Environment and heritage Purpose: Conserve, protect and sustainably manage Australia’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity, threatened species, ecosystems, environment and heritage

Sustainable management of natural resources In 2015–16, the Department continued to deliver across a range of natural resource management (NRM) programs to help communities take practical action to improve their local environment and promote sustainable management. Key among these were Great Barrier Reef initiatives (including the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, the Reef program and the Reef Trust), the National Landcare Program, the 20 Million Trees Program, threatened species priorities, Green Army and Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030.

Great Barrier Reef

The Department’s responsibilities to protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef are guided by the Reef 2050 plan, which provides an overarching framework for the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to 2050. We work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Government to coordinate the delivery of the Reef 2050 plan in partnership with science, community and industry stakeholders. In 2015–16, the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee and the independent expert panel were established to provide ongoing advice on implementing the Reef 2050 plan.

Implementation of the Reef 2050 plan is well under way. Actions have been implemented to reduce the impacts of ports and dredging, build partnerships with science, industry and local communities, improve monitoring and reporting, and invest in action to improve the health of the Reef.

The $210 million Reef Trust is one of the key mechanisms to deliver the Reef 2050 plan. Focusing on known critical areas for investment, it will provide funding for projects to improve or maintain water quality, the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems, species protection, and the condition of matters of national environmental significance through the strategic delivery of offsets.

The Reef program is the single largest commitment ever made to address the threats of declining water quality and climate change to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Projects under this program are designed to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon and, through complementary approaches, will enhance the Reef’s resilience to the threats posed by climate change and by nutrient, pesticide and sediment run-off.

Australian and Queensland governments continue to work closely to ensure alignment of investments and programs. A comprehensive report on the implementation of the Reef 2050 plan and the future priorities for action will be provided in the Reef 2050 Annual Report and Implementation Strategy 2016.

National Landcare Program

The Australian Government is investing in managing our natural resources to help communities take practical action to improve their local environment and deliver sustainable agricultural outcomes. The National Landcare Program is our overarching initiative that funds a national network of NRM organisations, the 20 Million Trees Program, management of World Heritage places, and the Indigenous Protected Areas program. Complementary programs outside the National Landcare Program include Green Army and the Land Sector Package.

National Landcare Program: regional delivery stream

In 2015–16, the National Landcare Program provided funding to Australia’s 56 NRM organisations to deliver national priorities through local and regional activities. The organisations are required to invest at least 20 per cent of their total Landcare funding in local community engagement activities to deliver against program objectives. NRM organisations play an important role in integrating environment protection and sustainable agriculture policies and programs. They do this by using regional stream funds to support local community projects that contribute to priority actions of the Threatened Species Strategy, the 20 Million Trees Program and Green Army projects.

The National Landcare Program has four strategic objectives. Table 2.2 shows the number of regional stream projects delivered against each of these objectives in 2015–16.

Table 2.2: Number of projects delivered against each strategic objective

Strategic objective Projects delivered by NRM organisations

Communities are involved in caring for their environment 192

Communities are managing landscapes to sustain long-term economic and social benefits from their environment

84

Communities are protecting species and natural assets 122

Farmers and fishers are increasing their long-term returns through better management of the natural resource base

90

The Department’s online Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Tool (MERIT) has improved documentation of program activities and increased our understanding of outcomes of Australian Government investment in NRM. In 2014, the Department introduced the Performance Framework for Regional Natural Resource Management Organisations—a key quality assurance and risk management tool for the regional delivery component of the National Landcare Program. The framework was intended to allow NRM bodies to move to a more mature, third-sector delivery model so that the Department could transition away from detailed contract management and towards performance and capacity focused monitoring. In response to feedback and learning, in 2015–16, in consultation with NRM organisations, the Department revised the 2014 performance framework. NRM organisations undertook self-assessments of their performance against the updated expectations during August 2016.

www.nrm.gov.au/publications/aust-government-performance-framework-2016

National Landcare Program: 20 Million Trees Program

The 20 Million Trees Program, funded under the National Landcare Program, supports local environmental outcomes by improving the extent, connectivity and condition of native vegetation that supports native species.

During 2015–16, grant rounds prioritised applications with a focus on threatened species and ecological communities. To date, around 95 per cent of 20 Million Trees projects support Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed threatened species or ecological communities.

The types of activities that are supported range from small community-based tube stock planting projects to large landscape-scale direct-seeding projects. Since the first projects were selected a little over a year ago, funding recipients have been busy collecting seed, propagating plants and preparing the ground.

In 2015–16, the Department announced 64 successful grant projects worth $5 million under grant round 2, and 10 projects of up to $7.3 million under tranche two. This brings the total figures for the program to $42.8 million for 164 projects that will plant more than 13.4 million trees. The projects involve a wide range of participants, including Landcare and community groups, individuals and organisations.

Threatened species

On 16 July 2015, the former Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP (now Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science), launched Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy at the Threatened Species Summit in Melbourne.

The Threatened Species Summit brought together state and territory government ministers, scientific experts, NRM organisations and community groups to focus on protecting threatened species.

The Threatened Species Strategy sets ambitious targets for protecting threatened species and outlines how the Australian Government will prioritise work in partnership with the community, the private sector and state and territory governments over the next five years to protect and recover threatened animals and plants.

The strategy made a commitment to taking decisive action on feral cats. In response, the Feral Cat Taskforce was established in 2015–16. The taskforce comprises representatives from each state and territory, the scientific community and key non-government organisations. It met twice during 2015 to build collaborative approaches and drive national momentum for feral cat control.

A robust project management framework is in place to report progress against each of the strategy targets. Achieving the targets is a national effort, and reporting on them will involve all levels of government, non-government organisations, experts and communities. Reporting on the year-one targets in the strategy is scheduled for late 2016.

Green Army

The Green Army delivers practical, on-ground environmental projects such as restoring and protecting habitat, weeding, planting, cleaning up creeks and rivers, and restoring cultural heritage places. The Green Army continues to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits across the Australian landscape on a range of environmental priorities. In 2015–16, these priorities included the Great Barrier Reef, remote areas and Indigenous people, threatened species, environmental recovery in a natural disaster declared area, heritage, and increasing native vegetation.

Green Army teams are deployed across the country. They work with groups such as local councils, Indigenous and community groups, and local catchment and NRM organisations to help achieve priority conservation outcomes.

The Green Army remains the largest on-ground voluntary environmental action program of its kind. It provides participants with training, skills and experience to improve their opportunities for future employment. Green Army round four projects were announced in early 2015–16, bringing the total number of projects to 1145. The list of round five projects was released in May 2016, with a focus on 2-3 year multi-project proposals. As at the end of 2015–16, 801 projects are under way or complete across Australia.

Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

The Department worked with state and territory governments and the Australian Local Government

Association to undertake the scheduled 2015 review of Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030. The review examined the strategy’s operation and national implementation, alignment with international commitments, and opportunities for improvement.

