As well as being important components of biodiversity in their own right, plants reflect the physical environment, are the primary target of many of the pressures acting on rangelands, and are relatively amenable to measurement. Hence, measurements based on plants have considerable potential to be efficient indicators of the response of rangeland biodiversity to land use. A recent report commissioned by the National Land and Water Resources Audit recommended a core set of 11 indicators, six of which relied on measurements of plants. These were trends in (i) the extent of clearing; (ii) the cover of native perennial ground-layer vegetation; (iii) the distribution and abundance of exotic plant species; (iv) the distribution and abundance of fire-sensitive species; (v) the distribution and abundance of grazing-sensitive species; and (vi) the distribution and abundance of listed threatened entities. Most indicated responses of plants to pressures acting on them. Only two (clearing and exotic plants) related to pressures. We recommend that the set be expanded to include two additional pressure indicators, one for grazing and another for fire, in recognition of their extent and potential influence on rangeland biodiversity. We also recommend that benchmark sites be included in all ground-based monitoring programmes to provide reference standards for those biotic indicators about which little is known. Assessments of the current state of knowledge about these indicators for two case-study regions, the Gascoyne–Murchison strategy area and Cape York Peninsula, have shown that it would be possible to monitor most of them directly at regional scales, but that current monitoring programmes fall short of achieving this.

Monitoring rangeland biodiversity: Plants as indicators

This thesis examines the regulation of private native forestry in two Australian jurisdictions: NSW and Tasmania. Private forests have long been the forgotten forests a neglected aspect of forest policy in Australia. Appropriate supervision of private native forestry (PNF) is important because private forests are home to much threatened biodiversity, and as they make up a significant proportion of the total area of native forests in NSW. PNF also makes a substantial contribution to total timber production in NSW. Research was conducted into the administration of environmental laws applying to PNF in NSW between 1997-2002 in order to assess the regulatory framework and to discern patterns of administrative behaviour. The thesis asked “Were NSW environmental laws applying to PNF effectively implemented and enforced?” The hypothesis that much PNF in NSW is “under-regulated” in practice was explored. To examine these questions, a thorough review of all relevant legislative provisions and case law was conducted. The Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 and the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and their implementation in relation to PNF were examined in particular. Defects in the legislative framework applying during the study period were revealed. The applicable law was found to be complex, and highly fragmented, with responsibility spread across many agencies. Over 100 interviews with agency staff at head office and regional offices were undertaken. Other information was obtained from internal documents and through requests under the Freedom of Information Act. The broader context was addressed by reviewing theoretical literature in environmental law, with an emphasis on the regulatory theory literature. Some regulatory failures stemmed from inadequate implementation of the legislation. It was found that PNF was infrequently regulated under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act, primarily due to a problematic exemption for specified types of PNF. In the North Coast and Hunter regions the exemption was claimed by 100% of PNF operations (on land tenures where it was available). PNF was found to be infrequently regulated by local government under Local Environment Plans (64.5% of 107 local governments did not regulate PNF in the main rural zone). The safety net mechanism of licensing under the Threatened Species Conservation Act was infrequently applied with only five licences granted for PNF. Regarding law enforcement, a low level of prosecution activity was found to have taken place. The findings support the proposition that in practice NSW law was inadequate to ensure ecologically sustainable forest management, due to the poorly designed and integrated statutory framework. They also provide some evidence to support the proposition that the applicable laws were generally implemented with a light touch, generally expressing a laissez faire approach to PNF in most regions (with some exceptions). These findings suggest there is a pressing need for reform of the regulatory framework in NSW, if standards of ESFM are to be achieved. Thus any future exemptions must be of narrow application. Further, a more pro-active approach to ensuring compliance with legislative requirements is necessary. While the results suggest regulatory failure, they do not constitute grounds for wholesale replacement of regulation with other mechanisms such as self-regulation and incentives payments. Issues of compliance and enforcement as well as adequacy of funding are crucial to choices of policy instrument for biodiversity conservation on private land.

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The forgotten forests : the environmental regulation of forestry on private land in New South Wales between 1997 and 2002

Editorial: A way forward, yes; a Blueprint for a living continent, no: a critical look at the Wentworth group's report of November 2002

Vision statements and key action statements are primary and useful tools for threatened species recovery and threat abatement. In this chapter I provide a view of the necessary vision and key action statements. Listing a species or biological entity through threatened species legislation may or may not lead to its recovery, and this factor should be carefully taken into account in the process of funding natural resource management actions. Recent experience in NSW (1995 -2003) has provided examples of the application of a comprehensive Threatened Species Conservation Act, and its effect on biodiversity management. Some recovery plans have been written, but few actions have been resourced or delivered positive outcomes for the target taxa. Examples where recovery actions have been successful, apparently failed, or are still in question are discussed. Some required elements for successful recovery action and threat abatement are set out (scientific analyses of the environment, monitoring, transparency, community ownership, redundancy, exit strategy). Clearly, it would be better if more actions were resourced and improved conservation outcomes were delivered. A synthesis of current planning processes (2004) required by legislation, which produces fewer plans, processes and meetings, and more measurable conservation outcomes is a simple way forward. This can be done by using a hierarchical process to restore ecosystems, using fundamental and generally available knowledge and techniques.

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Threatened species legislation and threatened species recovery: does the former lead to the latter?

Wildlife conservation beyond the parks: the Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria

IT is the year 2020. Farmers have broken the record for the number of threatened species recorded on private property in a single year. Five species of woodland bird are removed from threatened species lists. The area of private land managed for biodiversity now exceeds the area of public land managed for biodiversity. Farm income from biodiversity is greater than wheat. The Biodiversity Growers Association calls for the environment levy on Australian taxpayers to be increased. Drought relief payments are at an all time low. Retiring head of government conservation agency described as "visionary" by farmers' representatives.

S. V Briggs

Papers

Are economic instruments the saviour for biodiversity on private land