Draft NSW Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2015 questions and answers
1. What is the Draft NSW Biodiversity Strategy and why has it been prepared?
The Draft NSW Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2015 addresses the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and describes the state's strategic approach to this conservation for the next five years. It also reflects changes since the first NSW Biodiversity Strategy was released in 1999, including:
The NSW Government, through a range of environmental programs, makes a substantial investment in biodiversity programs, and the draft Strategy will guide and direct this investment for the next five years.
2. Who developed the draft Strategy?
The draft Strategy was developed by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) in close consultation with Industry and Investment NSW (I&I NSW).
This draft Strategy is informed by wide public consultation based on A new Biodiversity Strategy for NSW: discussion paper that was released in November 2008.
3. What are the key elements of the draft Strategy?
The draft Strategy identifies five key elements that will help build healthier and more resilient ecosystems, which are fundamental to biodiversity conservation:
The strategic framework for NSW government agencies, regional NRM bodies and non-government organisations to invest in biodiversity conservation includes:
4. A major proposal in A New Biodiversity Strategy for NSW: Discussion Paper was the development of Regional Conservation Initiatives (RCIs) as a framework for integrating biodiversity programs. Is this included in the draft strategy?
No. One of the key criticisms of the discussion paper was the lack of integration of the proposed RCIs with the work of CMAs and their strategic planning processes (such as catchment action plans). Likewise, the RCIs' lack of integration with the strategic planning activities of local government was also identified as a shortcoming of the discussion paper.
In response, the draft NSW Biodiversity Strategy recognises the work of both CMAs and local government in undertaking biodiversity conservation activities. Further, the strategy's aim to map state-scale biodiversity conservation priorities and set out key directions for future biodiversity conservation efforts, provides a framework for their ongoing work and investment.
5. How were the 'Priority Areas for native vegetation management' defined?
Priority Areas were identified by using computer modelling and the best available state-scale information on native vegetation. The priority area map identifies the best remaining examples of native vegetation in ecosystems that have experienced high rates of past clearing, degradation and/or fragmentation.
NSW covers a land area of more than 80 million ha. Decisions about where to invest need to be made carefully in order to maximise outcomes for biodiversity over such a large area.
The mapped Priority Areas cover about 3.23 million ha. In addition, 1.57 million ha of Arid Shrublands are considered to be Priority Areas for investment but were not able to be mapped at the state-scale. These areas are being identified through the Western CMA's Enterprise Based Conservation program. The combined mapped and unmapped Priority Areas (4.8 million ha) are approximately 6% of the total land area of NSW and 10% of the remaining native vegetation in the state.
Priority Areas for ten major terrestrial ecosystems (for example, rainforests, grasslands, and dry sclerophyll forests) are provided along with the extent of these in each of the 13 CMA areas. The Priority Areas occur on private (62%) and public lands (38%).
Investment in Priority Areas will enhance the resilience of terrestrial ecosystems by improving the condition and connectivity of native vegetation that will assist biota to cope with current and future impacts.
More information on how the priority areas were derived can be obtained from a technical report, Deriving Priority Areas for Investment: A Technical Report to accompany the draft NSW Biodiversity Strategy (10878DerPriorAreas.pdf, 3.1MB), which accompanies the draft Strategy.
6. Am I able to obtain the data layers for the priority maps?
Yes, GIS data layers for the proposed state priorities and mapped vegetation formations are available for download via the OEH website. The map is designed to be viewed at a 1:250,000 scale.
7. How are Priority Areas intended to be used?
The Priority Areas are intended to guide public investment in conservation efforts on public and private lands.
CMAs are due to start reviewing and updating their Catchment Action Plans (CAPs) in 2011. OEH will provide assistance in translating the priority areas described in the draft strategy into CAPs. The Priority Areas will inform implementation of CAPs and guide CMA incentive programs.
The Priority Areas will also be used to inform the management of public lands, including the national parks and reserves but will not be used in the regulation of native vegetation clearing or land use planning.
As the Priority Area map was developed using modelling at a state scale, site assessment will be required to confirm priority area status when considering whether to allocate investment to a particular site.