The review process included extensive consultation across all levels of government and other relevant sectors and a six-week public submission period from July 2015. Consultation revealed strong support for the development of a revised national strategy with stronger recognition of the benefits of biodiversity to the community, human health and the economy. Recognising the significant opportunity for reform, environment ministers agreed to continue this work in 2016.

www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/conservation/strategy/review-australias-biodiversity-conservation-strategy-2010-2030

Results against key performance indicatorsObjective: Improve the extent, condition and connectivity of Australia’s natural resources to support sustainable use, provide habitat for nationally threatened species and protect natural assets12

Criterion Increase in extent and connectivity of vegetation communities in project areas2

Result AchievedThe Department administers NRM programs that contribute to achieving this criterion: 20 Million Trees Program, Green Army and the National Landcare Program. Figures for 20 Million Trees Program activities funded during 2015 are:

312,194 plants planted (expected to grow to a mature height >2 m) 88 kg of seed sown (expected to grow to a mature height >2 m) 1681 ha revegetated.

While it is not yet possible to report on activity undertaken in the first half of 2016, preliminary indications are that there has been an increase in activity since 2015.Table 2.3 shows data on the Green Army and National Landcare Program (including 20 Million Trees) for the 2015 calendar year.3

Table 2.3: Green Army and National Landcare Program vegetation results 2015

Green Army National Landcare ProgramNumber of plants planted 1,013,296 965,772

Revegetation area (ha) 7,347 3,507

Initial area treated for weeds (ha) 26,530 146,794

Number of follow-up activities to re-treat for weeds 60 69

Initial area treated for pests (ha) 24,193 1,964,419

Number of follow-up activities to re-treat for pests 13 57

Criterion Number of NRM projects demonstrating maintenance or improvement in the condition of targeted threatened species habitat by June 2018

Result Achieved—based on progress against Threatened Species Strategy year-one actions

1 For projects reporting through the online MERIT.

2 The data presented may contain duplication due to double-counting where there has been a co-investment or staged investment or due to reporting or data entry errors. The accuracy of this reporting has not yet been confirmed.

The Threatened Species Strategy sets targets for improving outcomes for 20 priority birds, 20 priority mammals and 30 priority plants by 2020. Actions to help these species recover by improving the condition of important habitat areas include revegetation, threat reduction through weed removal and pest animal management, fencing and installing nest boxes.In 2015–16, the Australian Government approved more than $74 million in funding to over 400 projects supporting the recovery of threatened species. The Green Army and 20 Million Trees Program, together with the Reef Trust, have directed this investment to improve the condition of threatened species habitat.The regional delivery stream of the National Landcare Program is supporting a further 33 projects that focus on priority birds and mammals from the Threatened Species Strategy (Table 2.4).Additional projects to protect and recover the priority species in the strategy are being supported through other sources, including the national stream of the National Landcare Program.Reviews of these projects against management plans for the priority species indicate that they are contributing to reducing the key threats to these species through implementation of priority actions. For example:

At important eastern bristlebird habitat on Howe Flat, the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is controlling predators through the ‘Protecting EPBC listed species on the East Gippsland coast through fox control’ project. The project involves community awareness-raising elements—another key action for the species's long-term recovery

The Mallee Catchment Management Authority is delivering on key actions for malleefowl through the ‘Land managers and informed communities’ project. This includes helping landholders enter into covenants to protect key habitat, make management practice changes to reduce the impacts of grazing on the species and control key pests and weeds at priority locations

The Norfolk Island green parrot breeding program has doubled the number of chicks successfully fledged by making greater efforts to manage rats on the island.

Table 2.4: Regional delivery projects focused on Threatened Species Strategy priorities

Bird species Number of projectsEastern bristlebird 2

Regent honeyeater 2

Swift parrot 2

Malleefowl 9

Plains wanderer 2

Orange-bellied parrot 2

Southern cassowary 3

Red-tailed black cockatoo (south-eastern) 1

Hooded plover 1

Total 24

Mammal species Number of projectsGreater bilby 3

Eastern barred bandicoot 1

Mahogany glider habitat 4

Western ringtail possum 1

Mammal species Number of projectsTotal 9

Criterion Increase in area of land on which farmers have adopted better management practices to improve their long-term yield by June 2018

Result AchievedThis criterion is relevant to activities under both the National Landcare Program and the Reef Trust.Strategic objective two of the regional delivery stream states: ‘Farmers are increasing their long-term returns through better management of the natural resource base.’ During 2015–16, 90 projects were identified as delivering against this strategic objective.Better land management practices were implemented in 2015–16 on:

over 3 million ha under the National Landcare Program 527,280 ha under the Reef Trust.

Criterion Increase in area of land managed to reduce threats to nationally listed threatened species and ecological communities by June 2018 (for projects reporting through the online MERIT)

Result AchievedThe Reef Trust and National Landcare Program funded 307 projects that addressed threatened species or threatened ecological communities. Table 2.5 shows aggregated targets, as set out in grant applications, to reduce threats to species and communities across the 307 projects.

Table 2.5: Actions to target threats to species and communities

Grant application targets (ha)

Delivered in 2015 (ha)

Area covered by agreement mechanismsa 47,595 10,628

Area covered by pest treatment actions 2,243,182 842,096

Area of revegetation works 21,596 2271

New area treated for weeds 340,790 88,848a Agreement mechanisms include binding conservation covenants and non-binding property agreements (e.g. land for wildlife agreements) that set out the agreed management intent and actions for the area.

Objective: Mitigate key threats to nationally threatened species and ecological communities

Criterion Number of projects funded annually with a focus on threatened species recovery

Result AchievedAustralian Government investment in threatened species recovery is guided by the Threatened Species Strategy. During 2015–16, the former Minister approved 714 projects directed at mobilising action to benefit threatened species recovery. The majority of these projects were funded as part of the National Landcare Program (including 20 Million Trees) and Green Army, and will contribute to improving habitat condition to support threatened species (see Table 2.6).

Table 2.6: Projects with a threatened species focus

20 Million Trees Program Green Army Reef Trust or National Landcare Program

Threatened Species Summit

Second grant round

National service provider

Fourth grant round

63 projects 10 large-scale revegetation projects

314 projects 307 projects 20 targeted threatened species projects announced in partnership with states and territories

Criterion Reverse population decline in 20 mammal species by 2020

Result Achieved—based on progress against Threatened Species Strategy year-one actions

The Threatened Species Strategy includes the target of supporting better outcomes for at least 20 threatened mammal species by 2020. Following consultation with all state and territory governments, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, leading scientists and the community, 20 priority mammals were identified.The target has three time frames: one, three and five years. Projects are currently in place for all 20 priority mammals. Early indications of success include:

mountain pygmy possum numbers in New South Wales increasing as a result of using specially trained detector dogs to assist rangers to track and remove feral cats and foxes

an estimated 250 western quolls being released in the South Australian Flinders Ranges, where they were once extinct as a result of predation from feral cats.

The strategy sets targets for improving recovery practices for threatened species, including better recovery guidance, governance arrangements and reporting. Consistent with the strategy’s year-one targets, updated recovery plans or conservation advices were developed for the initial eight priority mammals identified in the strategy.

