Corridors Plan was complete16, and in its annual report for 2013-1417 the federal Department of the Environment explained that the plan had been “discontinued as a result of changing government priorities”. It also said new programs, such as the 20 Million Trees program, “will support the planting of native trees and associated understorey species to re-establish green corridors and urban forests”.

10 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System 11 The issues

1. ‘Adequacy’ of the National outside the protected area network. Sympathetic management will, inter alia, buffer Connectivity Reserve System Conservation Areas and protected areas from Currently almost 18 per cent of land and more than threatening processes originating off-reserve and 30 per cent of Australia’s seascape makes up the maintain species and other biodiversity assets 6 country’s National Reserve System, an impressive found on other land tenures. accomplishment. However, a comprehensive, All of these will influence the capacity of species to adequate and representative National Reserve meet their habitat requirements, exchange genetic System means more than just acreage: the quality material and adapt to environmental change, and components of the Convention on Biological ultimately the degree to which the National Reserve Diversity (Aichi Target 11) targets are a critical System, including Connectivity Conservation Areas, consideration, i.e. that protected areas are: are ‘integrated into the wider landscapes and “…conserved through effectively and equitably seascapes’. managed, ecologically representative and well- connected systems of protected areas and other 2. National Reserve System effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and The National Wildlife Corridors Plan states that seascapes.” the National Reserve System is a ‘foundation stone’ of the future network of national wildlife The adequacy of the National Reserve System corridors/Connectivity Conservation Areas, is influenced by the amount of the landscape/ yet shortly after it was released the Australian seascape being protected, the degree of Government announced it was ending nearly 20 connectivity and the landscape/seascape years of dedicated financial support to expand the context, including ecological considerations National Reserve System, despite the system being (e.g. the species, habitats and ecosystems that incomplete (e.g. several bioregions and many occur in an area), as well as human utilisation more ecosystems remain unrepresented or under- and management of areas not being managed represented). primarily for conservation (most of the landscape/ seascape). This includes whether ‘other effective Many under-represented ecosystems occur on area-based conservation measures’ that are private land where land clearing continues to be sympathetic to the management requirements a threat and acquisition of lands into the National of CCAs and protected areas are being employed Reserve System is not possible. For the same reasons, this makes it challenging to establish a

Aichi Target 11. By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.

12 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System Listed as vulnerable, the Malleefowl is a shy, wary bird. Photo: S Gillam

nationwide network of Connectivity Conservation improvement has been undermined by land use Areas. intensification directly adjacent to linkages, and more generally throughout the landscape. The Funding for the acquisition of high priority authors concluded that functional connectivity is properties was both a key stimulus for the creation eroding, not improving. Having a well-connected of new connectivity initiatives and an important and well-managed National Reserve System can mechanism used to advance the goals of existing be undermined if the surrounding or adjacent areas initiatives. are over-utilised, polluted or are also inadequately managed. 3. Aichi Target 11: A Protected Area Network that is 'Well Key points connected' and 'Integrated • Before the Australian Government can claim that it has met its obligations under the into the Wider Landscapes and Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi Target Seascapes' 11, renewed effort must be given to finding ways to include under-represented bioregions and The Australian landscape is a patchwork of ecosystems into the National Reserve System, natural areas, productive lands, towns and cities. and greater account must be taken of the Protected areas and remaining pockets of relatively req ui rement to have a protected area network healthy remnant habitat have become isolated in that is 'well-connected' and 'integrated into the the landscape - stranded within an ocean of highly wider landscapes and seascapes'.17 modified and/or intensively used landscapes. This has reduced the capacity of ecological processes to function naturally, from hindering the ability of species to disperse throughout the landscape 4. Threats to jeopardising the maintenance of evolutionary Widespread and pervasive pressures from invasive processes. species, inappropriate land management practices, An analysis undertaken by WWF Australia poorly planned development and declining (2014)18 found that although terrestrial protected water quality continue to threaten Australia's area connectivity19 has increased modestly, this landscapes, ecosystems and native species. These

