NSW plan for nature puts biodiversity protections, and landholder support front and centre
The NSW Government has today released its response to the statutory reviews of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the native vegetation provisions of the Local Land Services Act 2013. The response signals a shift in the way the state fulfills its responsibilities to protect the environment and manage native vegetation across the state, now and into the future.
The plan will deliver on three key election commitments in this term of government: to reform the biodiversity offsets scheme, to end excess land clearing and strengthen environmental protections.
It also outlines the legislative, policy and program directions the NSW Government will take to respond to the statutory reviews and deliver on its commitments.
The response:
- recognises a change in approach is needed to set nature on a path to recovery
- acknowledges the intrinsic relationship between biodiversity and Aboriginal culture and recognises the social, economic and environmental benefits that flow from caring for Country as well as the broader interests' Aboriginal people have in biodiversity and land management issues
- sets out short, medium and long-term priority actions to improve biodiversity protections and land management practices
- sets the direction to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and support environmental repair and regeneration
- introduce a NSW Nature Strategy to guide actions to protect, restore and enhance ecosystems and landscapes
- recognises the strong connection farmers and landholders have with their land and the key role they play in managing and enhancing native vegetation and natural assets
- outlines NSW Government support for landholders to access emerging natural capital markets, incentivising them to undertake sustainable farming practices while protecting and restoring their environmental assets.
Amendments to the Biodiversity Conservation Act will also require the biodiversity offsets scheme to transition to overall 'net positive' outcomes, and upfront consideration of biodiversity will be strengthened in planning and development processes. To support ongoing improvements to native vegetation management on private land, the NSW Government will strengthen prescriptions in the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code and implement a new monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.
The NSW Government is committed to working with the community to design and deliver the wide range of initiatives outlined in the response to ensure natural resources are managed in the social, economic and environmental interests of the state.
The full response is available at NSW plan for nature
Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:
"We cannot ignore the truth: biodiversity in NSW is in crisis. Our goal must be to leave nature better off than we have found it.
"The independent review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act showed we need to take a number of reform measures not just to protect the biodiversity we have now, but to build on this baseline and do better. Our response to this review is that we are ready to take on that challenge.
"It's clear we need new approaches, and that additional effort must be directed into proactive landscape-scale biodiversity protection, restoration, and management. We must go beyond the aim of halting loss to one of achieving overall ecosystem gains.
"The response sets out our immediate priorities and directions, but this is the start of concerted action, reform, investment."
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
"The NSW Government is committed to improving the management of native vegetation on private rural land and supporting landholders to improve environmental outcomes and access emerging natural capital markets.
"While the statutory LLS review found the objectives of the native vegetation provisions are valid, it also showed us there are actions we can take to improve native vegetation management on private land.
"To support further improvements to native vegetation management on private land, there will be an independent review by the Natural Resources Commission commencing in 2025, to provide Government with advice and options to further protect and restore biodiversity in regional landscapes and enhance value and support for landholders.
"Importantly, we will be working with farmers to deliver the actions outlined in this response to ensure we better protect native vegetation and promote sustainable agricultural production."
Farmers or landholders who have questions about native vegetation management can contact their closest Local Land Services office.