86

Build public support for conservation.

Conservation pressure groups have information campaigns.

Target information campaigns towards landholders, emphasising the positives and the potential for voluntary agreements and cost-sharing.

C

M: +0.5. Provided this is about conservation, NOT preservation.

8

Develop a communication strategy aimed towards landholders (M).

Conservation groups.

87

Build public support for conservation.

Pilot projects demonstrating the potential for voluntary agreements and cost-sharing.

C

M: +0.5. Provided this is about conservation, NOT preservation.

8

Establish a pilot stewardship scheme with West 2000 Plus and Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Australia (Final Report Appendix D) (I).

See Agriculture table: row 66, row 120.

Conservation groups (Worldwide Fund for Nature), West 2000 Plus, AFFA, NPWS, some agro-pastoralists, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

88

Build public support for conservation.

National Parks and Nature Reserves.

Improve public access through Travelling Stock Routes, Camping Reserves, along rivers, and in places of high scenic value. Restrict access to vulnerable areas. 

C

5

Lobby Local Government to improve access (M).

Conservation groups, Aboriginal people, tourism industry.

89

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Lease conditions under Western Lands Act.

A single new Natural Resources Act. Provisions would include: development of a strategic direction for social, environmental and economic outcomes, through regional and natural resource management policy, plans and programs; integration of natural resource and catchment management policies; rights and limitations of land resource users; environmental controls and incentives; community involvement; accountable decision making; transparent policies. 

R

A: +5. Add recognition of Aboriginal cultural values and heritage.  Integrate all legislation relating to cultural heritage matters. 

Ag/P: -5.  Agree with regional planning framework, but otherwise too restrictive. Not feasible. Poorly worded.  Must not over-ride existing statewide acts. If done properly could have a positive impact.  This proposal from the Western Lands Review - the Board structure proposed there needs to be changed to better represent the landowner.

C: Agree with Aboriginal comments. Agree with Ag/P support for the regional planning framework. The legislation should be specific to the West, and should not over-ride state-wide legislation (eg EP&AA, TSCA, NPWA). The aim is and should be to simplify a bureaucratic quagmire.

M –3. Relationships with EP&AA, NPWA etc needs to be sorted out. Will complicate mining and exploration. 

T: +2. Potential to increase tourism options 

8

Lobby the Minister for Land and Water to accept the Western Land Review proposals (I).

Some Aboriginal people, some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups, tourism industry

90

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Under the Soil Conservation Act the Minister (land and Water) can make low interest loans to enable soil and water conservation work. Property values disqualify many landholders from this option.

Base threshold for low interest loans for conservation, currently under the Soil Conservation Act, on income not assets.

R

8

Lobby the Minister for Land and Water to change the Act (M).

Conservation groups, agropastoralists.

91

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Soil conservation is promoted through lease conditions under the Western Lands Act.

Bring soil conservation under a single Natural Resources Act that integrates soil, land, water and vegetation legislation (outlined above).

R

M –3. Relationships with EP&AA, NPWA etc needs to be sorted out. Will complicate mining and exploration.

8

Lobby the Minister for Land and Water to accept the Western Land Review proposals (I).

Some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups.

92

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Under the Income tax Assessment Act landholders get a deduction for land management expenses (wages, consumables, interest payments, and for depreciation of fences, dams plant etc. They also claim the diesel fuel rebate, and get Sales Tax exemption. Landcare operations also earn tax deduction (most leaseholders do not earn enough to pay tax at the moment).

Deductions of income tax should be given for management costs of land under conservation agreements.

C

4

Lobby the federal Minister for the Environment and the Australian Tax Office (M).

Some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups.

93

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

As above

Deductions for primary production encourage clearing and should be reduced

C

Lobby the federal Minister for the Environment and the Australian Tax Office (M).

Conservation groups.