13 threatening processes are interfering with the For example, from 2009 to 2014 land clearing natural adaptation processes that enabled species in Queensland tripled to approximately 296,000 to persist through past environmental change, hectares as a direct result of weakened vegetation including climate change. CCAs maximise the laws in the state.23 Similar retrograde moves potential for species to positively respond to the regarding the protection of native vegetation were challenges rapid climate change will bring.20 made in Victoria and Western Australia in 2013. In 2008, the former Northern Territory Labor 5. Land Clearing = Habitat government failed to deliver its promise to pass a Native Vegetation Management Act that is ‘world’s Loss and Fragmentation best’ practice. In Tasmania, there are large gaps in The pressures of landscape fragmentation existing legislation that regulates the clearance of and the pressing need to enhance capacity to native vegetation, especially for non-threatened, adapt to climate change are major factors in the non-forest vegetation. ongoing decline of Australia’s biodiversity. Indeed, Furthermore, much of this clearing can go fragmentation of habitat is one of the two most undetected or ignored by state governments. For frequently cited pressures for species listed as example, private landholders cleared six times threatened under the Environment Protection and more land (81,000 ha) than what was approved Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), (12,280 ha) by the government in NSW between the other is invasive species. Fragmentation of 2007-2011.24 vegetation is particularly apparent west of the Great Dividing Range in eastern Australia (NSW and The continued, and in some areas intensified, Queensland), across much of southern Australia clearing of native vegetation is clearly at odds with and in the southwest (Figure 2), corresponding Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework, which all to the area of Australia that was originally under states and territories contributed to and endorsed 10 forest or woodland and, as indicated above, (except Victoria). The framework provides a corresponds with the highest numbers of strategy to ‘build healthier and more connected threatened species.21 vegetation’, and supports the implementation of Australia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Australia’s Strategy for the National Reserve 6. Governance System 2009-2030. Fragmentation is a direct result of land clearing There are five national goals stated in the (which is listed as a Key Threatening Process (KTP) framework. With regard to clearing of native under the EPBC Act). In the 1980s, in response vegetation and connectivity, the relevant goals are: to rising public concern over land degradation, Goal 1: Increase the national extent and salinity, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas connectivity of native vegetation. emissions, all states and territories introduced laws to protect native vegetation. Today, most Goal 2: Maintain and improve the condition and of these regulations have been relaxed and as function of native vegetation. a consequence landholders now have greater Goal 3: Build capacity to understand, value and freedom to clear native vegetation and land manage native vegetation. clearing continues, in some areas at an alarming pace. It is clear that all levels of the Australian Government have failed to deliver or reneged

14 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System on their commitments: within a few years of its such as land clearing or logging of native forests release, the goals and aspirations contained within far exceeds the net gain of habitat restoration. the Native Vegetation Framework have been For example, the 50 million-plus trees lost in undermined by state and territory actions that Queensland to clearing in one year – plus the achieve the opposite. extent of unregulated and unenforced land clearing laws in other states, such as NSW – totally negates the potential success of national programs such as 7. Threat Abatement Plan for the 20 Million Trees Program and the efforts of the Land Clearing thousands of volunteers that constitute the Green Army. Land clearing is listed as a Key Threatening Process under the EPBC Act. In its advice to the minister, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee considered that a Threat Abatement 10. Perceived ‘Risks’ Plan for Land Clearance was unnecessary on Associated with Connectivity the grounds that current initiatives, including the whole-of-government endorsement of Australia’s Conservation Areas Native Vegetation Framework, would be sufficient Simberloff and Cox (1987)25 and Simberloff et to abate this threat. al. (1992)26 first drew attention to the possible negative ecological effects of wildlife corridors. For example, in the same way these corridors help the 8. Ecosystem Restoration dispersal of native species they may also increase Restoration of ecosystems is difficult and the spread and subsequent impact of introduced expensive. The State of Environment Report (2011) species (e.g. feral predators, fire ants ) and concurs, “…replacing mature native vegetation with pathogens, and increase the spread and intensity regrowth seldom provides the same environmental of fire. values as the original vegetation”.15 Other reviews Although little research has been undertaken on of natural resource management programs have the potential negative impacts of Connectivity also highlighted the expense and difficulty in Conservation Areas, a literature review undertaken restoring an area to its original condition and the by Haddad and his team (2014)37 found no incongruity of continuing to allow further clearing consistently negative effects, and emphasised given the existing problems and environmental the inconclusive evidence that corridors also aid challenges being dealt with in cleared landscapes. in the spread of unwanted predators, parasites, competitors and pathogens. Further, Haddad et al. (2014) concluded that any negative effects are 9. Lack of National relatively small and manageable compared with the Cohesion Towards Common large positive effects of facilitating dispersal and Environmental Goals increasing diversity of native species. These perceived threats are generally ubiquitous Poor environmental laws and enforcement, such as and targeted for management action irrespective those described above, thwart other efforts made of the presence of Connectivity Conservation at the national level to protect the environment. Areas, and strengthen the argument for a whole-of- Further, the net loss of habitat through practices landscape approach to conservation, sustainability

