| Main issue | Response in Draft NSW Biodiversity Strategy (the Draft Strategy) |
|---|
Regional delivery
CMAs have a major role in delivering conservation across the landscape and engaging communities. This current regional delivery model should not be compromised. | The draft Strategy reinforces the role of existing delivery frameworks through CMAs and local government. Partnerships are encouraged using the existing regional structures through integration of Priority Areas for native vegetation management into catchment action plans (CAPs). The Regional Conservation Initiative (RCI) has not been pursued. |
Better alignment with existing processes and legislation
(e.g. planning legislation, CMA catchment action plans)
There needs to be clear links to existing planning legislation and mechanisms. | The draft Strategy proposes to strengthen the capacity of urban settlement planning processes to avoid, minimise and, if necessary, offset the impact of new urban growth on biodiversity (Objective 6). This should result in an improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of development assessment processes.
New CAPs are being developed over the next 12-18 months and the new Biodiversity Strategy is one of the State Policies/Plans that the new CAPs are to be aligned with. The Priority Areas for native vegetation management, and several other actions that will inform the new CAPs, are provided for each CMA. |
Measurable targets/performance indicators
The draft Strategy should have targets and performance measures. | The draft Strategy incorporates a number of measurable targets and proposed reporting on the draft Strategy targets. Appendix 5 outlines the relationship between the draft Strategy targets and the range of natural resource management (NRM) targets, National Biodiversity Strategy targets and State Plan targets. |
Accountability
The assignment of roles and responsibilities to objectives and actions is required. | Responsibility for Actions in the draft Strategy are assigned to agencies, CMAs, local government and other relevant organisations. Reporting will also be assigned to agencies. |
Recognition of effort
Biodiversity conservation is delivered by a range of public and private organisations and landholders and this should be acknowledged. | Appendix 2 briefly summarises the various contributors to biodiversity conservation in NSW. Appendix 3 also acknowledges the significant achievements and ongoing programs since the first NSW Biodiversity Strategy in 1999.
The objectives and actions acknowledge the contributions of a wide range of organisations, public and private, and individuals to the delivery of biodiversity conservation. |
Prioritisation
The draft Strategy should support better prioritisation and more information on the Priorities Action Statement (PAS) under the TSC Act. | A major component of the draft Strategy is the mapping of state-scale Priority Areas for investment in native vegetation management based on best available science. These are outlined in the ecosystem profiles. In relation to prioritisation of threatened species recovery actions, there is an action to review PAS and develop a cost effective approach to prioritisation of threatened species for recovery. Industry and Investment NSW proposes working with CMAs to develop report cards and implement priority actions for fish and marine vegetation. |
Community engagement
The draft Strategy should acknowledge the fundamental role that community, including Aboriginal people, plays in the delivery of conservation outcomes. | Implicit in the delivery of actions is the importance of partnerships with communities, including Aboriginal communities and landholders. A major theme of the draft Strategy is improved partnerships. CMAs, local government and other regional delivery agencies are fundamental to the development of these partnerships. |
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework
There needs to be more detail on the MER framework. | The MER Strategy 2010-15 and the MER Implementation Plan 2010-2015 have been developed separately. However, linkages are made in the draft Strategy to the natural resource management targets and reporting and how these will inform the reporting on the draft Strategy. Five specific targets have also been included to assist evaluation of the Strategy. |
Legislation and Regulation
The current regulatory and legislative environment is not effective. | Review of the relevant legislation and regulation is conducted in line with the requirements for review. The Native Vegetation Act was recently reviewed and there is a discussion paper on public exhibition seeking comments on the TSC Act. There is continuous improvement of the regulations relating to these Acts. |
Maintain or improve
There needs to be a consistent application and expansion of this approach. | Maintain or improve principles are adopted in the application of the NV Act, BioBanking and biocertification. |
Funding
Calls for increased funding and questions about how the Strategy actions will be funded. | There is unlikely to ever be sufficient funding to address all the priorities in relation to biodiversity. However, in order to optimise the biodiversity outcomes from the current level of funding that is available through a myriad of state and national programs such as Caring for Our Country, Environmental Trust, Catchment Action NSW. The draft Strategy Priority Areas provide a prospectus for investment by the range of agencies, CMAs, councils, NGOs and community groups in native vegetation management. This complements the significant achievements and ongoing programs that are being delivered through pest and weed programs, threatened species recovery programs, water sharing plans, fishways and fish passage etc. (see Appendix 3).
There is also a recognition that a sustainable funding base should be explored for private conservation programs (Action 5.3) in addition to the market based mechanisms that currently exist. |
Adaptation to climate change
Need to include actions to assist biodiversity to adapt to climate change. | The draft Strategy acknowledges that climate change is a significant threat that is likely to exacerbate other threats to biodiversity. The draft Strategy provides actions and directs priorities with a view to improving ecosystem health and resilience by improving vegetation condition and connectivity, particularly in overcleared landscapes. Commitments to the reserve acquisition program, pest and weed programs and water sharing will continue as strategies to address the impacts of climate change.
OEH has prepared the Priorities for biodiversity adaptation to climate change (10771prioritiesbioadaptcc.pdf, 1.3MB) which directs OEH action in relation to climate change. |
