Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human/Wildlife Interactions

Early, Gerard

doi:10.1080/13880290802470141

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Australia has an extensive, reasonably representative, and robust terrestrial conservation reserve system, an expanding marine conservation reserve system, and relatively good environmental legislation (105). However, these foundations for biodiversity conservation are clearly not sufficient for maintaining the Australian mammal fauna.…”

Section: Conservation Management Responses: What Is Working and What mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement

Woinarski

Burbidge

Harrison

2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

725

634

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The highly distinctive and mostly endemic Australian land mammal fauna has suffered an extraordinary rate of extinction (>10% of the 273 endemic terrestrial species) over the last ∼200 y: in comparison, only one native land mammal from continental North America became extinct since European settlement. A further 21% of Australian endemic land mammal species are now assessed to be threatened, indicating that the rate of loss (of one to two extinctions per decade) is likely to continue. Australia's marine mammals have fared better overall, but status assessment for them is seriously impeded by lack of information. Much of the loss of Australian land mammal fauna (particularly in the vast deserts and tropical savannas) has been in areas that are remote from human population centers and recognized as relatively unmodified at global scale. In contrast to general patterns of extinction on other continents where the main cause is habitat loss, hunting, and impacts of human development, particularly in areas of high and increasing human population pressures, the loss of Australian land mammals is most likely due primarily to predation by introduced species, particularly the feral cat, Felis catus, and European red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and changed fire regimes.conservation | biodiversity | marsupial | predation | feral animal

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Section: Conservation Management Responses: What Is Working and What mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement

Woinarski

Burbidge

Harrison

2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

725

634

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“…This can permit development across a larger area without further need for individual project assessments (DSEWPAC, 2012;Early, 2008). This approach has been viewed favourably by many developers who considered that site-based assessments of threatened species 'stifled development' and economic growth, and resulted in substantial transaction costs, often referred to as 'green tape' (see Macintosh, 2012;Debret, 2012 for an overview of the arguments).…”

Section: Case Study: Opportunities For Applying Social Data In Stratementioning

confidence: 97%

“…The screening stage is used to assess whether a particular policy, plan or programme should be subject to strategic assessment (Early, 2008), based on a pre-determined set of criteria for identifying likely significant impacts on MNES.…”

Section: Screeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using social data in strategic environmental assessment to conserve biodiversity

et al. 2015

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a b s t r a c tStrategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is increasingly used to assess land use plans in a way that is broader in spatial, temporal and conceptual scope than traditional Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Meanwhile, conservation scientists have recognised that successful biodiversity conservation outcomes rely on information about both biological priorities and the feasibility of undertaking conservation actions. SEA provides a framework for integrating information on the social determinants of conservation feasibility with supporting environmental legislation in order to achieve enhanced conservation outcomes. In this paper we argue that data on the social context of land use plans are vital to ensure effective biodiversity conservation outcomes that result from SEAs. We explore the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) (EPBC Act) as a case example of how the integration of these data can be practically achieved within an existing legal process. While a range of social data is relevant to this type of assessment, we focus on the use of spatially-referenced social data in the context of land use planning. When applied to the design and implementation of land use plans, this type of information can improve the acceptability of conservation actions, enhance environmental stewardship, and minimise land use conflict through taking stock of the values and attitudes (precursors to behaviour) that are relevant to proposed land use change and conservation action. Through exploring the integration of these data into each of the stages of SEA under the EPBC Act, we show that opportunities exist to strengthen the effectiveness of SEA in delivering conservation outcomes without altering existing legal processes. Yet, for this to be done effectively, practitioners need to be cognisant of a range of theoretical and methodological challenges related to the generation and interpretation of these data, as well as the socio-political context in which they are applied.

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“…In the first decade of experience with the EPBC Act, the overwhelming majority of SEA applications were in the fisheries sector, mainly because a specific provision of the Act required such assessments to be carried out (Marsden, 2002b;Early, 2008;Stoeglehner et al, 2010). While these assessments appear to have been largely successful (Senate Standing Committee, 2009, para 3.5.2), the failure of the general provision enabling SEA to be used (Marsden, 1999) resulted in legislative reform in 2006 to try and encourage proponents to refer strategic proposals to the Commonwealth for assessment (Ashe and Marsden, 2011, 21).…”

Section: Sea In Australia Historical Background and Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potentially significant environmental effects upon what are known as "matters of national environmental significance" (MNES), or "protected matters", are the trigger for the assessment and approvals process under the EPBC Act and hence involvement of the Australian Government in SEA and, where it is carried out under other provisions in the EPBC Act, EIA (Early, 2008). Examples of MNES include World Heritage and National Heritage listed areas, including the GBR in Qld and the West Kimberley in WA.…”

Section: Purpose and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protecting Heritage on Australia's Coasts: A Role for Strategic Environmental Assessment?

Marsden

2013

J. Env. Assmt. Pol. Mgmt.

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This article examines two experiences with strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in Australia, one complete the other in progress. The first applied SEA to a plan for a liquefied natural gas hub precinct on the National Heritage listed Kimberley coast of Western Australia, and the second applies SEA to a coastal management, planning and development framework for the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef on the coast of Queensland. Both cases illustrate the approach of the Australian governments to SEA, highlighting the benefits of the approach yet certain flaws in application and process. The research consists of an extensive evaluation of the relevant legislation, its application and reform, together with a thorough literature review. Results highlight concerns in relation to the objective of SEA in Australia, its initiation and timing, consideration of alternatives, and governance. Conclusions are that SEA in Australia will be enhanced if the purpose is more explicitly focused on environmental protection, if SEA is applied early to a reasonable range of alternative sites, and if the Australian Government continues to play an active role in relation to matters of national environmental significance.

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Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human/Wildlife Interactions

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement

Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement

Using social data in strategic environmental assessment to conserve biodiversity

Protecting Heritage on Australia's Coasts: A Role for Strategic Environmental Assessment?

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