15 and improving the quality of the landscape matrix.29 Framework, will protect native vegetation, has Agri-environment schemes – that incentivise not been met. private landholders to make environmental • Land clearance is listed as a Key Threatening improvements to their land, such as environmental Process and is therefore a nationally significant stewardships – reduce the increased risks of issue, that not only affects Australia’s ability biological invasion associated with climate change to fulfill obligations under international because biodiverse landscapes are more resilient: agreements, such as the Convention on they are less prone to invasion while benefiting Biological Diversity and Kyoto Protocol, but it wildlife and contributing positively to the protected will lead inevitably to the failure to deliver on its area network and maintaining ecosystem services, national commitments. including those vital to the agricultural sector (e.g. soil and water).38 • By encouraging ‘softer’, or more sympathetic and integrated land use on private land, Key points Connectivity Conservation Areas contribute to improving the quality of the landscape matrix • Connectivity Conservation Areas provide and resilience that benefits both wildlife and an opportunity for coordinated, large-scale agriculture. responses to the challenges of climate change. • People on the ground need support to realise • Given the complexity of governance that the benefits of CCAs go beyond biodiversity arrangements, developing and implementing conservation, e.g. benefits extend to agricultural integrated approaches to manage the ecosystems - and to adopt the necessary environment can be challenging. changes and developing the right attitude • State and territory governments agree to high- regarding sustainability. level environmental goals but do not deliver. • Weak state and territory native vegetation protection laws, compounded by poor regulation 11. Funding and enforcement, facilitate continued clearing of In its 2015 review of Australia’s Biodiversity native vegetation to the detriment of biodiversity Conservation Strategy, the Humane Society and will further reduce options for inclusion of International (HSI) concluded that only two of land into bio-links/Connectivity Conservation the six large-scale connectivity projects - the Areas without expensive and difficult Gondwana Link and Great Eastern Ranges Initiative rehabilitation. - had established a solid support-base from a • The expectation that whole of government wide range of sources and were progressing 30 strategies, such as the Native Vegetation effectively.

The best response to the threats of habitat loss and degradation is to retain natural lands in an undisturbed condition. The second most important response is to retain strategic interconnections to make habitat remnants bigger and less isolated.6

16 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System The others have faltered, largely due to a lack of connectivity conservation activities. funding.30 For example, Habitat 141o is currently in While there may be positive connectivity a period of planning and consolidation as it strives conservation outcomes to be gained from these to secure funding for ongoing actions to establish programs, they lack the powerful commitment connections, and to support much needed to develop and manage continental-scale bio- institutional arrangements, such as a centralised links/Connectivity Conservation Areas that was coordinating unit.31 The Northern Territory contained in the previous NWCP. Government’s funding for its part of the Trans- Australian Eco-link ceased in December 2012. Key points Key points • The directions established by the NWCP remain • Financial security remains a challenge in both relevant and critical: 20 Million Trees delivering lasting management change and and the Green Army are not directed at the connectivity conservation outcomes strategic development of bio-links/Connectivity Conservation Areas across Australia and • Secure funding is also needed to maintain the therefore cannot be considered a substitute for institutional arrangements that are essential the NWCP. to the development and implementation of collaborative large-scale connectivity projects. 13. Monitoring, Evaluation and 12. 20 Million Trees Program Reporting and the Green Army The effectiveness and adequacy of bio-links/ Connectivity Conservation Areas at the national The two programs that reputedly replaced the scale for achieving ‘a well-connected’ system NWCP - the 20 Million Trees Program and Green of protected areas, and enhancement of Army – offer ad hoc, short-term, disconnected biodiversity conservation more generally, can only approaches to managing largely local issues and be determined if there is a system in place for stand in sharp contrast to the need to plan and monitoring and evaluation (at various spatial and act on a larger scale in a more purposeful and temporal scales), and reporting. coordinated manner. As acknowledged in the NWCP,11 “[h]igh-quality For example, with its modest budget of $50 million long-term monitoring and evaluation will provide over four years (to 2020), the 20 Million Trees evidence about the appropriateness, effectiveness, Program has four investment priorities. Only one efficiency and legacy of investments. This in turn touches on corridors - to increase the area and will allow corridor managers to continuously adapt linkages between and condition of Australia’s their management practices and generate a body native vegetation. of empirical knowledge about the impacts and The more substantially resourced Green Army effectiveness of particular management regimes”. program supports hundreds of projects each Existing connectivity conservation initiatives year that encompass a wide range of local are currently challenged by how to measure environment and heritage conservation projects and demonstrate the outcomes of bio-links/ across Australia, which may or may not include Connectivity Conservation Areas in terms of

17 investment and biodiversity conservation, which is further complicated by the various scales at which they operate. Furthermore, the development of a consistent monitoring and evaluation approach will allow data to be relatively easily aggregated and assessed, and will enhance the efficacy of reporting at different spatial scales and for a variety of purposes (e.g. state and national State of Environment reporting, Convention on Biological Diversity communiqués).

