The following table shows medium security to low security (primarily educative), not nature conservation-oriented, land management strategies available in NSW.
| Mechanism | Governing legislation | Purpose as defined in legislation | Conservation effectiveness. Is nature conservation the primary purpose of the mechanism? | Security of mechanism. How easily can protection offered by the measure be circumvented or varied? | Planned management. Does legislation require that the protection measure be managed under a plan of management? | IUCN protected are category if applicable |
|---|
| Aboriginal Area | National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) | 62(4)-8(2)(d) areas in which relics, or Aboriginal places, of significance are situated | No | Can be revoked by the Governor, published in the Gazette. | Yes | NA |
| State Conservation Area | NPW Act 1974 | 47B (1)-8(2) (b1) areas containing features of regional recreational significance in a natural setting and which are capable of providing a range of recreational opportunities without detriment to the natural environment or cultural significance of the place. | No | Revocation requires Act of Parliament | Yes | NA |
| Regional Park | NPW Act 1974 | 8(2) (b2) Areas substantially modified since European occupation and that: (i) are capable of providing open space and recreational opportunities for major regional population centres, and (ii) are unsuitable for reservation or dedication as another category | No | Removed by an Act of Parliament | Yes | NA |
| Conservation Agreement | NPW Act 1974 | 69C(1) a-f: CAs are entered into on private lands in relation to areas that contain: scenery, natural environments, natural phenomena worthy of preservation; special scientific interest; sites of buildings, objects, monuments or events of national significance; relics or Aboriginal places (where they are situated); value for study, preservation, protection and care of flora, fauna and karst regions. | Case by case, can be directed towards cultural heritage conservation only. | An agreement may be varied by a subsequent agreement between the Minister and the owner of the conservation area | A Plan of Management may be prepared following consultation with the owner 72E. | Case by case. |
| Ramsar wetland | Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. (Commonwealth legislation) | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations No. 181 Schedule 6 Managing wetlands of international importance (Regulation 10.02) 1 General principles 1.01 The primary purpose of management of a declared Ramsar wetland must be, in accordance with the Ramsar Convention: (a) to describe and maintain the ecological character of the wetland; and (b) to formulate and implement planning that promotes: (i) conservation of the wetland; and (ii) wise and sustainable use of the wetland for the benefit of humanity in a way that is compatible with maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem. | Yes. | A Plan may be varied, revoked or amended by the Minister (managing the EPBC Act). | A Plan must be made only by the Minister (managing EPBC Act) if that land is Common-wealth territory (with some caveats for some of the Commonwealth reserves). The Commonwealth must try to prepare and implement a management plan for Ramsar wetlands in cooperation with states where the wetland is in state territory. |  |
| World Heritage listing | World Heritage Convention and in Australia the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983, EPBC Act 1999 | Natural and cultural places that are of "outstanding universal value and which meet the strict criteria of the World Heritage Convention may be entered on the list compiled by the World Heritage Committee". Environment Protection And Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - S. 14 (1) sets out that the Minister may declare a specified property to be a declared World Heritage property by notice in the Gazette if : (a) the property is a property submitted by the Commonwealth to the World Heritage Committee under Article 11 of the World Heritage Convention as suitable for inclusion in the World Heritage List; or (b) the Minister is satisfied that: (i) the property has, or is likely to have, world heritage values; and (ii) some or all of the world heritage values of the property are under threat. | Case by case, can also be for the protection of cultural heritage. | Declaration can be amended or revoked. | A plan of management is not required under the World Heritage Conservation Act 1983. Regulations may prescribe ways of giving effect to the Act. | |