94

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

A lease purchased before September 1985 is not subject to Capital Gains Tax. A holder of a lease purchased after that can get up to 50% exemption provided it is an economically active asset. If privately, not company- owned, a further 50% exemption on the remaining amount is allowed .

CGT exemption should be allowed on parts of or whole leases that are managed for conservation.

R

A: +5. Expand to include traditional Aboriginal cultural values and obligations.

Ag/P: 0. Not an issue to us.

C: agree the need to expand to include Aboriginal values. Multiple use on land set aside for conservation should only be allowed if it does not impinge on conservation values. Further work is needed on the issue of exemption for works or activities generating an income

M: +2.

T:  0. Conservation may need to allow for appropriate tourism use. Management definition should be formalised. Eg is this a conservation agreement?

8

Lobby the federal Minister for the Environment and the Australian Tax Office (M).

Some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups.

95

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

A 20% tax rebate is paid for  maintenance costs of heritage buildings.

Make the 20% tax rebate payable for maintenance costs of heritage buildings also payable for rehabilitation for conservation purposes.

R

5

Lobby the federal Minister for the Environment and the Australian Tax Office (M).

Some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups.

96

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Make donations of land for conservation tax deductible.

R

5

Lobby the federal Minister for the Environment and the Australian Tax Office (M).

Some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups.

97

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Clearing and  cropping, de-stocking orders, and orders to control feral animals or weeds all fall under the Western Lands Act. Clearing may also be a “future act” under the NTA, and correct NTA processes must be followed.

The control mechanisms of the Western Lands Act should be replaced by incentives and participatory planning. Repeal the WLA and replace it with a single Natural Resources Act that integrates soil, land, water and vegetation legislation (outlined above).

R

A: 5+. Ensure that tenure does not change. Ensure respect and recognition of existing rights and interests.  Recognition should be equal. Abolish the credible evidence test for NT claims.

Ag/P: +2.  Available under the current rules. Its part of the BMP. Improve flexibility by negotiation at local scale.

C: Incentives and participatory planning are complementary to the regulatory controls likely to be in the NR Act (Western Division). Agree with Aboriginal people that tenure should not change, that traditional rights and interests should be respected, and that the credible evidence test should be abolished.. Agree with the use of incentives.

T: 0. Is this very dependent on tenure? Will the EP&AA apply?

8

Lobby the Minister for Land and Water to accept the Western Land Review proposals (I).

Some Aboriginal people, some Agro-pastoralists, conservation groups.

99

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Allocate a proportion of mining royalties to funding of conservation agreements.

C

M: 0. no direct effect on mining.

8

Lobby State Treasurer (M).

Conservation groups, some agro-pastoralists.

100

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Limited monitoring of species, ecological communities, soil and water by agencies.

Landcare groups carry out monitoring of native species, ecological communities, soil and water at property scale. Agencies carry responsibility at regional level. More use of satellite imagery by both groups. Make monitoring a legal requirement.

C

8

Lobby the Minister for Land and Water to make property monitoring a legal requirement (M)

Conservation groups.

101

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Courses set up to educate policy makers in principles of ecologically sustainable development.

C

3

Develop an outline of a course,  and discuss with DLWC and  DUAP (M).

Conservation groups.

102

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Promotion of alternative, non-consumptive uses. Ecotourism and tourism in general already promoted (eg Bourke, Riverina).

Enhanced promotion of alternative, non-consumptive uses by regional development organisations as part of their development strategies. See proposals in Tourism table.

C

5

Support compatible proposals from Tourism industry (M).

Conservation groups, tourism industry.

103

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Link property restructuring policy to land suitability and to conservation value, so that landholders on properties in country susceptible to land degradation are encouraged to sell the lease for conservation purposes, provided it contributes to representativeness in a reserve system.

C

A: 5+. Aboriginal people should be involved/ own/ co-manage remediation/ restoration processes, with recognition of Aboriginal responsibility for country.