Key points • Organisations and individuals engaged in connectivity conservation initiatives need guidance to effectively design and carry out monitoring programs. • Provision of standardised guidelines, data collecting methods and management tools would aid connectivity conservation initiatives to build their capacity to measure success and enhance biodiversity outcomes. • Standardised monitoring, evaluation and reporting will increase the ease of reporting for local, state/territory, national and international requirements, improve accountability and provide more robust information regarding long- term outcomes.

18 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System 19 Role of the Australian Government

ur environment is a national issue requiring of Connectivity Conservation Areas that effectively leadership at the highest level: it is critical link and integrate protected areas into the wider Othat renewed energy and enthusiasm landscape and promoting sustainable land use is injected into a national environment and management more generally. conservation agenda with large landscape initiatives As the concept of connectivity conservation is at its core. already established in Australia, future actions can There is no doubt that protecting biodiversity is a focus on the next stage. Required actions include: huge task requiring good science, expertise and • Establish a strategic, coordinated framework to strategic investments. The resources required will retain, restore and manage ecological connections necessarily be ongoing and increasingly important across the landscape. with the mounting pressures of climate change. However, given the significant economic benefits - • Support the planning and implementation that the National Reserve System providing an estimated have gone into existing initiatives. economic benefit of • Provide guidance and oversight of the planning and Due to the complexity of governance arrangements development for further complimentary initiatives. and the failure of the states and territories to deliver Existing landscape connectivity initiatives provide on their environmental stewardship commitments, the ideal focus for re-targeting attention on a the Australian Government has an important national landscape conservation agenda. They national role to play in environmental management. contribute to sustaining our natural infrastructure This includes the nationwide establishment for carbon capture, water and productive of Connectivity Conservation Areas, which are landscapes, managing our iconic landscapes essential for the long-term resilience of Australia’s as the backdrop to tourism, recreation and the unique biodiversity, and have positive effects across Australian way of life, protecting our unique the entire landscape, which is inherently impacted cultural heritage, native plants and animals while by poor land use management. connecting and strengthening communities as It is time for the Australian Government to they work together towards achieving a common demonstrate strong national commitment goal. Connectivity Conservation Areas comprise and leadership in implementing this essential a complex mosaic of private and public land used component of our nation’s approach to the for a variety of purposes, and inspire communities environment. This commitment must be to work cooperatively and with government and demonstrated through the Government’s own non-government organisations to support a actions for the national protection of biodiversity. vision to protect our environment by improving This includes instigating stronger national the connectivity and resilience of our natural environmental laws, providing a national ecosystems. coordinating role and oversight to ensure Australia These natural, jurisdictional and social intricacies, meets its international and national commitments that are an integral feature of large-scale to protect biodiversity, including the establishment connectivity initiatives, require mobilisation of

20 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System Project Hindmarsh is one of the most successful landscape connectivity projects in Australia. Photos: John Sampson, David Fletcher

21 the full range of instruments available, and the financial capital to match the scale of need and development of new mechanisms if what is ambition to establish a National Reserve System currently available isn’t sufficient to achieve the goal that is well-connected and integrated into the of a network of Connectivity Conservation Areas wider landscapes and seascapes. across the nation and a protected area network that • Build enduring institutional arrangements is fully integrated into the wider landscape. that support the development of collaborative Below are examples of actions that could be taken connectivity conservation projects and ongoing at the highest level of government to achieve a management, including monitoring and network of Connectivity Conservation Areas across evaluation. This may include: Australia. 0 The re-establishment of a national body to coordinate and provide advice, such as how institutional, legislative and funding frameworks might best enable improved practices, 1. Leadership to government and connectivity conservation initiatives. • Re-introduce a national landscape-scale program 0 Follow through with its promise in the National Wildlife that supports the collaborative establishment Corridors Plan to develop guidelines and make available and ongoing management of Connectivity information on monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Conservation Areas to improve ecological and 0 Existing reporting tools, such as the ‘MERIT’ system of protected area connectivity, as part of Australia’s reporting that is used to strengthen national accounting national and international commitments. for investment and outputs across public and private efforts as a basis for evaluating the appropriateness, 0 This could include a renewed emphasis on the principles effectiveness and legacy benefits from investment, could and implementation approaches outlined in the NWCP. similarly be used for evaluating and reporting outcomes of 0 Such a plan will need clear and measurable goals, for both bio-links/Connectivity Conservation Areas. ecological and social outcomes. 0 Critically, this system would need to be supported by 0 Initiatives will need to have access to spatial planning complementary application of monitoring data, scenario tools and must operate within an adaptive management modelling and outcomes prediction software. framework. • Support existing large-scale connectivity projects 2. Funding that have made significant advances to enable There needs to be a clear vision and direction for the progression of their objectives and ensure targeted investment in connectivity conservation that all efforts and expenditure to date have not initiatives, and noting that financial resources been in vain. could be achieved from a diversity of sources in • Recreate the enabling conditions needed to addition to conventional budget allocations. attract far greater investment in time, talent and

