WETLANDS IN – ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Many different types of organisations and people look after , from the Australian Government to individual landowners. There are specific roles and responsibilities outlined in the Ramsar Convention, as well as national and state legislation, regarding how Ramsar and other wetlands are managed.

Landowner and site managers Site managers/landowners are encouraged to consider the Australian Ramsar management The site manager is generally the landowner principles2 when developing management or legal manager of the land within the arrangements, including to: Ramsar site or other . This may be the • manage the Ramsar site(s) to maintain Australian or state/ territory government, an ecological character through applying the individual, a community entity, trust, Traditional principles of wise use and sustainable Owners, a company or other organisation. resource management. This may be through Private site managers may be supported by the development and implementation of a the relevant state or territory government in management plan or system for the site implementing their site responsibilities and fulfilling their Ramsar obligations. • have procedures and monitoring in place to detect if any threatening processes are The site manager/landowner is required likely to, or have altered the site’s ecological under the EPBC Act to seek approval prior character. This will help to identify if to undertaking an action within or outside a there are any actual or likely changes to declared Ramsar wetland if the action has, will ecological character of the site have or is likely to have a significant impact • take action to manage or remediate Ramsar on the ecological character of the Ramsar sites that have undergone an actual or likely wetland. The action could be a project, a change in ecological character. development, an undertaking, an activity or series of activities, or an alteration to any of these things1.

environment.gov.au/wetlands Site managers/landowners are also Many state and territory governments have encouraged to: also developed specific wetland policies • report any actual or likely changes in as a primary means of implementing the ecological character to the Australian Ramsar Convention and use a combination of Government regulatory and planning frameworks to protect wetlands and manage impacts. • undertake required site level updates and reporting as required (e.g. Ramsar Key responsibilities of state and territory Information Sheet updates) governments include: • seek guidance and assistance about • primary legislative and policy responsibility managing and representing the needs of for wetland management within the wetlands, if required respective state/territory • inform the Australian and relevant state • promoting the conservation of Ramsar sites governments of any intention to transfer and wise use of all wetlands ownership or otherwise sell land on which • reviewing the condition of Ramsar sites the wetland is situated • reporting on the status of wetlands in their • notify future land managers of the property’s jurisdiction, including coordinating and Ramsar status, should the property be sold updating information (e.g. Ramsar National or otherwise change ownership. Report, updates to Ramsar Information Sheets and reporting any changes in State and territory governments ecological character) All state and territory governments have • leading the development of proposed enacted comprehensive legislative and policy Ramsar site nominations within the instruments to protect the environment and jurisdiction including consultation and liaison conserve natural resources. These frameworks with the Australian Government. generally apply to all wetlands, both Ramsar listed and non-Ramsar wetlands, within the The Australian Government respective jurisdictions. State and territory wetland management is broadly addressed in Key responsibilities of the Australian legislation covering environment protection, Government include: land use planning, protected areas, water and • designating Australian sites for addition vegetation management. In addition, many to the List of Wetlands of International state and territory governments have statutory Importance (Ramsar List) reporting requirements, such as State of • leading the development of national Environment and State of the Parks reporting, guidance and approaches on implementing which include wetland resources. the Ramsar Convention in Australia

environment.gov.au/wetlands • participating in partnerships and • implementing the Water Act 2007, including implementing agreements that seek to the making of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan protect migratory species and their flyways • providing advice on the Ramsar Convention, • working with state and territory governments and any agreed assistance, to wetland to promote the conservation of Ramsar sites managers and wise use of all wetlands, and review Ramsar wetland site condition The Australian Government also plays a key coordination role in raising awareness • representing Australia at the triennial about Australia’s Ramsar estate and collating Conference of Parties, and collating the national information. National Report for these meetings • coordinating other reporting to the Ramsar In addition to the above, the Australian Convention, including updates of Ramsar Government is the site manager and/or Information Sheets, reporting any changes landowner for all or part of a number of to the ecological character of Australia’s Commonwealth sites and has the same listed wetlands3 and responding to inquiries management responsibilities as outlined in from the Secretariat about reports from third the site manager section above. These sites parties include Hosnie’s Spring (Christmas Island), • supporting collaboration between the Pulu Keeling National Park (North Keeling Convention’s Oceania member countries Island), Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area, Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve, Coral • working with the Ramsar Secretariat Sea Reserves (Coringa-Herald and Lihou on implementation of the Convention Reefs and Cays), Elizabeth and Middleton and approaches to achieve the wise Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve, The use of wetlands, both in Australia and Dales, Christmas Island, Kakadu National internationally Park, and the Ramsar site • implementing the Environment Protection (Calperum Station part only). and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) including regulating actions that may significantly impact on the ecological character of Australia’s Ramsar sites, developing management plans for Commonwealth sites and using best endeavours to see plans developed for other Ramsar sites

1 EPBC ACT1999, Chapter 2, Part 3, Division 1, WAT257.1012 Subdivision B, s16) 2 EPBC Act 1999, Chapter 5, Part 15, Division 2, Subdivision F and EPBC Regulations 2000, Schedule 6 3 Ramsar Convention 1987, Article 3.2

Photo credits: J Baker, R Thorn, Director of National Parks, J Tweedley, K Ward, S Cridland