Objective: Protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef

Criterion By June 2018, improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef from broad scale land use by reducing pollutant loads in priority areas, relative to 2008–09 baseline levels, by at least: 50 per cent for anthropogenic dissolved inorganic nitrogen; 60 per cent for pesticides; and 20 per cent for anthropogenic sediment and particulate nitrogen

Result Partially achievedReef plan report cards measure progress towards the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan’s water quality goals and targets. The latest Reef plan report card, for 2014, was released on 21 September 2015. It shows a slight reduction in pollutant loads over the 2013–14 reporting period. Figure 2.1 shows results from 2008–09 to the latest report card.

www.environment.gov.au/marine/gbr/protecting-the-reefRecent efforts to reduce land-based pollution in the Reef’s catchments will require further actions to protect the ecosystems from declining water quality by the target date of June 2018. More innovative approaches will be required to identify and embed the next generation of sustainable land management practices to achieve the required water quality improvements.The case study ‘Farming microbes’ on page 34 demonstrates the potential for innovative approaches to achieve rapid, significant and sustainable change.The Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan’s targets are considered ambitious. They seek to move land management to best practice in as wide an area as possible, which will improve water quality for the Reef.To achieve the targets, the Australian Government continues to invest significantly in

improving water quality in Great Barrier Reef catchments. The Reef program is delivering projects to improve water quality, systems repair, and monitoring and modelling. In 2015–16, the Department administered $9.90 million in funding through the Reef Trust for water quality projects.Reef Trust projects contracted through the phase two and phase three investment programs contribute to:

investments to help sugar cane farmers improve land management practices reducing erosion in grazing lands and managing the impact of erosion from gullies improving water quality in the grains, dairy and horticulture industries helping to control crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on reefs with high tourism

value.Reef Trust investment strategy phase three was released on 4 December 2015. On 23 April 2016, the Government announced $11 million in funding through phase three for projects to improve water quality. On 26 April 2016, the Government announced $50 million in funding for water quality improvement projects led by the Queensland Farmers Federation in partnership with members of the Reef Alliance.Water quality will continue to be the focus of Reef Trust investment: $106.4 million is to be allocated over four years to 2018–19.

Figure 2.1: Great Barrier Reef pollutant load reductions

http://www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/measuring-success/report-cards/2014/assets/pollutant-load-reductions-lge.jpg

Criterion Any EPBC Act approved offset delivered under the Reef Trust maintains or improves the condition of matters of national and state environmental significance

Result Data/information not available or incompleteReef Trust offset activities are expected to start in late 2016. The Department has progressed negotiations with three offset approval holders. As at 30 June 2016, $1.5 million in offset funds had been paid into the Reef Trust Special Account.

Criterion The Reef maintains its diversity of species and ecological habitats with a stable to improving trend

Result Data/information not available or incomplete

While there is considerable ongoing investment in activities to improve the condition of the Reef, to date our ability to monitor the impact of this investment on species and habitats has been limited. In July 2015, the Australian Government announced it would invest $8 million in the development of an integrated monitoring and reporting program for the Reef 2050 plan.The monitoring and reporting program will enable assessment of the effectiveness of on-ground actions and investments to protect and restore the Reef’s values, address threats and ensure development and use of the Reef remains ecologically sustainable. It will monitor biophysical, heritage, water quality, social and economic changes that affect the Reef. This will inform an adaptive management approach to the Reef 2050 plan. The program is being developed collaboratively by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian and Queensland governments and scientific, industry and community partners.

Objective: Encourage community participation in protecting and conserving Australia’s nationally protected environment and heritage

Criterion Increase in the level of participation, skill-development or employment of Indigenous Australians, through natural resource management projects

Result AchievedGreen Army focuses on increasing the participation of young people and Indigenous Australians. The Green Army has successfully attracted a large number of Indigenous Australians: 16 per cent of its 5736 participants identify as Indigenous.As of March 2016, recipient data for the National Landcare Program regional delivery stream indicated significant numbers of Indigenous Australians have been involved in the planning and delivery of project works: 467 in planning and 878 in delivery. At training events, 17 per cent of participants identified as Indigenous.In 2015–16, around $13 million was invested in Indigenous NRM activities. This led to employment for around 50 people, five traineeships and development of a number of Indigenous on-country enterprises. The investment equates to around 11.5 per cent of total regional delivery stream funding.

Objective: Improve the extent, condition and connectivity of native vegetation to provide key habitat for nationally threatened species and ecological communities and sequester carbon

Criterion Increase in extent of native vegetation in project areas

Result AchievedDue to the delay in receiving project data for 2015–16, it is only possible to report on the number and area of plants established during the 2015 calendar year. To indicate the trend over time, Table 2.7 provides the figure for the 2014 calendar year. These figures are sourced from MERIT.

Table 2.7: Plantings through Biodiversity Fund projects

2014 2015Number of plants planted 3,701,882 2,994,443

Area revegetated (ha) 30,322 21,752

Criterion Number of natural resource management projects demonstrating maintenance or improvement in the condition of targeted threatened species habitat by June 2018

Result AchievedIn 2015, 328 active Biodiversity Fund projects were undertaking activities that are expected to maintain and/or improve the condition of threatened species habitat.

Criterion Increase in area of land managed to reduce threats to nationally listed threatened species and ecological communities by July 2018

Result AchievedAs indicated against the first criterion above (see Table 2.7), Biodiversity Fund projects in 2015 planted 2,994,443 plants over 21,752 ha with the intention of increasing or improving vegetation extent, connectivity and/or condition. These plantings, alongside other on-ground actions including pest and weed treatment, are expected to help maintain or improve the condition of threatened species habitat by July 2018. Table 2.8 provides information on the areas treated for invasive animals and plants.

Table 2.8: Area treated for invasive animals and plants

2014 2015Initial area treated for pests (ha) 12,102 619,529

Number of follow-up activities to re-treat for pests 20 129

Initial area treated for weeds (ha) 859,338 138,879

Number of follow-up activities to re-treat for weeds 313 297

Criterion Amount of carbon that has been sequestered through project investments

Result Data/information not available or incompleteSo far, 87 projects have signalled that they may register with the Emissions Reduction Fund, but only three have participated. As at 30 June 2016, the Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and Biome5 Pty Ltd have been issued Australian carbon credit units, as detailed in Table 2.9.

Table 2.9: Australian Carbon Credit Units issued

Recipient ACCUs issued 2012–13

ACCUs issued 2013–14

ACCUs issued 2014–15

ACCUs issued 2015–16

Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation

0 68,692 12,918 40,409

Biome5 Pty Ltd 0 0 0 12,866

Analysis against purposeThe Department is increasingly integrating its science spending and regulatory tools to facilitate economic development in a way that also protects key environmental assets. This approach enhances the capacity to target and address strategic priorities, and to adapt our approach to match the challenges in key areas around Australia. For example, the Green Army delivers multiple projects that, among other things, co-benefit our strategic priorities for threatened species and the Great Barrier Reef; and the Reef Trust uses reverse auctions and innovative financing mechanisms to help implement the Threatened Species Strategy.

Reporting periods for NRM programs administered by the Department do not align with annual reporting time frames. Grant recipients submit data reporting on the second half of the financial year in mid-August, and the data then undergo quality assurance. For this reason, combined with the integrated nature of the programs, it is not possible to conduct a complete and comprehensive assessment of outcomes and progress against criteria for the full 2015–16 financial year.

Given the lack of alignment between Green Army reporting periods and the annual report time frame, it is too early to comment definitively on the environmental impact of the program. However,

we can report on some early social development results. The Green Army has outstanding community support, and 93 per cent of project hosts have indicated that they would like to participate in the program again. Indigenous participation rates are exceptionally high: 1150 participants (16 per cent) identify as Indigenous. Of the 1308 participants who left the program early, the majority (1032, or 79 per cent) left because they found another job or for reasons unrelated to the program.