The prognosis for the environment at a national level is highly dependent on how seriously the Australian Government takes its leadership role.15

22 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System 3. Prioritising Investment in a range of government programs. Entry to these programs was partially first come, first Connectivity Conservation served and partly competitive, favouring a mix Areas within Existing of environmental benefits and reduced costs to Government Programs government. • Incentiv e payments through conservation • Identify the most strategic areas for establishing auctions, e.g. the Australian Government’s Connectivity Conservation Areas and give Environmental Stewardship Programme. higher priority for funding under Australian Government programs for nominations that contribute towards developing these areas, i.e. 5. Strategic Investment prioritise funding for projects that assist in the • De velop a guiding national framework that development and management of Connectivity includes strategies and mechanisms for Conservation Areas. securing funding and federal agency support for 0 Prioritisation of areas for further development should be initiatives. driven from the ground up and reviewed in the context of 0 Such a plan will need bipartisan, long-term (decades not the IUCN’s forthcoming criteria and guidelines and the years) political support, and include support from state social aspects, particularly with regard to implementation and the range of delivery mechanisms required for and local governments. success, need to be deeply embedded as part of the • Establish a Connectivity Conservation Area Fund process.2 with adequate funds allocated to: 0 Protect and connect Australia’s unique and iconic natural 4. Economic Incentives heritage. • F urther develop economic instruments to 0 Integrate conservation within diverse and productive encourage and support private landholders to landscapes providing sustainable agricultural products, tourism and recreation. manage land on their property for connectivity conservation. For example: 0 Restore and maintain ecosystems and their role in maintaining the integrity of Australia’s national carbon • Conser vation banking biodiversity trusts that stocks, clean water catchments and natural economy. allow landholders to create conservation credits with active conservation management • Mor e broadly, prioritise Landcare and natural actions on their land to enhance biodiversity resource management investments to values. These should include arrangements landholders voluntarily adopting new – or with that guarantee the long-term security of those existing – perpetual conservation covenants that credits. secure those investments for the future and that also contribute to or are complementary with • Taxation initiatives that reduce the cost to the National Reserve System, with a focus on landholders of improved natural resource restoring landscape connectivity and resilience management. to climate change.18 For example: • Cost share grants that require landholders to 0 The use and success of current incentive schemes - invest a minimum amount, or a proportion of which blends elements of persuasion and inducement total project costs. These were the favoured - to halt further clearance and in some cases, revegetate investment pathways during the 1990s under what has been lost.

23 established criteria can be formally declared a National 6. Legal Tools Wildlife Corridor. These criteria could adhere to those The clear need to establish connectivity currently being development by the IUCN. conservation areas at local, regional, state, 0 In the event the IUCN criteria are adopted, bio-links and territory and national scales that cross other conservation connectivity initiatives that fit the jurisdictions requires the Australian Government IUCN definition of Connectivity Conservation Area could develop better mechanisms within its primary be recognised in much the same way as protected areas. environmental regulations (e.g. EPBC Act) to specifically recognise and protect bio-links and 8. Land Clearance other Connectivity Conservation Areas and to control the continued depletion and fragmentation • Expand the scope of the Australian Government of native vegetation. to include greater oversight of environmental matters, including the power, resources and There are a number of legal options available that capabilities to end large-scale land clearing. could be used. 0 Introduce national laws to control land clearing, including a binding limit or “cap” on land clearing. The cap would need to be rapidly reduced over time to meet the national 7. Connectivity Conservation objective of stopping further losses of Australia’s native Areas vegetation. • Amend the EPBC Act to include the • Establish an independent environment advisory consideration of connectivity conservation to body whose task would include a review of achieve biodiversity goals. state and territory native vegetation legislative and regulatory regimes. This would include • List the National Reserve System as a Matter regulation, monitoring and enforcement, as of National Environmental Significance (MNES) well as analysing the implications for land under the EPBC Act, which encompasses the managers – particularly the drivers and Convention on Biological Diversity definition of barriers to native vegetation management and ‘adequate’ (which includes connectivity). conservation on private land, with a view to: 0 This will ensure that any activity that may significantly 0 Establishing uniform protocols across the states that impact on the National Reserve System - including would guide enforcement and investigative procedures. connectivity conservation areas - would need to be assessed and approved by the responsible federal 0 Making available helpful and relevant information to the government minister. public to help landholders understand processes and aims of the laws. • Establish a national legislative framework that incorporates the adoption of consistent 0 Reviewing incentive-based programs available criteria for Connectivity Conservation Areas in to landholders to ensure policy settings across governments help farmers deliver environmental line with emerging international standards for outcomes. These include environmental stewardship connectivity conservation. programs or access to sustainable agriculture grants, • Adopt and apply a formal process for the which allow landholders to earn income for protecting designation of large landscape initiatives of high quality native vegetation. national significance. • List land clearance as a Matter of National 0 For example, the NWCP mooted the development of Environmental Significance (MNES) statutory arrangements (such as a National Wildlife 0 Assessment of actions applicable to this trigger to Corridors Act) under which corridors that meet