Ag/P: - 4. Don’t ask people to leave properties. Provide resources for them to fix problems. Often complex controls prevent you fixing problems. Encourage the use of land according to capability. Provide resources for research into the problems of the West.

C: support Aboriginal involvement in remediation work. More investigation needed on land trading for conservation. We support use of re-structuring funds not only for amalgamation of leases, but also for acquisition of land for nature conservation.

M: 0.

T: 0. adjustment should be re-focused to include land trading for conservation etc.

8

Lobby Federal Minister to change structural adjustment policy (M).

See rows

Conservation groups, Aboriginal people.

104

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Participative R&D (i.e. land users and researchers work together) to develop guidelines for range management aimed at both economic and nature conservation goals.

R

A: +5. Needs to involve traditional owners and recognise responsibility for country. Indigenous knowledge should be an integral part of this process.

Ag/P: +3.

C: Agree with Aboriginal perspective.

M: +1.

T: 0. Include tourism goals? ie all land use options.

8

Lobby NSW Agriculture,  NPWS,  DLWC, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems (M).

Conservation groups, Aboriginal people.

105

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Involve industries in development of regional industry plans and best management practices.

C

M: +1.5

7

Involve industries in development of regional industry plans and best management practices (M).

Conservation groups.

107

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Public participation in natural resource decisions

Increase participation and improve representation of conservation interests through advisory committees.

C

M: +1.5

7

Increase representation  of conservation groups on Catchment Management Boards, Local Government, Water Management Committees, Regional Vegetation Committees (I).

Conservation groups, DLWC, NPWS, DUAP.

108

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Improve river management through River Management Plans, application of the Cap, environmental flows.

More participative R&D (i.e. users and researchers work together) to support environmental streamflow decisions.

C

A: +5. All R&D to involve indigenous researchers and their knowledge systems.

M: -2. Will make water harder to access. The whole process of water allocation may need review.

8

Lobby Land and Water Resources R&D Corporation and DLWC (M).

Aboriginal people, conservation groups, Water Management Committees, Catchment Management Boards, DLWC.

109

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Improved irrigation water use efficiency through tradable water rights, implementation of the Cap.

More participative R&D (i.e. users and researchers work together) on crops, water storage and water delivery. Transfer water to high water use efficiency crops.

R

8

Lobby Land and Water Resources R&D Corporation and DLWC (M).

Conservation groups, farmers, Water Management Committees, Catchment Management Boards, DLWC.

110

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Maintain river health through Environmental Flows.

Remove water licenses from stressed and sensitive rivers (Paroo, Warrego, Bulloo).  Support dialogue with Queensland. Strongly support NSW EPA water quality objectives, and river flow objectives for Barwon-Darling.

C

A: +5.

Ag/P: +5. Paroo Water Advisory Council will work towards better management between Queensland and NSW.

M: -2. Access to water is essential for mining.

T: +2. Water contributes towards tourism landscape – it has monetary value.

8

Lobby State Minister for Land and Water (I).

Paroo Water Advisory Council, Aboriginal peoples, conservation groups, farmers, Water Management Committees, Catchment Management Boards, DLWC, tourism industry.

111

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Cap and pipe bores to maintain Great Artesian Basin pressure, reduce total grazing pressure, and reduce local salinisation..

Increase inducements to lease holders to cap and pipe bores through WEST 2000 Plus. In adverse economic circumstances funds should be sought via the Rural Restructuring Scheme. Levy charges on uncapped bores. Legislative changes required. Link capping and piping to property management plans.

Ag/P

C

A: Rights and interests of Aboriginal people in water; NT, social justice and human rights.

Ag/P: -5. A national problem that urgently needs federal funding and co-operation across the four states.  No levies on uncapped bores – landholders have no money any more. Incentives to be replaced by full funding for capping.

M: +2. More water available for other (new?) uses. Conserve scarce water.

T: +2. Water loss is restricting tourism potential. Minimise land degradation – what about piping of bores?