Another factor that affects the Department’s ability to report annually against criteria is the time lag between project implementation and ecological outcomes. For example, in the Great Barrier Reef there has been significant progress in implementing the Reef 2050 plan, but improving the quality of water entering the Reef will take time and effort. Due to the extent of biogeochemical processes involved, it can take several years to see a response in the Reef’s marine system as a result of changing land management practices.

Current and future climatic factors have the potential to affect the success of projects under our NRM programs. We considered service providers’ proposed approaches to adapting to future climate conditions in our assessment of 20 Million Trees tranche two proposals, and we intend to further integrate climate adaptation into program design and delivery. To maximise the survival rates of native trees and vegetation delivered under the NRM programs, we require preparation and planning activities, such as weed removal, project design and seed collecting, before plantings take place. Plantings must occur in the right climatic conditions.

Case Study – Farming microbesJoe and Christine Muscat farm sugar cane on a 130 ha property near Oakenden, Queensland, south-west of Mackay. Mr Muscat’s family has been farming sugar cane on the property for 50 years.

Though they live inland, the Muscats have a direct connection with the Great Barrier Reef. Water from the Muscat farm runs into the Sandy Creek catchment and makes its way out to the Reef’s lagoon. The farm has a significant proportion of sandy soils which, combined with tropical wet season rainfall, means there is a significant risk of high nutrient run-off. This run-off contributes to poor-quality water entering the Reef and reduces farm productivity. The Muscats are seeking ways to address this impact and maintain the farm’s productivity.

Through support from the Australian Government’s Reef program, the Muscats have been able to invest in modifying the way they farm. They have focused on the biology and needs of the soil, incorporating organic material and applying nutrients more precisely. They have changed their farming practices to include rotational cropping, binding nitrogen and combating pests. They have undertaken laser levelling to ensure good drainage, tested soil to check pH, applied lime and dolomite to address mineral imbalances and introduced microbes to support soil biology.

Straight after harvesting, they apply chicken manure and guano and work it into the soil. They use recycled water to keep nutrients on farm, which ultimately benefits the Reef.

These investments and changed practices have resulted in lower tillage costs, less tractor operation time, better conservation of soil moisture and less risk of erosion.

The Muscats have reduced chemical fertiliser use from 700 kg/ha to 100–200 kg/ha, increased the amount of carbon in their soil and increased the soil’s water-holding capacity. They have achieved a 25 per cent higher yield of sugar cane per hectare above the district average, reduced compaction in the

harvesting process by 30 per cent and increased crop consistency by having good field drainage.

The Muscats have always been willing to share their experience and insights with other cane growers and have a history of trialling experimental and innovative farm practices. Future plans include introducing molasses and kelp to feed soil microbes, and they are looking at doing away with chemicals altogether and turning the farm into a biologically managed one.

The Reef program has enabled the Muscats to realise their vision of a productive sugar cane farm that has less impact on the Reef. Their efforts and achievements were recognised through nomination for the 2015 Reef program Sugarcane Grower Award.

Case Study – Green Army—Olive Pink Botanic GardenA Green Army team based at the Olive Pink Botanic Garden in Alice Springs achieved impressive environmental outcomes by controlling invasive weeds and landscaping high-use areas of the gardens to protect native vegetation.

A diverse range of native plants, including acacia, eucalyptus, grevillea and rhodanthe, have flourished as a result of the team controlling the infestation of buffel grass, which can significantly damage the natural biodiversity of an area.

The Olive Pink Botanic Garden is home to more than 2500 planted species. It showcases 600 species unique to central Australia, including important traditional bush food and medicinal species and 33 species that are listed as rare or vulnerable.

To protect and conserve the collection, the Green Army team built a 65 m x 20 m fenced area to keep out pest animals and help maintain Olive Pink’s original plantings, which include ruby saltbush, elegant wattle, river red gum and clustered lovegrass. The team did it all by hand and regularly got up at 5.30 am to start work before the summer heat got too intense.

They installed an irrigation system, planted more than 200 plants in rejuvenated soil beds and created paths to control public access and protect the plants.

All of the participants were happy to be working outside with their hands. ‘That’s what I like about it: being outdoors, seeing nature’, said team member Dereece. They would all like to continue with this type of work if possible, using skills learned through the Green Army to perhaps work with an Indigenous rangers program in the future.

‘That’s what I like about it: being outdoors, seeing nature’—Dereece, team member

Garden curator Ian Coleman praised the Green Army team: ‘What we’ve had is consistent work of a good quality and a lot of enthusiasm, and a very well-run operation by [team supervisor] Sara.’

‘What we’ve had is consistent work of a good quality and a lot of enthusiasm’—Garden curator Ian Coleman

Five of the nine members of the team are Indigenous. Because of projects like this one, the Green Army has already achieved its target of engaging 1000 Indigenous participants over the first five years of the program.

Environment and heritage regulation In 2015–16, the Department continued to deliver across a range of regulatory responsibilities, including national legislation covering environment and heritage protection, biodiversity conservation, product stewardship and hazardous substance management.

Among these is the EPBC Act, which is the Commonwealth’s central piece of environment legislation. The EPBC Act provides the legal framework for the Department to protect and manage

Australia’s threatened species and ecological communities, whales and dolphins, internationally traded wildlife, world, national and Commonwealth heritage places, Commonwealth national parks and other protected terrestrial and marine areas.

The Department continues to progress initiatives to streamline assessment and approval arrangements under the EPBC Act to ensure swifter decisions and more certainty for Australian communities and businesses. For example, during 2015–16, 24 approvals were varied to include streamlined conditions. Of these, 21 included a condition allowing approval holders to make minor revisions to management plans without seeking approval and a further three included outcomes-based conditions.

These initiatives were informed by a new Outcomes-based condition policy and guidance, which sets out an approach to setting approval conditions that specify the environmental outcomes that must be achieved by an approval holder, without prescribing how that outcome should be achieved. Outcomes-based conditions give approval holders the flexibility to be innovative and achieve the required environmental outcomes in the most effective and efficient manner.

Separately, the Department has finalised an EPBC Act Condition-setting policy, which sets out a framework for considering state and territory approval conditions under the EPBC Act. This policy seeks to reduce regulatory duplication between jurisdictions by ensuring that the Commonwealth does not apply an approval condition if a state or territory condition is deemed acceptable.

www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications

The Department is continuing to pursue strategic assessments to provide streamlining through long-term approvals for development and better environmental outcomes by considering, and better managing, cumulative impacts of development on the environment. Strategic assessments now provide environment approvals for a range of development including urban expansions in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, offshore oil and gas mining in Commonwealth waters and new roads in New South Wales. Further strategic assessments are being pursued for developments including urban expansion in Perth, iron ore mining in Western Australia and coal mining in New South Wales.

In 2015–16, 27 EPBC projects were assessed under bilateral agreements: 11 in New South Wales, three in the Northern Territory, four in Queensland, two in Victoria and seven in Western Australia. No projects were referred in 2015–16 under the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and South Australia bilateral agreements. The figures for 2015–16 are based on the date the referral was received and do not include projects received in previous financial years and for which assessment was ongoing during 2015–16.

For more information on the Department’s operation of the EPBC Act, see Part 5, ‘Legislative reporting’ (page 246).

The National Environmental Significance Threat Risk Assessment tool (NESTRA), first implemented in 2014, allows the Department to focus compliance monitoring on projects that pose the greatest risk to the environment. This has the effect of reducing the regulatory burden on projects that are low risk or on people who consistently do the right thing. During 2015–16, the Department inspected at least 20 per cent of higher-risk projects identified by the NESTRA tool to ensure compliance with project conditions. Twenty-nine high-risk projects were subject to a compliance monitoring inspection, and we reviewed all compliance and monitoring reports submitted for high-risk projects.