24 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System consider: inter alia, the impacts on biodiversity from the removal of areas that contribute to landscape connectivity – formally or informally - to ensure future efforts to establish connectivity conservation areas are not increasingly limited, nor require extensive rehabilitation efforts. • De velop a Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) for land clearance.

9. Special Legal Instruments for Voluntary Conservation • The full spectrum of instruments available to incentivise and support private landholders to manage their land (or parts thereof) for conservation should be used. For example: 0 Land for Wildlife (Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria), or Wildlife Refuge Agreements (NSW) that support simple and effective land management, and although non-binding, can be viewed as an ‘entry level’ agreement that can effectively encourage landholders to commit more substantially over time. 0 Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements (NSW) that protect and enhance biodiversity through restoration and management actions, and are secure and funded in the long term. 0 Conservation agreements or covenants that provide some legal recognition of connectivity conservation areas (or include lands managed for connectivity conservation within the definition of the National Reserve System).

10. Alignment with Existing Australian Government Environment Program • Re-fr ame the objectives of program such as the National Landcare Program, 20 Million Trees Program and the Green Army Program to include a clear objective to restore fragmented landscapes and enhance connectivity of protected areas across the landscape.

25 Endnotes

1 IUCN Worlds Parks Congress (2014). A Strategy of Innovative Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Approaches and Recommendations to Enhance Implementation Population and Communities. Canberra: DSEWPaC, 2011. in the Next Decade. Sydney, 2014. 16 Australian Government Department of Environment (May 2014). 1 Lovejoy, TE and Wilson, EO (2015). The Opinion Pages: A Mojave Australia’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Solar Project in the Bighorns Way. The New York Times, 12 Diversity. Department of the Environment, Canberra. September 2015, New York. 17 Pg. 26 http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/ 2 Worboys, GL, Ament, R, Day, JC, Locke, H, McClure, M, Tabor, G eeda822c-0cd5-4060-9360-7be17b534f73/files/outcome-1- and Woodley, S (Editors) (2015). Consultation Draft, Guidelines biodiversity-and-ecosystems.pdf for Connectivity Conservation: Part One, Definition: Connectivity 18 Taylor M, Fitzsimons J and Sattler P (2014). Building Nature’s Conservation Area. IUCN, 28 Rue Mauverney, Gland, Switzerland. Safety Net 2014: A decade of protected area achievements in 3 World Commission on Protected Areas (2007). Conserving Australia. Report prepared for WWF Australia, Sydney. Australia: Australia’s national parks, conservation reserves and 19 Measured in terms of the median distance between neighbouring marine protected areas. Submission to the Standing Committee protected areas. on Environment, Communications, Information Technology and 20 Mackey B, Watson J and Worboys GL of ANU Enterprises Pty Ltd the Arts; Commonwealth of Australia. (2010). Connectivity conservation and the Great Eastern Ranges 4 Whitten, SM, Freudenberger, D, Wyborn, C, Doerr, V and Doerr, corridor. An independent report to the Interstate Agency Working E (2011). A compendium of existing and planned Australian Group (Alps to Atherton Connectivity Conservation Working wildlife corridor projects and initiatives, and case study analysis of Group) convened under the Environment Heritage and Protection operational experience. A report for the Australian Government Council/Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and 21 Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Communities, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, June 2011. Heritage and the Arts. Assessment of Australia’s terrestrial 5 Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2011-2020 Strategic Plan biodiversity 2008. Canberra: DEWHA, 2009. (CBD), Aichi Target 11. 