8

Increase inducements to lease holders to cap and pipe bores through WEST 2000 Plus (I).

West 2000 Plus, conservation groups, minerals and tourism industries.

112

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Control of exotic weeds and pests.

Declare foxes and cats to be pest species under the Rural Lands Protection Act. Develop regional and RLPB strategies for pest and weed control.

C

M: 0. Fine idea but no direct impact on mining.

T: +4. Native species critical to tourism. Should apply to all options that enhance natural value.

8

Lobby State Minister for Agriculture about changing the law (I).

Develop regional and Rural Lands Protection Board control strategies (M).

Conservation groups, agro-pastoralists, Rural Lands Protection Boards, tourism industry.

113

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Control of encroaching shrubs.

More spelling of land and burning. More participative R&D (i.e. land users and researchers work together) on burning regimes. Changes to Rural Fires Act to make it easier for landholders to burn for shrub control.

R

T: +4. Native species critical to tourism. Should apply to all options that enhance natural value.

3

Lobby Minister of Land and Water about changing the Act and addressing landholder liability (M).

Conservation groups, agro-pastoralists, NSW Farmers Association.

114

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Need to choose between shrub control and carbon storage. Store carbon in woody plants on land with low suitability for grazing. Possibility of payment to lease holders through a carbon credits scheme.

C

4

Work with existing carbon credits initiatives; develop a pilot scheme and seek funding (M).

West 2000 Plus, Conservation groups, Environment Australia, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

115

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Sale of a lease to be accompanied by an assessment of range condition and trend carried out by DLWC.

C

5

Write an outline document and discuss with DLWC, Western Lands Advisory Board, West 2000 Plus (M).

DLWC

116

Promote sustainable use of natural resources through the region as a whole.

Mining companies buy leases to acquire water rights, and manage them for carbon storage and/or nature conservation, so receiving payments for carbon credits and/or stewardship. Under the WLA a grazing lease rate could be paid even though the lease is de-stocked, or a change of lease purpose could be sought. The proposed WDRA should accommodate this possibility.

C

C: mining companies should see conservation as their repayment to offset environmental damage resulting from mining.

3

Develop a proposal and discuss with minerals industry (I).

Minerals Council of NSW, Western Lands Advisory Board, West 2000 Plus, DLWC, conservation groups, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

117

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

NPWA Nature Reserves and National Parks: lease purchase. Has resulted in protection of 2% of the area of the W Division in large blocks with poor representation of land systems.

NPWS develop a strategy for establishing a Representative Reserve System, then prepare an acquisition plan for publicly-owned Nature Reserves based on it. The strategy should be flexible and evolving, updated with each acquisition, and whenever private land is set aside for conservation. Fifteen percent of the area of the West is the minimum target.

C

A: +5. Separate criteria to be used to include Aboriginal cultural value.  Include all acquisitions in reserve planning

Ag/P: -3. Main issue is the quality and quantity of land management. Acquisition should be at market value. Land should be managed according to its capability – defined in the sale agreement. Reserves should be rateable.  Voluntary reserves, land currently managed privately for conservation, should be included in the calculation of the reserve system.

C: Agree on the need to include Aboriginal cultural values. Agree that acquisition should be through purchase at commercial rates, not through resumption of leases. When land having a conservation agreement is sold on, it should continue to be managed for conservation objectives. The agreement can be bound to the lease. NPWS should not pay rates , though we agree local government should not be penalised. Need to explore alternatives.

M: -1. Whole of government approach needed, not just NPWS.

T: +3. Conservation provides a “key resource” for tourism. Not necessarily accessed at any one time. Consider how the Earth Sanctuaries model might fit with the CARs model

8

NPWS develop a strategy for establishing a Representative Reserve System, then prepare an acquisition plan. Target should be 25% (I).

See Agriculture table: row 46.

NPWS, Aboriginal people, conservation groups, tourism industry.

