Address: Main Office: John Gorton Building

Outcome 1, Program 1.1

Deliverables

Deliverables	Results
Program deliverables under the Caring for our Country program include:
Investment of Caring for our Country funds in projects under the 2010–11 Caring for our Country business plan.	$337.9 million approved under the 2010–11 business plan for investment through to 2012–13.
Release of the Caring for our Country business plan for 2011–12.	The 2011–12 business plan was released on 5 April 2011.
Release of the 2009–10 annual report card for Caring for our Country, reporting progress towards achieving outcomes.	The 2009–10 annual report card is being finalised and will be released in the 2011–12 financial year.
Expansion of the Indigenous Protected Area network.	Five new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) were declared, expanding the IPA network and delivering 2.36 million additional hectares of Indigenous land into the National Reserve System. In addition, a further 11 new IPA consultation projects were commenced, bringing the total number of IPA consultation projects to 48.
Investment in employment of Indigenous rangers.	$126.8 million has been spent over four years up to 30 June 2011 under Working on Country.
Investment in projects that address threats to the Great Barrier Reef.	$103.5 million has been invested in the Reef Rescue over three years up to 30 June 2011.
Investment in Environmental Stewardship to conserve high-quality public assets on private land or affected by activities on private land.	Through the Environmental Stewardship Program, over $6.6 million was shared between land managers in SA and NSW. The funding was used to protect and enhance 69 sites on private land encompassing over 21 000 hectares of five nationally threatened ecological communities. At 30 June 2011, 270 sites were protected through the Environmental Stewardship Program, covering 47 500 hectares of nationally threatened ecological communities across SA, NSW and Qld.
Deliverables	Results
Increase in the number of private landholders contributing to the ongoing conservation and protection of biodiversity.	Through the Environmental Stewardship Program, 69 sites on private land were contracted for between 10 and 15 years to protect and enhance five nationally threatened ecological communities.
Increase in the area of private land that is managed to protect and conserve biodiversity.	Over 21 000 hectares of nationally threatened ecological communities have been targeted for protection under the Environmental Stewardship Program. The total to date is over 47 000 hectares protected under the Environmental Stewardship Program.
Investment in World Heritage Areas, Ramsar wetlands, critical aquatic habitats and coastal hotspots.	$36.9 million invested since 2008 to address threats from invasive plant and animal species and improve land management practices in priority Ramsar wetlands and High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems across Australia.
Increase in under-represented bioregions in the National Reserve System.	The National Reserve System (including Indigenous Protected Areas) was increased in 20 bioregions, of which nine are a priority with less than 10 per cent reservation. The greatest increase in protection occurred in the following priority bioregions: Finke Central Ranges Great Victoria Desert As part of this increase, 19 properties, covering more than 772 280 hectares were added to the National Reserve System with funding support under Caring for our Country.
Deliverables	Results
In addition to deliverables under Caring for our Country, the department also:
Manages the Australian Government’s reserve estate to a high standard through the Director of National Parks.	The Director of National Parks continued to manage seven terrestrial parks and reserves including the World Heritage listed Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks in the Northern Territory and Booderee National Park in the Jervis Bay Territory. Under delegation from the director, the Australian Antarctic Division manages the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve while the Marine Division manage the remaining 25 Commonwealth marine reserves.
Establish a nationally consistent and effective legal framework for managing access to genetic resources, to facilitate research and development while protecting biodiversity from over-exploitation.	In October 2010 the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation was adopted by the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Following adoption of the protocol the department became responsible for overseeing the signature and ratification process. The department also continued to work with state and territory jurisdictions to ensure a nationally consistent approach to access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing.