22 Evans, M (2016). Queensland moves to control land clearing: 6 Mackey B, Watson J and Worboys GL of ANU Enterprises Pty Ltd other states need to follow. The Conversation, May 10, 2016. (2010). Connectivity Conservation and the Great Eastern Ranges 23 Maron, M, Laurance, B, Pressey, B, Catterall, CP, McAlpine, C, Corridor. An independent report to the Interstate Agency Working Possingham, H, Watson, J, Rhodes, J, Wilson, K and Hockings, Group (Alps to Atherton Connectivity Conservation Working M (2016). Queensland land clearing is undermining Australia’s Group) convened under the Environment Heritage and Protection environmental progress. The Conversation, February 22, 2016. Council/Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. 24 Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday March 3, 2016. ‘Bombshell’: 7 To be tabled for adoption at the 2016 Hawaii World Conservation Just one-sixth of rural land-clearing tracked in NSW, ANU’s Philip Congress. Gibbons says. 8 Commonwealth of Australia (2009). Australia’s Strategy for the 25 Simberloff, D and Cox, J (1987). Consequences and costs of National Reserve System 2009-2030. Commonwealth of Australia conservation corridors. Conservation Biology 1(1): 63-71. and each of its States and Territories, 2010. 26 Simberloff, D, Farr, JA, Cox, J and Mehlman, DW (1992). 9 Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (2010). Movement corridors: conservation bargains or poor investments? Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. Australian Conservation Biology 6(4): 493-504. Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. 27 Bora, K (2014). Wildlife Corridors Can Encourage The Spread Of Invasive Species Such As Fire Ants. International Business Times, 10 COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water (2012). 08/07/14. Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework: A National Framework to Guide the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Australia’s 28 Haddad, NM, Brudvig, LA, Damschen, EL, Evans, DM, Johnson, Native Vegetation. Commonwealth of Australia. BL, Levey, DJ, Orrock, JL, Resasco, J, Sullivan, LL, Tewksbury, JJ, Wagner, SA and Weldon, AJ (2014). Potential negative ecological 11 Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population effects of corridors. Conservation Biology 28(5): 1178-87 and Communities (2012). National Wildlife Corridors Plan: A framework for landscape-scale conservation. Australian 29 Donald, PF and Evans, AD (2006). Habitat connectivity and matrix Government, Canberra. restoration: the wider implications of agri-environment schemes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 43(2): 209–218 12 Some of which are part of the larger Trans-Australia Eco-Link. 30 Humane Society International (2015). Australia’s Biodiversity 13 Note Whitten et al. (2011) identified an additional two corridor Conservation Strategy: An Independent Review. HSI, Avalon NSW. initiatives: Kimberley to Cape and Ecofire. 31 Habitat141o Alliance (2015). Habitat141o Strategic Plan 2015- 14 Effective collaborations are likely to involve organisations that 2020: A Framework to Guide Habitat 141 Alliance Activities. can best engage and leverage values across these tenures including governments, regional NRM groups, non-government 32 Adopted by the Department of Environment in 2013, MERIT organisations (NGOs), businesses and others (such as statutory provides a platform to rationalise and streamline reporting by authorities). recipients of Australian Government funding and has enabled rapid summation and evaluation of what has been delivered with 15 State of the Environment 2011 Committee (2011). Australia State Government funding. of the Environment 2011. Independent report to the Australian