To ensure that the community continues to enjoy clean air, Australian environment ministers agreed, in December 2015, to the National Clean Air Agreement. The agreement focuses on a

range of existing, new and complementary measures to reduce air pollution and improve air quality through cooperative action between industry and government at the national, state and local levels.

Heritage

Australia has a rich natural and cultural heritage that underpins our sense of place and national identity and makes a positive contribution to the nation’s wellbeing. The Australian Government supports heritage conservation through policies, grant programs, support for the Australian Heritage Council and engagement in international forums.

In December 2015, we launched the Australian Heritage Strategy to support the long-term protection of Australia’s heritage places. The strategy sets out a 10-year framework to deliver actions against three high-level outcomes: national leadership, strong partnerships and engaged communities.

www. environment.gov.au/heritage/australian-heritage-strategy

To help ensure that Australia’s World Heritage sites are managed in accordance with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage, the Australian Government provided $7.78 million through the National Landcare Program’s World Heritage grants. The funding helps World Heritage property managers to identify, protect, conserve, present, transmit to future generations and, where appropriate, rehabilitate the outstanding universal value of each property.

At its meeting in July 2015, the World Heritage Committee acknowledged Australia’s efforts to protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area through the Reef 2050 plan. For details on the implementation of the Reef 2050 plan, see ‘Sustainable management of natural resources’ on pages 21 and 29.

In April 2016, in response to a request from the World Heritage Committee, Australia submitted a state party report on the conservation condition of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The report restates Australia’s full commitment to protecting the outstanding universal value of the property and outlines the approach to ensuring that its integrity is maintained, including through the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to completing a new management plan for the property by December 2016.

Protecting threatened species and ecological communities

The assessment and listing of species or ecological communities as threatened is a crucial first step to promoting their recovery under the EPBC Act. Once listed, the species or ecological community is recognised as a matter of national environmental significance and is protected by the EPBC Act’s assessment and approval provisions. Conservation advice and recovery plans made under the EPBC Act guide statutory decision-making and protection and recovery actions.

In 2015–16, 56 species were added to the list or had their threat category changed, and 15 species were removed from the list. Four threatened ecological communities were listed and one ecological community listing was removed.

www.environment.gov.au/topics/threatened-species-ecological-communities

At the Threatened Species Summit held in July 2015, the then Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, launched the Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats—a component of the Threatened Species Strategy. Feral cats are estimated to kill millions of native animals across Australia every day and require on-ground control to minimise impacts on threatened species and on biodiversity more broadly. The plan provides the scientific basis for feral cat action

and a national framework for reducing the impact of feral cats on Australia’s biodiversity. For further information on the strategy see page 23.

www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement-plan-feral-cats

The Department published new recovery plans and conservation advices for listed species and ecological communities. Recovery plans were made for four priority species identified in the Threatened Species Strategy: mallee emu wren, orange-bellied parrot, mountain pygmy-possum and plains wanderer. Conservation advices were approved for 176 species. Four new ecological community conservation advices were approved and one new ecological community recovery plan was made. For more information on recovery plans and conservation advices see Part 5, ‘Legislative reporting’, page 253.

The Department reached agreement with the states and territories to adopt a nationally consistent approach to assessing and listing threatened species and ecological communities based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. This will simplify and streamline assessment of threatened species and ecological communities among jurisdictions. In October 2015, the agreement to adopt a common assessment method commenced implementation, with the signatures of Western Australia and the Commonwealth. The Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have since signed the agreement, and a meeting of environment ministers in December 2015 affirmed national commitment to the common assessment method.

The Australian Government has committed $5.3 million over three years to the National Dugong and Turtle Protection Plan 2014–2017 under the Reef 2050 plan and the Reef Trust. The protection plan improves protection of marine turtles and dugong, supporting the long-term recovery and survival of these migratory species. Key achievements under the plan include:

strengthened enforcement and compliance in Queensland and the Torres Strait through the creation of five new Indigenous compliance officer positions and three Indigenous community liaison positions, and through compliance training for 20 Indigenous rangers

accreditation of a Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement with the Gunggandji traditional owners on 28 June 2016. The agreement establishes three no-take areas for turtles and dugong around Green Island, Michaelmas Cay and Fitzroy Island in Queensland.

www.environment.gov.au/marine/publications/national-dugong-and-turtle-protection-plan-2014-2017

Achievements in international and regional engagement

Australia successfully negotiated amendments to the annexes of the Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA) and the Japan–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA). These amendments reflect progress in the knowledge of bird migration since the agreements entered into force. The changes to the ROKAMBA annex were agreed on 3 September 2015 and came into force on 3 December 2015. The changes to the JAMBA annex were agreed on 9 March 2016 and came into force on 9 June 2016. The EPBC Act migratory species list has since been amended to reflect these changes: three species have been added and 15 species have been removed. Updating the annexes and the migratory species list is a significant achievement and the realisation of several years of scientific, technical and diplomatic effort.

A record 32 species were listed in the appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in November 2014. A number of these species occur in Australia. Nine CMS-listed species were included on the list of migratory species under the EPBC

Act on 16 September 2015: the silky shark, the reef manta ray, four sawfish and three mobula rays. Listing of these species as migratory under the EPBC Act fulfils Australia’s domestic requirements and makes it an offence to kill, injure, take or move any of them in Commonwealth waters.

To help protect species threatened by international trade, Australia contributed to regional and international measures promoting legal, well-managed and sustainable trade in wildlife. We funded and provided technical assistance to two workshops in the Oceania region to build capacity for effective implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and encourage new signatories to the convention. The CITES secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development agreed on the Oceania region as a priority to pilot a new wildlife trade permitting and reporting system.

Australia contributed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Declaration on Combating Wildlife Trafficking and global agreements on measures to combat poaching and wildlife crime, including the United Nations Resolution on Tackling Illicit Trade in Wildlife and the United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution on Illegal Trade in Wildlife.

The Department worked in the Pacific Ocean and Coral Triangle regions to support countries’ aims for sustainable management of their marine resources, including through the secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program and two associated Australia-funded aid programs.

The Department continued to uphold Australia’s international treaty obligations to control the impact of wastes and hazardous substances and improve the quality of the environment and human health. During 2015–16, this involved actions relating to chemicals, product stewardship, fuel quality standards, oil, hazardous waste, national environment protection measures, ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gas.

We satisfied Australia’s obligations under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and related international agreements by ensuring prior informed consent for Australian transboundary movements of hazardous waste. We achieved this by delivering national hazardous waste reports on time and cooperating with countries as required to resolve incidents where hazardous waste shipments could not be completed as planned.