Outcome 1, Program 1.1

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPIs	Results
Delivery against targets identified in the 2010–11 Caring for our Country business plan. The business plan includes specific targets for:	Specific targets are used as a means of achieving the Caring for our Country initiatives outcomes. During 2010–11 significant progress has been made against targets and specific details will appear in the Caring for our Country annual report card.
Investing Caring for our Country funds in projects under the 2010–11 Caring for our Country business plan.	The Caring for our Country business plan for 2011–12 was released.
Increasing the number of Indigenous rangers contracted to deliver environmental outcomes in the management of Indigenous Protected Areas.	The Working on Country program now contracts over 625 full-time, casual and part-time rangers to manage the natural and cultural values of the Indigenous Estate, including approximately 27 declared Indigenous Protected Areas and several consultation Indigenous Protected Areas.
Investigating opportunities for generating carbon credits arising from fire management for Indigenous emissions trading.	The Indigenous Fire Management in Northern Australia project continued to progress emissions research across four fire management project areas. This work is informing the development of a savanna offsets accounting methodology.
Increasing the number of private landholders contributing to the ongoing conservation and protection of biodiversity.	Through the Environmental Stewardship Program, 69 sites on private land were contracted for between 10 and 15 years to protect and enhance five nationally threatened ecological communities.
Increasing the area of private land that is managed to protect and conserve biodiversity.	Under the Environmental Stewardship Program, 14 616 hectares of critically endangered National Environmental Significance ecological community have been targeted for protection, bringing the total to date to 26 460 hectares.
Addressing threats by invasive plant and animal species to sustain the environmental values of Ramsar wetlands and critical aquatic habitats.	$36.9 million has been invested since 2008 to address threats from invasive plant and animal species and improve land management practices in priority Ramsar wetlands and high conservation value aquatic ecosystems across Australia.
KPIs	Results
Engaging with at least 500 community organisations in coastal rehabilitation restoration and conservation projects.	Caring for our Country has exceeded the target of engaging at least 500 community organisations in coastal rehabilitation restoration and conservation projects under the Coastal Community Engagement target. Over 760 groups will be engaged by 2013 in projects approved through the 2010–11 business plan.
Developing at least 20 Indigenous partnerships that engage Indigenous communities in delivering Caring for our Country outcomes.	28 traditional owner groups were engaged in Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements.
Increasing the National Reserve System, including Indigenous Protected Areas, by five million hectares per year with a focus on under-represented bioregions.	Over 3 126 835 hectares were added to the National Reserve System (including Indigenous Protected Areas) in 2010–11. This comprised support for the purchase of 19 properties and declaration of five new Indigenous Protected Areas. Additions to the National Reserve System (including Indigenous Protected Areas in 2010–11) occurred in 20 bioregions, of which nine are a priority with less than 10 per cent reservation. The greatest increase in protection occurred in the following priority bioregions: Finke Central Ranges Great Victoria Desert This brings the total increase in the National Reserve System under Caring for our Country to 7 408 261 million hectares (since 1 July 2008).

Resources

The following resources relate to information referred to in Outcome 1, Biodiversity and Ecosystems.

Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on earth – the different plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems of which they are a part. www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity

Caring for Our Country www.nrm.gov.au

Parks Australia supports the Director of National Parks, the federal park agency, in conserving Australia’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. www.environment.gov.au/parks

Parks blog http://parksaustralia.govspace.gov.au

Weeds in Australia www.weeds.gov.au/government

Helping to plant native banksias around the Batemans Bay foreshore on the south-east coast of New South Wales.

OUTCOME 1

The conservation and protection of Australia’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity and ecosystems through supporting research, developing information, supporting natural resource management, regulating matters of national environmental significance and managing Commonwealth protected areas

Program 1.2 Environmental regulation, information and research

The department is responsible for the administration of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981.

The department uses a range of approaches under this legislation to protect and conserve the environment, including regulatory and compliance actions, cooperative partnerships with state and territory governments, and information, educational, and research activities.

The four divisions that contribute to Program 1.2 are Marine Division, Approvals and Wildlife Division, Supervising Scientist Division and Parks Australia.

Objectives

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  Modernise and promote reform of the International Whaling Commission to end ‘scientific’ and commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean.
  
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  Undertake ‘public good’ focused environmental research to engage with end users and support evidence-based decision-making by environmental managers and policy makers, particularly where it supports Australian Government policy needs, through the International Whale and Marine Mammal Conservation Initiatives program.
  
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  Develop national cetacean conservation measures to support international priorities and meet legislative requirements.
  
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  Provide quality advice on marine-related proposals referred for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
  
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  Make significant progress on developing marine bioregional plans and identifying proposed new Commonwealth marine reserves for inclusion in the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas.
  
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  Support the recovery of listed threatened marine and migratory species through the development and review of recovery and wildlife conservation plans under the EPBC Act.
  
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  Administer the EPBC Act including assessment of applications (such as referrals, permits, species listing nominations, wildlife trade operations) in accordance with legislative requirements.
  
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  Work closely with fisheries management agencies, the commercial fishing industry and other stakeholders through the EPBC Act fisheries assessment process, to improve the performance of Commonwealth and state/territory fisheries based on the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries.
  
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  Manage the environmental impact of invasive species (pest animals, weeds and pathogens) by developing and delivering effective policies and practices, including through threat abatement plans.
  
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  Develop and implement recovery plans for species and ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act.
  
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  Develop and implement government initiatives to understand, protect and conserve Australia’s terrestrial and marine environments, biodiversity and inland waters.
  
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  Protect the Alligator Rivers Region from the impact of uranium mining.
  

Marine Division

Main responsibilities for this outcome

Improving the health, resilience and sustainable management of Commonwealth marine areas by providing information and guidance to support better informed decision-making on matters of national environmental significance. Identifying regional networks of marine reserves throughout Commonwealth waters as part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. Working to ensure effective conservation of cetaceans, both domestically and internationally. Effectively managing Commonwealth marine reserves consistent with EPBC Act requirements. Supporting the recovery of marine and migratory species of conservation concern listed under the EPBC Act and relevant international conventions. Supporting implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management through EPBC Act fisheries assessment requirements. Developing and implementing cohesive and coordinated approaches to priority marine issues across government, with the states, the Northern Territory and internationally. Contributing to effective environmental biosecurity for the nation by addressing threats and impacts of invasive species on Australia’s biodiversity through the threat abatement planning provisions of the EPBC Act.