26 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservation Values of the National Reserve System References

Australian Government Department of Environment (2014). Australia’s Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Communities. Canberra: DSEWPaC, 2011. Department of the Environment, Canberra. Sydney Morning Herald (2016). ‘Bombshell’: Just one-sixth of rural land- Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage clearing tracked in NSW, ANU’s Philip Gibbons says. Tuesday March 3 and the Arts (2009). Assessment of Australia’s terrestrial biodiversity (2016). 2008. Canberra: DEWHA, 2009. Taylor M, Fitzsimons J and Sattler P (2014). Building Nature’s Safety Bora, K (2014). Wildlife Corridors Can Encourage The Spread Of Invasive Net 2014: A decade of protected area achievements in Australia. Report Species Such As Fire Ants. International Business Times, 08/07/14. prepared for WWF Australia, Sydney. Online: Whitten, SM, Freudenberger, D, Wyborn, C, Doerr, V and Doerr, E COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water (2012). Australia’s (2011). A compendium of existing and planned Australian wildlife Native Vegetation Framework: A National Framework to Guide the corridor projects and initiatives, and case study analysis of operational Ecologically Sustainable Management of Australia’s Native Vegetation. experience. A report for the Australian Government Department of Commonwealth of Australia. Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, June 2011. Commonwealth of Australia (2009). Australia’s Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009-2030. Commonwealth of Australia and each of its Worboys, GL, Ament, R, Day, JC, Locke, H, McClure, M, Tabor, G States and Territories, 2010. and Woodley, S (Editors) (2015). Consultation Draft, Guidelines for Connectivity Conservation: Part One, Definition: Connectivity Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2011-2020 Strategic Plan (CBD). Conservation Area. IUCN, 28 Rue Mauverney, Gland, Switzerland. Aichi Target 11. World Commission on Protected Areas (2007). Conserving Australia: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Australia’s national parks, conservation reserves and marine protected Communities (2012). National Wildlife Corridors Plan: A framework for areas. Submission to the Standing Committee on Environment, landscape-scale conservation. Australian Government, Canberra. Communications, Information Technology and the Arts; Commonwealth Evans, M (2016). Queensland moves to control land clearing: other states of Australia. need to follow. The Conversation, May 10, 2016.. Simberloff, D and Cox, J (1987). Consequences and costs of conservation Habitat141o Alliance (2015). Habitat141o Strategic Plan 2015-2020: A corridors. Conservation Biology 1(1): 63-71. Framework to Guide Habitat 141 Alliance Activities. Simberloff, D, Farr, JA, Cox, J and Mehlman, DW (1992). Movement Haddad, NM, Brudvig, LA, Damschen, EL, Evans, DM, Johnson, BL, Levey, corridors: conservation bargains or poor investments? Conservation DJ, Orrock, JL, Resasco, J, Sullivan, LL, Tewksbury, JJ, Wagner, SA and Biology 6(4): 493-504. Weldon, AJ (2014). Potential negative ecological effects of corridors. Donald, PF and Evans, AD (2006). Habitat connectivity and matrix Conservation Biology 28(5): 1178-87. restoration: the wider implications of agri-environment schemes. Journal Humane Society International (2015). Australia’s Biodiversity of Applied Ecology 43(2): 209–218. Conservation Strategy: An Independent Review. HSI, Avalon NSW. Lovejoy, TE and Wilson, EO (2015). The Opinion Pages: A Mojave Solar Project in the Bighorns Way. The New York Times, 12 September 2015, New York. Mackey B, Watson J and Worboys GL of ANU Enterprises Pty Ltd (2010). Connectivity Conservation and the Great Eastern Ranges Corridor. An independent report to the Interstate Agency Working Group (Alps to Atherton Connectivity Conservation Working Group) convened under the Environment Heritage and Protection Council/Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Maron, M, Laurance, B, Pressey, B, Catterall, CP, McAlpine, C, Possingham, H, Watson, J, Rhodes, J, Wilson, K and Hockings, M (2016). Queensland land clearing is undermining Australia’s environmental progress. The Conversation, February 22, 2016. Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (2010). Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. State of the Environment 2011 Committee (2011). Australia state of the environment 2011. Independent report to the Australian Government

27 National Parks Australia Council

The National Parks Austra lia Council (N PAC) is a national body that represents state and territory organisations concerned with protecting the natural environment and furthering national parks. It has six member organisations, representing all states and territories except Western Austra lia and the Northern Territory.

Victorian National Parks Association The Victorian National Parks Association {VNPA) shares a VICTORIAN NATIONAL PARKS vision of Victoria as a place with a diverse, secure and healthy ASSOCIATION natural environment cared for and appreciated by all. "Be-~of~ Website: www.vnpa.org.au Email: [email protected] I Phone: {03) 9347 518

National Parks Association of NSW The mission of the National Parks Association of NSW {NPA NSW) is to protect, connect and restore the integrity and diversity of natural systems in NSW and beyond, through NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION OF NSW national parks, marine sanctuaries and other means. protecting na ture through community action Website: www.npansw.org.au Email: [email protected] I Phone: {02) 9299 0000

National Parks Association of Queensland The National Parks Association of Queensland {NPAQ) is dedicated to promoting the preservation, expansion, good management and presentation of National Parks in Queensland. Website: www.npaq.org.au Email: [email protected] I Phone: {07) 3367 0878

National Parks Association of the ACT The National Parks Association of the ACT {NPA ACT) was established in 1960. The Association works to promote national parks and the protection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage. Website: www.npaact.org.au Email: [email protected] I Phone: {02) 6229 3201

28 NATIONAL PARKS: Maintaining the Conservat ion Values of the National Reserve System I Royal National Park, Australias first national park. Photo: M Eckert I Flickr I CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Tasmanian National Parks Association Tasmanian The mission of the Tasmanian National Parks Association National Parks (TNPA) is to preserve the integrity of, and expand, the Association Tasmanian national park system, and to ensure appropriate management of their natural and cultural values. Website: www.tnpa.org.au Email: [email protected] I Phone: 0427 854 684

Nature Conservation Society of SA The primary objective of the Nature Conservation Society of Nature Conservation Society South Australia (NCSSA) is to foster the conservation of the of South Australia __..., State's wildlife and natural habitats. ---- _____ Website: www.ncssa.asn.au Email: [email protected] I Phone: (08) 7127 4630

29 CONTACT US

Victoria: www.vnpa.org.au Queensland: www.npaq.org.au Tasmania: www.t npa.org.au

New South Wales: www.npansw.org.au South Australia: www.ncssa.asn.au Australian Capital Territory: www.npaact.org.au