8. How does the draft Strategy deal with threats affecting biodiversity, including climate change?
The draft Strategy identifies the effective management of threats to biodiversity as one of five key themes for ongoing attention. It describes a broad range of actions to manage and control threats posed by feral animals and weeds, and to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems.
Climate change is identified both as an emerging threat (leading to pressures from enhanced temperature extremes, drought or flooding, changed species movement patterns) and because of its potential to compound the impacts of threats from habitat fragmentation, expansion of the distribution of weeds, etc.
DECCW outlined a program of measures it will undertake to address climate change impacts on biodiversity in Priorities for Biodiversity Adaptation to Climate Change (10771proritiesbioadaptcc.pdf, 1.26MB).
The draft Strategy also supports regional connectivity programs and the priority areas align with the key areas targeted in the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, which was established in 2007 as a continental-scale corridor to assist in biodiversity adaptation to climate change. It is being implemented by a range of partners, including OEH.
The draft Strategy includes an action to consider climate change in the determination of environmental water needs of major inland wetland systems.
9. How does the draft Strategy address threatened species?
The draft Strategy proposes to develop a cost-effective prioritisation of threatened species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) so as to maximise the number of species that can be recovered.
A prioritised list of threatened species that require site management will be developed to inform investment for threatened species, including what management actions are required in specific locations to secure a species.
I&I NSW will also work with CMAs to help them target investment in threatened species.
10. Who is responsible for implementing the Strategy?
OEH and I&I NSW will coordinate the implementation of actions and reporting in the strategy. However, as biodiversity values occur across all land tenures, the whole community, local government, industry and non-government organisations all have a critical role to play. CMAs can facilitate this through the development of partnerships and providing incentives for conservation and building capacity.
11. What resources are available to implement the Strategy?
The NSW Government is currently making a substantial investment in biodiversity conservation through: catchment management authorities for rural lands; the management of national parks, nature reserves and marine parks; and a range of other environmental programs and activities.
The Australian Government, local councils, non-government organisations and industry groups also invest in biodiversity conservation programs.
The draft Strategy does not seek to create an entirely separate program of biodiversity conservation activity beyond current efforts. Instead, it seeks to focus existing programs on high priority areas of NSW where investment is likely to generate the best return for biodiversity and to focus attention on the key threats affecting our biodiversity.
The draft Strategy also recognises the potential for using markets to increase resources available for biodiversity conservation. For example, the BioBanking scheme uses funds provided by developers to fund private landholders to enhance biodiversity values so as to offset impacts from development. Such schemes are an important component of a sustainable biodiversity conservation program, and are supported by the draft Strategy.
12. How will we know whether the draft Strategy is effective?
The draft Strategy proposes five targets and describes the measures of success that will be used to assess progress. The draft Strategy will link with existing monitoring programs including the NSW Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Strategy 2010-2015 and state of the environment reporting, to ensure a more cost-effective reporting framework.
13. How does the draft Strategy relate to Australia's biodiversity conservation strategy 2010-2030?
Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030 was developed by the Australian Government in consultation with the states and territories. It was released on 27 October 2010.
The draft NSW Strategy will contribute to the three priorities for action to help stop the decline in Australia's biodiversity:
OEH and I&I NSW will seek the Australian Government's views on the draft NSW Strategy, and will discuss how the draft NSW Strategy's priorities may inform Commonwealth funding of biodiversity programs.
Australia's biodiversity conservation strategy 2010-2030 is available online at www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/strategy
14. What role can local government play in the implementation of the draft Strategy?
The role of local government in land-use planning has a major influence on the ability to conserve and restore biodiversity.
OEH will support local governments to undertake their strategic land-use planning role (particularly in peri-urban areas of NSW) through:
statutory processes such as biodiversity certification
provision of key information resources (such as vegetation mapping)
strategic landscape scale assessments of biodiversity.
I&I NSW will develop data and methodology to undertake similar assessments for aquatic biodiversity to assist local government in their land-use planning.
Local governments are also land managers and undertake a range of programs that assist the community to conserve biodiversity, such as Bushcare. This Strategy will help prioritise those efforts.
15. How do I comment on the draft Strategy?
Comments on the draft Strategy were:
The closing date for submissions was Friday 11 February 2011.
Page last updated: 11 April 2011