Strategies

Marine bioregional planning process

Marine bioregional plans are being prepared under the EPBC Act and will improve decision-making about the management and protection of marine biodiversity in Commonwealth waters. There are three main steps in the marine bioregional planning process:

1. 
   A bioregional profile is prepared based on a range of information including scientific papers, commissioned reports, industry performance reporting, census data and expert advice.
   
2. 
   A draft marine bioregional plan and a Commonwealth marine reserve network proposal are released for public consultation.
   
3. 
   A final marine bioregional plan and a final Commonwealth marine reserve network proposal are completed.
   

New Commonwealth marine reserves (sometimes called marine protected areas or marine parks) identified through the marine bioregional planning process, will help Australia to meet its commitment to establishing a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas by 2012.

Marine bioregional plans and regional marine reserve network proposals are being developed for the South-west, North-west, North and East Marine Regions. The draft South-west marine bioregional plan and Commonwealth marine reserve network proposal were released for formal public consultation in May 2011. Public release of the draft Marine Bioregional Plans and marine reserve network proposals for the North-west, North and East draft will follow later in 2011. The network of marine reserves for the South-east Marine Region was established in 2007. Once the final marine reserve network proposals have been released, there will be a separate process to formally establish the marine reserve networks under the EPBC Act.

International marine conservation initiatives

The department has been involved in a range of international marine conservation initiatives to support Australia’s domestic marine conservation measures and allow Australia to play an active role in the international community. Some key areas of engagement include:

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  The Coral Triangle Initiative—Australia is one of six official development partners and is supporting the development of the initiative as a strong and effective regional forum for addressing marine conservation issues and helping to deliver food security, sustainable livelihoods and economic development. The department led Australian Government engagement in, and support, for the initiative.
  
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  Arafura Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Project—the project is conducting a scientific and technical analysis on the status of, and threats to, the Arafura and Timor Seas. The analysis will inform future arrangements between Australia, Indonesia and Timor Leste for collaborative conservation and management efforts. The department has led Australian Government engagement in, and support for, the Global Environment Facility funded Arafura Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Project.
  
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  Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Sharks and their Habitats—since 2005 Australia has played a key role in negotiations within the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species to develop a global migratory sharks conservation instrument. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Sharks and their Habitats throughout their Range came into effect in March 2010 and Australia became the 14th signatory on 4 February 2011.
  

Integrated coastal zone management

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts inquiry report Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now was released on 26 October 2009. The department worked closely with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency to develop the government response to the inquiry report, which was released on 23 November 2010. The government response supports the ecologically sustainable management of Australia’s coastal environments, including by taking action to protect Australia’s coastal environments, ensuring sustainable urban development, enhancing regional productivity, addressing the growing risks from climate change impacts and building community resilience in responding to natural disasters.

The department also worked closely with the states and Northern Territory on coastal issues through the Marine and Coastal Committee of the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. It participated in an inter-jurisdictional workshop to define an outline for a refreshed Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework, a high-level objective, underpinning concepts, principles and priority areas for national collaboration.

Montara Environmental Monitoring Program

The department has continued to work with PTTEP Australasia to implement the Environmental Monitoring Program in response to the 2009 Montara oil spill. In 2010–11, six scientific monitoring study reports on shoreline assessments, wildlife, coral reef and offshore bank surveys and oil and dispersant trajectory modelling were released. Wildlife necropsy reports were also released under the operational component of the program. The main results of available studies indicate that a small number of sea birds and sea snakes were affected by the spill and that a small quantity of oil entered Indonesian waters. This was reported to Indonesian authorities at the time. Reports from the monitoring program are available on the department’s website.

The department worked closely with the Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and other relevant agencies to develop and finalise the government’s response to the report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry, which was released on 25 May 2011.

Commonwealth marine reserves

The department’s Marine Division manages 25 of the 26 Commonwealth marine reserves established under the EPBC Act. Management services are delivered under an agreement with the Director of National Parks as the statutory office holder. A range of day-to-day management services are delivered by other agencies, including state agencies, under business agreements with the department and the Director of National Parks.

The Marine Division is responsible for compliance in marine reserves and collaborates with the department’s Approvals and Wildlife Division and other Commonwealth agencies, in particular the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and state agencies to ensure effective surveillance, monitoring and enforcement.

A key objective for 2010–11 was the development of a network-scale management plan for the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, which was declared in 2007 and has been under interim management arrangements since that time. The management plan is intended to provide the template for future management plans that will be needed once new Commonwealth marine reserves, identified through the marine bioregional planning process, have been formally established under the EPBC Act. The management plan is now expected to be finalised in 2011–12.