118

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Land use agreements (Regional Vegetation Plans under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act) in which permission to clear and crop is given by the Western Lands Commissioner under the NVCA in exchange for reservation of another area for conservation. RVPs are already underway.

Continue to develop RVPs over the Western Division. RVPs tend to result in fertile land going into production, in exchange for the setting aside of unproductive land. The fertile land is already under-represented. The RVPs need to be linked to the proposed Representative Reserve System strategic plan.

R

5

Increase momentum of  Regional Vegetation Planning and extend it.  Explore potential contradictions and synergies between stewardship and RVP (Final Report  Appendix D) (I).

DLWC, NPWS, West 2000 Plus, conservation groups, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

119

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Voluntary Property Agreements for the management of native vegetation (NVCA). Financial assistance is provided to the lessee. Successors to the lease are bound to the agreement if it is registered.

There should be a commitment in the NVCA to provide financial incentives under the VPA arrangements to landholders who are restrained from clearing under a Regional Vegetation Management Plan. Rentals could be reduced as a condition of the VPA. The emphasis in VPAs should be on active management by water point closure, burning, feral animal control, and monitoring (rather than fencing and abandonment).

R

5

Develop an outline of a scheme that compares and contrasts the various incentive schemes and proposes an integrated conservation incentive strategy that is linked to a regional representativew reserve system (row 117), and farm restructuring policy (see Final Report  ; Appendix D (pdf 125Kb)). (I).

Conservation groups, NPWS, West 2000 Plus, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Australia, Environment Australia and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

120

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Voluntary Conservation Agreements (NPWA) to manage land for nature conservation in return for technical, financial and in-kind assistance, and exemption from Local Government rates. Are binding upon the lessor, and the Minister. May be terminated if both parties agree, or under terms set out in the agreement. VCAs run with the land and bind successors to the lease. Very low uptake rate – insufficient inducement ? Antagonism towards NPWS?

Shires cannot afford to forego rates in the West. Need public funding. Sites must be selected for voluntary conservation agreements because of their contribution to representativeness under the proposed NPWS Strategy.  Financial inducement needs to be increased, and changed to a sliding scale based on the proposed strategy for a Representative Reserve System.  Antagonism of landholders towards NPWS needs to be reduced.  Rentals could be reduced as a condition of the VCA. The VCA should include water point closure, burning, feral animal control, and monitoring arrangements (rather than fencing and abandonment).

R

5

Establish pilot stewardship scheme with West 2000 Plus and Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Australia (I).

See row 87, Agriculture table: row 66.

West 2000 Plus, AFFA, NPWS, conservation groups (especially Worldwide Fund for Nature), CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

121

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Promote voluntary management agreements under business sponsorship. Conservation Trusts might be established as independent intermediaries between business and landholders. Could treat as “biodiversity credits”, akin to carbon credits, in which business pays landholders annually for these credits. Landholder obliged to maintain them. Tax allowances given for sponsorship. Firms producing food or fibre should be especially targeted as they can claim ‘greenness” in advertising. This is of growing importance to urban consumers.

R

5

Develop a proposal and discuss with likely corporations and associated trusts eg Myer Trust, and the NSW Conservation Trust (I).

See Agriculture table: row 65.

Worldwide Fund for Nature and other conservation groups, West 2000 Plus, some agro-pastoralists, some industries, especially if it is favoured by taxation policy.

122

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Establish revolving fund for the strategic purchase of properties, establishment of covenants, and resale, perhaps to Conservation Trusts.

R

5

See row 119.

See row 119.

123

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Debt-for-conservation swaps, in which debt on selected properties is paid off in return for a management agreement on part of the property. Could be linked to any of the measures for conservation on leasehold land.

R

C: Danger it could be used as a “safety net” after degrading land.

5

See row 119.

See row 119.

