Community consultation3 September – 10 December 2012

Draft ACT Nature Conservation Strategy

Pre 1997• Nature reserves for landscape

and amenity values

Post 1997• Original NCS recognised the

need for strategic conservation

Currently• 54% ACT in reserves• Large remnants of Box-Gum

Woodland• New NCS aims to manage and

connect these areas

Strategic focus has shifted

Snap shots“A good news story”

- 54% already in reserves (but some restoration required)- Existing achievements in previous strategy- Urban biodiversity and community engagement

Focus: increasing connectivity, condition and extent of native vegetation- Strong climate change adaptation focus- Landscape scale planning

Existing funding to deliver new elements- Woodland restoration project, weeds, research funding- funding opportunities through the Commonwealth

Context

The legislative framework for conservation and environment protection in the ACT

Nature Conservation and Urban Development- The ACT Planning Strategy

- “The role of the Nature Conservation Strategy is to provide for the identification of areas that are important for conservation and in particular to provide the landscape context in which conservation, and development, occurs”

- Decisions subject to NC Act (threatened species and communities), P&D Act (development approval process), EPBC Act (matters of NES)

Rural landscapeEnhance ecosystems to provide specific services

Water catchment landscapeRestore areas’ ability to provide clean water and native habitat

River Corridor landscapeMaintain water quality, vegetation and refugia values

Urban landscapeEnhance ‘novel’ ecosystems to provide specific services

Spatial prioritisation

Nature Conservation StrategyVISION“Biodiversity rich, resilient landscapes stretching from the inner city to the mountains, where well functioning ecosystems can meet the needs of people and the environment”

Strategy 1: Enhance habitat connectivity and ecosystem function

Strategy 2: Manage threats to biodiversity

Strategy 3: Protect species and ecological communities

Strategy 4: Enhance biodiversity value of urban areas

Strategy 5: Strengthen community engagement

Monitoring and review“Reporting against targets will be aligned with the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment’s State of the Environment Report”.

a) Targets related to maintaining and improve effective habitat and biodiversity (p.21)

b) Targets related to landscapes that are more resilient, including to climate change (p.22)

c) Targets relating to increased community health and well-being, including from engagement with, and appreciation of natural areas (p.23)

• Conservator will monitor effectiveness of implementation, including Action Plans.

• Strategy will be adaptive, informed by ongoing review

Positive Outlook for Implementation

Woodland Restoration1) ACT Woodland Restoration ($1 million/4

years/ACT Govt)2) Restore ACT Goorooyarroo ($2.155 million/6

years/Cwlth)3) Million Trees Program

(10 year program)

Substantial Commonwealth Funding Sources

Strategies and ActionsSection A:

STRATEGY 1: Enhance habitat connectivity and ecosystem function

1. Actions 1. Develop baseline information on landscape function

2. Undertake fine scale planning for habitat connectivity

3. Enhance regional connectivity4. Assess conservation investment opportunities

across public and privately managed lands in the ACT

5. Fund priority landscape actions

STRATEGY 2: Manage threats to biodiversity

Actions 1. Implement ACT Weed Strategy (2009 – 2019)2. Implement Pest Animal Management Strategy (2012

– 2022)3. Manage total grazing pressure on ecosystem

function in reserves4. Establish and implement ecologically appropriate

fire regimes5. Better manage aquatic ecosystems

STRATEGY 3: Protect species and ecological communities Actions 1. Manage the protected area estate

2. Develop, implement and review Action Plans for threatened species and communities

3. Restoration and management of priority landscapes4. Identifying biodiversity refugia under drought and

climate change5. Monitor impact of climate change on native

temperate grasslands and grassy box-gum woodlands

6. Captive breeding programs and translocation programs

7. Propagation and translocation of threatened plants8. Seed banks and seed orchards

STRATEGY 4: Enhance biodiversity value of urban areasActions 1. Manage impacts of urban development on

biodiversity 2. Manage urban open space3. Enhancing connectivity through urban areas4. Managing the urban edge5. Support urban landcare and parkcare activities6. Manage green assets and infrastructure

STRATEGY 5: Strengthen community engagement Actions 1. Greater community involvement through

volunteering2. Enhance and promote the use of citizen science3. Targeted community education campaigns on

priority issues4. Build indigenous engagement in the management of

natural resources 5. Encourage the involvement of youth in nature

conservation6. Enhance key partnerships across government,

community and the private sector

Monitoring and reviewSection A:

Targets related to maintaining and improve effective habitat and biodiversity1 The overall extent of lowland native vegetation across the ACT will be maintained, and

the condition of lowland native vegetation communities will be improved

Indicators: Extent of lowland native vegetation (broad measure in overall hectares, to be monitored

by vegetation community from 2013 when the revised ACT vegetation communities map is complete).

Condition (standard indicators to be developed nationally under the Australian Native Vegetation Framework by 2015).

2. A measurable increase in connectivity between patches of native vegetation, non-native vegetation in urban areas, and riverine systems

Indicators: Spatial links habitat connectivity score is above a certain measure (see Box 7) as verified

by 10 yearly on-ground assessment. Riverine connectivity measure (e.g. number of in-stream barriers).

Targets related to landscapes that are more resilient, including to climate change 3. A reduction in threats to biodiversity from inappropriate fire regimes, weeds, pest animals

and urban development

Indicators: Abundance and distribution of priority ACT weeds (‘high’, ‘very high’ and ‘extreme’ danger

ratings) in reserves. Abundance and distribution of significant pest animals; significance and levels of damage

from pest animals. Area of reserve addressed by an appropriate fire regime that appropriately addresses

both risk to assets and ecology, in hectares.

4. Climate change refugia in the ACT are identified and appropriately managed Indicators:

Number of refugia identified and appropriately managed (maintained or enhanced).

5. Monitoring programs established in the three ACT ecosystems considered to be most sensitive to the impacts of climate change: native grasslands; alpine bogs; and the Murrumbidgee – Cotter River system

Indicators: Three monitoring sites established and appropriately resourced over the life of the

strategy.

Targets relating to increased community health and well-being, including from engagement with, and appreciation of natural areas

6. An increase in the area of land and volunteer effort (Parkcare, ‘Friends of’ or other volunteer groups) in management of the Canberra Nature Park

Indicators: Total number of groups. Total number of ‘community work hours’ devoted to management of reserves and

other natural areas. Total area treated by volunteers in hectares.

7. Ten areas of conservation significance (including areas outside reserves) ‘adopted’ by ACT schools or higher learning institutions as sites for nature based education

Indicators: Number of reserves or other natural areas adopted and actively used by Schools or

higher learning institutes.

8. Increased community understanding of, and support for, the protection of the ACT’s biodiversity

Indicators: Number of education campaigns delivered. Attitudinal surveys.