The Department is preparing a regulation impact statement for the ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and for the inclusion of new chemicals under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Results against key performance indicatorsObjective: Identify, conserve and protect nationally significant natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places

Criterion

Australia’s objectives for engagement in international forums on heritage, wildlife, the marine environment and biodiversity are achieved

Result AchievedIn 2015–16, the Department led engagement and represented Australia’s interests in a range of international heritage forums. Results related to our engagement in international forums on wildlife, the marine environment and biodiversity are provided in response to other objectives (see pages 45 and 47).We worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to pursue Australia’s international priorities for the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage areas at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee, held from 28 June to 8 July 2015 in Bonn, Germany. At this meeting the World Heritage Committee acknowledged Australia’s

efforts to protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area through our creation of the Reef 2050 plan. For more information on the Reef 2050 plan see ‘Sustainable management of natural resources’ on pages 21 and 29.To provide a funding source for activities agreed between Australia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) that focus on building World Heritage capacity in the Asia-Pacific and strengthening the integrity of the World Heritage Convention, we established a UNESCO–Australia funds-in-trust arrangement. Australia has driven the development of policy guidelines for the World Heritage Convention and provided $305,000 through the trust in 2015–16. The project is strengthening the policy framework of the convention by bringing together all World Heritage Committee policy decisions into one compendium.

Criterion

Documentation published under the EPBC Act on significant natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places supports their protection and management

Result AchievedThe EPBC Act improves the management and protection of Australia’s heritage places. It provides for the listing of natural, historic or Indigenous places that have outstanding heritage value to Australia and of heritage places on Commonwealth lands and waters or under Australian Government control.Once a heritage place is listed under the EPBC Act, the Act operates to ensure that the values of the place will be protected and conserved for future generations.During 2015–16, the following places were added to the National Heritage List:

The Burke, Wills, King and Yandruwandha National Heritage Place (South Australia and Queensland) recognises the achievements of the Burke and Wills expedition and those of the subsequent relief parties that substantially added to the geographic knowledge of Australia. The site recognises the support provided by the Yandruwandha Aboriginal people as the expedition passed through their traditional lands.

Fitzgerald River National Park and Lesueur National Park, both located in the south-west of Western Australia, were added to the list in recognition of their outstanding diversity of native plant species, including many plants that are unique to their local area.

Through the annual finalised priority assessment lists, the Minister determines which places the Australian Heritage Council will assess for inclusion on the National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List each year. Four places were added to this list in 2015–16, including Sydney’s Centennial Park and Watarrka (Kings Canyon) National Park in the Northern Territory.During 2015–16, a further eight places were added to the Commonwealth Heritage List: six air traffic control towers, the Bundanon Trust Property in New South Wales and the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. The Australian Government, the New South Wales Government and Parramatta City Council signed a conservation agreement to protect World Heritage and National Heritage values of Old Government House and Government Domain, Parramatta.

Criterion All Australian property included on the list of World Heritage is well managed3

Result Achieved

3 This criterion was amended from ‘No Australian property is included on the list of World Heritage ‘in danger’ in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2015–16.

The EPBC Act provides a framework for developing management plans for Australia’s World Heritage properties, including through a series of World Heritage management principles that set out how the significant heritage aspects of each place should be managed.Management plans are in place for all World Heritage properties managed by the Australian Government. The Commonwealth components of two World Heritage properties (Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia and the Lord Howe Island Group in New South Wales) are under transitional management arrangements until new management plans for the Commonwealth marine reserves, within which these properties are located, are finalised. State and territory governments are responsible for managing most of Australia’s World Heritage places. As at 30 June 2016, management plans for eight of these World Heritage properties were under review or being updated.In April 2016, the Department hosted a workshop to update state and territory senior officials on recent international developments relating to the management of Australia’s World Heritage properties. The workshop strengthened relationships between the states, property managers and the Department. State government representatives and executive officers for World Heritage properties gained more understanding of Australia’s World Heritage obligations, including review and reporting requirements and processes such as that for nominating properties for inclusion on the World Heritage List.In November 2015, a joint International Union for Conservation of Nature and International Council on Monuments and Sites reactive monitoring mission visited the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The Australian and Tasmanian governments have accepted all recommendations of the mission report, which was published on 20 March 2016. Australia’s state party report on the conservation of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area was submitted on 8 April 2016 for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in Istanbul in July 2016.No Australian World Heritage property was placed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, reflecting Australia’s continued good stewardship of World Heritage places. The World Heritage Committee welcomed Australia’s efforts to protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area through the Reef 2050 plan at its meeting in July 2015.www.environment.gov.au/heritage/management/commonwealth

Criterion Australian support through the Kokoda Initiative enables the protection of the region’s important heritage values4

Result AchievedThe Kokoda Initiative is a cooperative agreement, run jointly by the governments of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia, to sustainably develop and protect the Kokoda Track, Owen Stanley Ranges and Brown River Catchment. Through the Kokoda Initiative, the natural, cultural and historic values of the region have been identified.In 2015–16, the Kokoda Track remained open and threats of closure were successfully managed. Australian leadership of the Kokoda Initiative was transferred from our Department to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Our key achievements in 2015–16 include:

collaborating with PNG partners to design, build and install interpretive signage on the Kokoda Track

completing cultural heritage management plans for the military heritage sites of Blamey’s Garden and the Lost Battlefield on the Kokoda Track

launching the Kokoda Initiative oral history book Voices from the war completing a biodiversity gap analysis of the Owen Stanley Ranges and a survey of

exotic species along the Kokoda Track completing a ‘road map’ outlining key steps and resources to progress a World

4 This criterion was amended from ‘Australian support through the Kokoda Initiative enables the track to remain open and safe during the trekking season’ in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2015–16.

Heritage nomination for the Owen Stanley Ranges.www.environment.gov.au/heritage/international-projects/papua-new-guinea

Objective: Protect and conserve Australia’s threatened species, ecological communities and migratory species

Criterion Australia’s objectives for engagement in international forums on heritage, wildlife, the marine environment and biodiversity are achieved

Result AchievedConvention on the Conservation of Migratory SpeciesThe Department increased engagement of state parties in the CMS through representing the Oceania region at the 44th Standing Committee meeting in October 2015. This involved extensive consultation with regional colleagues on finance, reorganisation of the CMS Scientific Council, and the proposed review mechanism for the convention.We helped newly nominated Oceania representatives to participate effectively at the first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council in April 2016 to ensure that Oceania’s and Australia’s interests were considered.The CMS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks held its second meeting of signatories in Costa Rica in February 2016. Australia represents Oceania on the MoU advisory committee. The meeting agreed to list 22 new shark species under the MoU; 15 of these occur within Australian waters and 10 are already protected under the EPBC Act.Whales and whalingAustralia remained an active member of the International Whaling Commission and continued to drive its conservation agenda, including as chair of the commission’s Standing Working Group on Conservation Management Plans. The Australian Government contributed $1.7 million to the commission to pursue governance reform of the commission and support non-lethal cetacean research in the Southern Ocean. Australia made representations at the highest level urging Japan not to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean in the 2015–16 Austral summer. This included participating with 32 other countries in a joint diplomatic demarche (protest) to the Government of Japan.Marine environmentIn 2016, Australian officials began working with the United Nations to inform development of a legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction to ensure that Australia’s environmental interests are taken into account.The Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI) is a multi-donor regional initiative supporting sustainable economic development through effective marine and coastal management and use in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. The Department successfully negotiated an extension of this program to 2017–18 and worked to ensure that grant commitments were appropriately implemented to achieve Australia’s objectives. Result against this criterion continued over page.