124

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Mining companies refer  to the proposed NPWS strategy for a Representative Reserve System, buy leases to get groundwater rights, and donate most of the lease to NPWS as a Nature Reserve, in return for a tax exemption.

R

C: Problem with allowing tradability of groundwater that is being extracted at an unsustainable rate.

5

Develop a proposal and discuss with minerals industry (I).

See row 116.

Minerals Council of NSW, Western Lands Advisory Board, West 2000 Plus, DLWC, conservation groups, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

125

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Rotational reserve system on leasehold land. Using the proposed strategy for a Representative Reserve System, selected leaseholders are encouraged to manage a portion of their property for nature conservation in exchange for annual payments. After (say) ten years, the reserve is moved to another part of the same property. It is now managed for conservation, while the previous site is grazed. The intention is to add flexibility to the Representative Reserve System, and allow grazed land to recover from grazing. Funding by public money (grants, revolving funds), sponsorship.

R

C: Need to define “rotational reserve system” (which is voluntary) to avoid confusion with ‘representative reserve system”, which is a legislated component of a national system.  This is a subject for research and should not be used until confidence is established.

R: Either could be voluntary – so long as there is a choice of tracts of equal value that could contribute to a representative system.  A representative reserve system need not be representative at a national scale – could be state or regional.

3

Establish research program on “rotational reserve systems” (L).

CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, agro-pastoralists, conservation groups, Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation.

126

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

Rehabilitation of land systems or ecological communities that are relatively scarce. Funding by public money or sponsorship. Mechanisms include grants, revolving funds and sponsorship.

C

M: +1.5. ‘Green” bonus to industry  if  it rehabilitates to achieve these aims.  Land exchange (similarly).

8

See row 119.

See row 119.

127

Establish a comprehensive and adequate reserve system (parks and reserves) that includes at least 15% of each Land System. Based on a mix of private and public land.

DLWC/ Western Lands Commission has an informal policy that allows a quota of clearing, the amount being based on rainfall and soil type.

Each property allocated tradable clearing rights based on the Representative Reserve System, so that clearing rights decrease with the scarcity of a land system. Rights could be sold to leaseholders having a similar land system.

R

3

See row 119.

See row 119.

128

Improved management of reserves and national parks.

Amend the NPWA as follows. Specify the objectives of the Act, with conservation of native plants, animals and ecological communities, as the first aim, conservation of heritage the second, and public enjoyment the third; remove the bias towards vertebrates and vascular plants. Define the objectives of the NPWS, emphasising the establishment and effective management of a representative reserve system. Define the purposes of National Parks, Nature Reserves and Wilderness Areas to reflect the revised aims of the Act.

R

5

Draft a paper of the amendments to NPWA objectives (I).

NPWS, conservation groups.

129

Improved management of reserves and national parks.

Close water points in National Parks and Reserves to reduce numbers of feral and native animals, in conjunction with cull of local feral and native herbivores to prevent short term increase in grazing pressure on neighbouring properties.

R

C: This may be considered a local problem, but highest priority should go to aims of  ecological and economic sustainability. Therefore highest priorities to institutional changes and landscape scale natural resource management.

M: +1.Potential increase in water availability.

8

Re-think management objectives for parks and Reserves in relation to vegetation structure, fire and surface water, and design new management regimes (I).

See row 128.

NPWS

130

Improved management of reserves and national parks.

NPWS policy to have burning regimes that return land to a more open vegetation structure. Burning should be based on regimes derived from rigorous scientific assessment and risk management.

C

M: 0.

8

See row 128, row 129.

See row 128, row 129.

131

Conserve native species and ecological communities on production lands

Threatened Species Conservation Act; Native Vegetation Conservation Act.

Maintain Threatened Species Conservation Act; Native Vegetation Conservation Act

C

M: 0. Existing data base is inadequate to tell us what is ‘really” threatened, and what is not.

8

Increase research on threatening processes (I).

Increase surveys (I).

NPWS, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, universities.