The Department, through Australian aid funds, contributes to the Coral Triangle Initiative and the Enhancing Pacific Oceans Governance Initiative by:

providing a staff member to work for the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, which has improved coordination across the Pacific on oceans issues and supported Pacific Island countries (and United Nations missions) in negotiations on the proposed United Nations treaty on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction

committing $2.8 million in grants to deliver better governance and capacity for

sustainable use of marine natural resources in the region providing funding for the Solomon Islands resulting in a 70 per cent increase in the

number of mapped and recorded nationally protected areas and the identification of gaps in coverage of habitat types under protection

funding a multi-year project focusing on fishing and planning in the Indonesian district of Rote-Ndao to raise awareness of sustainable fishing and the impact of overfishing among local fishers and government agencies. There are now tools and guidelines for local demersal fisheries (living near the sea floor), and an international fishing company has agreed to seek more mature fish.

Criterion

Public access and use of the Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) database, as indicated by the average monthly number of unique page views of the SPRAT website, does not fall below 40,000

Result AchievedThe Species Profile and Threats database is an important source of public information about species and ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act. It includes information on all listed species, ecological communities and key threatening processes, as well as providing access to:

statutory documents such as conservation advices, recovery plans and threat abatement plans

non-statutory documents, including SPRAT profiles, referral guidelines, survey guidelines and information guides.

In 2015–16, the SPRAT database has been continuously accessible on the Department’s website and received an average of 63,000 unique page views a month. This is equivalent to the average number of views from 2014–15. In addition, to allow for a wider range of uses, a subset of the SPRAT data was published on www.data.gov.au in March 2016.www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl

Objective: Protect internationally traded flora and fauna consistent with national and international obligations

Criterion Australia’s objectives for engagement in international forums on heritage, wildlife, the marine environment and biodiversity are achieved

Result AchievedConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraThe Department represented Australia and the Oceania region at three CITES committee meetings during 2015–16. A number of issues of interest to Australia were advanced at these meetings, including measures to combat illegal trade in rhinoceros horn and elephant ivory and the introduction of electronic systems for issuing and validating wildlife trade permits. As chair of the CITES Needs Assessment Working Group, Australia reported on the results of a global review of technological, logistical and equipment needs to strengthen the implementation of CITES, particularly in the Oceania region. Australia advanced a proposal to promote the publication of scientific information supporting assessments determining sustainability of trade in CITES-listed species.Australia provided funding for and attended the second International Union for Conservation of Nature Pacific Islands Species Forum in July 2015. The forum explored species loss in the Pacific and included dedicated sessions on sustainable wildlife trade. A technical workshop on the effective implementation of CITES targeted capacity-building among current Pacific Island parties and encouraged new parties to join the convention.Australia continued to contribute to regional and international efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade, including the United Nations Resolution on Tackling Illicit Trade in Wildlife; the United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution on Illegal Trade in Wildlife; the G20 Anti-corruption Working Group Action Plan; the United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Summit; the Save

Wildlife Conference hosted by the Government of the Netherlands; and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Declaration on Combating Wildlife Trafficking.

Objective: Ensure sustainable development outcomes by regulating impacts on matters of national environmental significance567

Criterion

The number of hectares of habitat protected by offsets6 compared with the area impacted7 for approved projects8

Result Data/information not available or incompleteThere is generally a time lag between an offset being identified as a condition to a project approval and the offset being secured. The Department currently has data on secured offsets that underestimates the area that will be protected in the longer term.In contrast, referral documentation captures the maximum extent of the impact and not the development footprint, thereby overestimating the area of impact. Data availability for this performance measure will be addressed over time.

Criterion The number and area of strategic assessments completed has increased: the number of strategic assessments completed in 2015–16 km²/ha already approved under strategic assessments

Result AchievedStrategic assessments are landscape-scale assessments that consider a broader set of actions than project-by-project assessments. During 2015–16, strategic assessments were under way in most states and territories.On 7 September 2015, the former Minister endorsed the strategic assessment for New South Wales road and traffic management works and subsequently approved a class of actions relating to rudimentary, small-scale road and traffic management works. The assessment covered an area of 800,000 km2. It considered impacts on listed threatened species and ecological communities and on listed migratory species if the works are undertaken in accordance with New South Wales Government Roads and Maritime Services procedures and guidelines for environmental assessment and decision-making. Some essential road and traffic management works undertaken by Roads and Maritime Services now do not require further consideration under the EPBC Act if undertaken in accordance with the approval.

Criterion Estimated number of projects that did not require referral to the Department as these projects are able to be assessed under an approved Strategic Assessment

Result Data/information not available or incompleteThe Department does not collect this information. State and territory governments have responsibility for implementing the endorsed plan, policy or program following a strategic assessment.

Objective: Protect the environment through national approaches to appropriately manage wastes and hazardous substances

5 Location data available is only for offsets that have been secured.

6 Project footprint.

7 This criterion was amended from ‘The extent of habitat for listed species and ecological communities that is (1) maximum impacted area and (2) secured protected area as a result of environmental assessment’ in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2015–16.

Criterion 98 per cent of the population provided with access to TV and computer recycling services8: 50 per cent of total TV and computer waste is recycled nationally in 2015–16 90 per cent of recycled material is recovered for re-use

Result AchievedEarly analysis indicates that industry administrators under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme have met the targets for 2015–16. Data will be available in November 2016.

Criterion Annual imports of ozone depleting substances do not exceed 28 ozone-depleting potential tonnes in 2015

Result AchievedIn 2015, Australia met its obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Our imports of controlled ozone-depleting substances were 25.99 ozone-depleting potential tonnes, compared with our Montreal Protocol limit of 73.17 ozone-depleting potential tonnes. This significant reduction is a result of the long-term agreement with industry to accelerate the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Criterion Collaboration with government, industry and the community through national approaches results in increased recycling and a reduction in the amount of waste and hazardous substances being released into the environment

Result AchievedProgress was made during 2015–16 on a number of national collaborative initiatives.In July 2015, environment ministers agreed to develop a national standard for environmental risk management of industrial chemicals. The aim of the national standard is to protect the environment through better management of industrial chemicals and to provide a nationally consistent, transparent and predictable approach for environmental risk management of industrial chemicals. The national standard is intended to be in full operation in jurisdictions by 2018.Under section 108A of the Product Stewardship Act 2011, the Minister must publish an annual list of classes of products being considered during the next financial year for some form of accreditation or regulation under the Act. Paint, which the former Minister had listed for 2015–16, was removed from the list following the launch of Paint Back—an industry-led recycling scheme funded by a levy on new paint at point of sale. The former Minister’s 2016–17 list of priority products was published in May 2016. It includes plastic microbeads, batteries, photovoltaic systems, electrical and electronic products and plastic oil bottles.Some national collaborative initiatives were delayed due to resource constraints. Industry organisations with established voluntary product stewardship schemes continued to ask the Department to issue a call for voluntary product stewardship accreditation. This is tentatively scheduled for late 2016.The Department has requested state data for the third National Waste Report to enable us to deliver the report by March 2017.

Criterion 250 megalitres of used oil recovered for re-use annually over a three-year average under the Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000

Result AchievedIn 2015–16, 251 ML of used oil was recovered for re-use under the Product Stewardship for Oil Scheme, maintaining an average of 251 ML a year over the past three years (see Table 2.10).

8 This criterion was amended from ‘98 per cent of the population provided with access to TV and computer recycling services: 37 per cent of total TV and computer waste is recycled nationally in 2015–16; 90 per cent of recycled materials derived from recycling recovered for re-use’ in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2015–16.

Table 2.10: Oil recovered for re-use under the Product Stewardship for Oil Scheme

2013–14 2014–15 2015–16Oil recovered (ML) 256 247 251

Analysis against purposeA strategic focus for Australia in the last year to limit illegal trade in species was a global review of technological, logistical and equipment needs to strengthen international implementation of the CITES. This review highlighted the significant challenges faced by many countries in the Oceania region. Trade in CITES-listed species is an important part of the economies of Pacific Island countries. Mechanisms to support sustainable wildlife trade are becoming increasingly critical for the region, particularly as CITES lists more commercially important marine and timber species. Australia worked with the CITES secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to confirm Oceania as the priority region to pilot a new wildlife trade permitting and reporting system. The system has the potential to support legal, well-managed, sustainable international wildlife trade opportunities in the Pacific by improving capacity to implement the convention. Implementation of the project depends on formal commitment of Pacific Island CITES parties to introduce and implement the system and to strengthen links with the CITES secretariat and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

The key initiative for heritage protection was the launching of the Australian Heritage Strategy. To ensure that we are effectively managing Australia’s World, national, Indigenous and Commonwealth heritage, the Department initiated a project to ensure that the Australian Heritage Council is informed about the ongoing condition of the Indigenous, historic and natural heritage values of National Heritage List places and the challenges faced by the communities and managers that care for them. This work seeks to champion the development and implementation of high-quality management plans for all listed places. In the initial stage we have established baseline data on the condition of heritage places to support later stages of the project. This project will strengthen the integrity of Australia’s National Heritage system and ensure that National Heritage places are protected and can be enjoyed by the Australian community.

In terms of environmental regulation, the Department met most of its statutory time frames in the areas of environmental protection and environmental health, and we continue to provide high-quality assessments on matters of national environmental significance and pursue opportunities for improvement and streamlining. We continued to lead the development of frameworks and reforms relating to air, fuels and chemicals. Our compliance and enforcement activities remained of a high standard, playing a very significant part in ensuring that objectives of legislation are met (see Part 5, 'Legislative reporting' for further information).

We continue to invest in our IT systems to improve the capture and analysis of better data. We are working to improve data transparency and access with state and territory governments, which will progressively increase our capacity to report on performance measures.

Case Study – Longer-term export approvals for low-risk fisheries The EPBC Act requires the Australian Government to assess the environmental performance of fisheries and promote ecologically sustainable management for all fisheries that export product from Australia. The Department is responsible for this work.

In 2015, the former Minister agreed to extend the period of export approval of low-risk fisheries from five years to 10 years. Our risk assessment of the 130 fisheries we currently

assess identified that over half pose a low risk to the environment and may be eligible for longer EPBC Act export approvals. Low-risk fisheries are those that have been found to comply with the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries and are likely to continue to do so. These fisheries have well-managed target stocks, robust monitoring of bycatch and negligible or little interaction with protected species. Benefits and outcomes from this decision include:

providing an incentive for other fisheries to move to the same environmental standard, thereby reducing the regulatory burden

allowing jurisdictions to save time and resources.

In 2015–16, we assessed 30 fisheries as being eligible for 10-year export approval through inclusion on the List of Exempt Native Specimens. We assessed an additional 13 fisheries as eligible for either five-year export approval through inclusion on the exempt list or three-year export approval as wildlife trade operations.

Case Study – International Single-Species Action Plan for the Conservation of Eastern Curlew

The eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) is the largest shorebird in the world. Its size (900 g) and very long bill (19 cm) distinguish it from similar species in Australia and the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. It is endemic to the flyway, breeding in Russia, Mongolia and China and migrating as far as New Zealand. Declining numbers at the eastern curlew’s staging and non-breeding sites caused the Australian Government to list the species as critically endangered under the EPBC Act in 2015.

Acknowledging the eastern curlew’s severe decline, the Australian Government initiated the development of an international single-species action plan under the auspices of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership with the support of our bilateral migratory bird agreement partners Japan, China and the Republic of Korea and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. International single-species action plans are an important instrument to promote and coordinate activities that seek to protect and restore habitat and to mitigate obstacles to migration and other controlling factors that might endanger species.

For the past two years, all range states, convention parties, flyway partners, relevant non-government organisations and researchers have been actively engaged in developing the action plan. The plan is designed to outline an internationally agreed list of activities necessary along the flyway to increase understanding of the species's status, halt its decline and support its long-term survival. It addresses key threats at important sites along the flyway, ranging from breeding grounds, stopover (or staging) points and non-breeding sites.

The action plan will provide guidance for range states, convention parties, flyway partners, conservationists, researchers and habitat managers over the next decade while providing a model for further advancing migratory bird conservation throughout the flyway.

Case Study – Phase-out of ozone-depleting substancesSince controls were introduced in 1989, Australia has phased out over 99.8 per cent of its imports and manufacture of ozone-depleting substances. Action taken by Australia and the rest of the world will allow the ozone layer to recover to pre-1980 levels before 2050 if all countries continue to meet their phase-out obligations.

The Australian Government and industry have worked together closely to meet or exceed the phase-out obligations under the Montreal Protocol. Australia reached the second-last reduction point in the phase-out of HCFCs from January 2016, reducing imports to 2.5 ozone-depleting potential tonnes a year. This is four years ahead of our obligations under the

Montreal Protocol and means that we will use 60 per cent less HCFCs than permitted under the protocol.

The accelerated phase-out has been achieved through a close long-term partnership with industry. The Government and industry jointly agreed to an accelerated HCFC phase-out in the early 1990s, with the Government setting the reduction steps and timing and industry deciding how it would achieve the phase-out. This long-term certainty has enabled a smooth transition from HCFCs, avoiding premature equipment retirement, HCFC shortages and price spikes.

The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances in Australia has reduced our annual greenhouse gas emissions from chlorofluorocarbons, HCFCs and hydrofluorocarbons from over 100 million carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes (tCO2-e) in 1989 to less than 12 million tCO2-e in 2015. Better handling and recovery requirements in the refrigeration, air conditioning and fire protection sectors, driven by industry and supported by legislation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by around 28 million tCO2-e between 2004 and 2013.

Case Study – Strategic assessmentsStrategic assessments are landscape-scale assessments that consider a much broader set of actions and issues than project-by-project assessments. They are designed to be flexible, and they provide opportunities to reach negotiated outcomes and remove duplication while maintaining standards. They have greater potential to deal with cumulative impacts and to integrate both conservation and planning outcomes.

BHP Billiton Pilbara strategic assessment

The BHP Billiton strategic assessment, covering an area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is assessing the cumulative impacts of landscape-scale iron ore mining by BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd.

The Department has been working closely with BHP Billiton for the past 12 months to ensure that the strategic assessment delivers substantial and demonstrable environmental outcomes and that the underlying documentation and commitments provide certainty that the outcomes can be attained over the life of the approval. In 2016–17, we will continue to work with BHP Billiton to finalise the strategic assessment for submission to the Minister for consideration.

Perth and Peel regions strategic assessment

The Perth and Peel strategic assessment is assessing the Western Australian Government’s regional development plans across the Perth and Peel regions. It aims to accommodate predicted population growth from 2 million to 3.5 million over the next 30 years. The assessment covers an area of 8210 km2.

The Department is working with the state government to support consultation on the plan and set clear environmental outcomes. In 2016–17, we will continue to work with Western Australia to finalise the strategic assessment for submission to the Minister for consideration.