The document summarizes the history and current state of protected areas in Australia. It discusses the definition of protected areas and the rationale for establishing them to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. It outlines the development of Australia's national reserve system since the 1980s in response to international agreements. Key challenges addressed include engaging indigenous groups and private landowners as well as establishing marine protected areas. The future of the system is uncertain given lack of government funding and collaboration, but new partnerships may help expand protected areas to address climate change.

1. PROTECTED
AREAS
CARING FOR COUNTRY
DATE: 30 AUGUST 2021
EVENT: ANU ENVS3039/6024
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

2.  What are Protected Areas –
Current definition
 Rationale & History of the
protected area movement
 The Australian Case Study
 History – politics,
methodology, targets
 Addressing Dilemmas
(Indigenous, marine and
private land)
 Current progress
 The future
OUTLINE

3. WHATAREPROTECTEDAREAS-
DEFINITION
A protected area is a clearly defined geographic area,
recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or
other effective means, to achieve the long-term
conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services
and cultural values (IUCN 2008)

4. RATIONALE
 Protected and conserved areas are the
foundation of biodiversity conservation.
 They safeguard nature and cultural
resources, improve livelihood and drive
sustainable development
 Clean Water
 Food Security
 Health and wellbeing
 Ecosystem stability

5. HISTORYOFNATIONAL
PARKCREATION
 YellowstoneNationalPark 1872 – for scenic beauty andpleasure
 Royal NationalPark New SouthWales 1879 – for healthyrecreationaway
fromSydney
 Growth ofprotectedareasacceleratedglobally inthemidtolate20th
Century overconcerns with:
 Destruction of habitat(deliberateandinadvertent)
 Loss ofbiodiversity
 Diminishing ecosystem services
 Climatechange
 Desecrationofcultural heritageandIndigenous rights
 Mentalhealthandwell being
 Loss ofamenity

6. IUCNProtectedArea
ManagementCategories
• Adoptedworldwide
• ClassifiesProtectedAreasfrom:
• Strictprotection–notake(Ia
• Ecosystemscaleandnatural
andother(IIand III)
• Habitatorsinglespeciesscale
• Mosaicsofdifferent
• Extensive–multipleusesand
Intensity
of
management

7. CONVENTIONON
BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY–1992
 Australia signed up in 1992 (Rio)
and committed to establishing a
Comprehensive Adequate and
Representative system of protected
areas – called – the National
Reserve System
 Australian Government began
working with all States and
Territories to adopt a national
approach

8. PROTECTEDAREASINAUSTRALIA
ACASESTUDY

9. ABACKGROUNDNOTE–
UNDERSTANDINGTHESYSTEM?
 AllAustralianjurisdictions have their ownpublicreserve
legislationandprotected area system (NationalParks, Nature
Reserves, Conservation areas etc andmarine protected areas)
 Terrestrially, the Australian Government onlyhas
responsibilities forKakadu (NT),Uluru(NT) Booderee (ACT
Jervis Bay Territory) andthe AustralianNationalBotanic
Gardens (ACT)
 Marine–the AustralianGovernment hasresponsibilities for
offshoremarineprotected areas (beyond 3nauticalmilesto
the 200nmlimitofAustralia’s ExclusiveEconomicZone.
 Non-Government–weshalldiscuss later

10. 1980–1990ADHOCANDNONATIONAL
COORDINATION
AustralianNationalParksandWildlifeService(ANPWS)leadershipbegantoinfluenceStatesand
Territoriesthroughannualseed-fundingforthecoordinationofstandards,guidelinesandtargeted
nationalprioritiesandreporting
Examplesofachievements
• All jurisdictions ceased reporting progress in
growth of reserve estate using total area of
reserves divided by area of their jurisdiction
• Developing an agreed list
of national ecosystem types
i.e. reservation targets and priorities
• Developing and adopting a national
classification of parks and reserves
• Monitoring and reporting growth in reserve
estate using % area of ecosystems types
within the reserve estate of each
• Developing agreed lists/maps of ecosystem
types - the National Index of Ecosystems
(natural and extant)
AustralianGovernment-promotingideasof:
• All jurisdictions began to discuss the benefits
of developing and adopting national concept
s,
standards, guidelines targets and priorities

11. 1990–2000NATIONALCOORDINATIONINOPERATION
• Effectictive partnership between the Australian Government & States and Territories supported by
annual $:
• standards, guidelines and targeted national priorities and reporting
• Adoption of 10% representation of ecosystems
in reserve estate
• Coordinated lists of ecosystem types reservation
targets and priorities
• International classification of parks and
reserves (IUCN I-VI)
• Monitoring and reporting growth in reserve
estate using % representation of ecosystems
in reserve estate
• Agreed maps of ecosystem types (natural
and extant) e.g. bioregions, vegetation types
Alljurisdictionsbegandevelopingandsharing
• Recognition of the importance of engaging
private and indigenous land managers in the
NRS
• Adoption of the comprehensive, adequate
and representative criteria to fill gaps, set
targets and monitor progress in the NRS
Examplesofachievements
• Adoption of the bioregional framework to
prioritize reserve acquisitions (terrestrial and
marine)

12. 1995 IBRA - NRS
1970s
1998 IMCRA - NRSMPA
EvolutionofdataandinformationintheNRS(Anationalperspective)
CSIRO Land Research Series
1990s
1992 1995
THE CONCEPT OF
REPRESENTATIVENESS IN
CONSERVATION
EVALUATION WITH
PARTICULAR RELEVANCE
TO AUSTRALIA
1980s

13. BIOREGIONS WERE AND ARE USED FOR MANY PURPOSES

14. ENABLERSUNDERPINNINGTHENRS
BETWEEN1980S-2000
 Commonwealth support of national technical coordinating working groups
 Commonwealth NRS program funding
 Harmonious political relationships between the AG and States and Territories
 Adoption of cooperative agreements between the AG and States and
Territories (Forests, ANZLIC metadata)
 Growing acceptance of public /private partnerships in biodiversity
conservation
 Growing national awareness of the role of indigenous peoples in them
keeping their country
 Development and adoption of digital data, systematic reserve selection
algorithms, GIS, geospatial databases and the Internet
 Acknowledgement of the State and Territory responsibilities in managing the
reserve estate

15. THEAUSTRALIANDILEMMAS
INDIGENOUSOWNEDLAND&SEA
OFFSHOREMARINE
PRIVATELAND
NGO’S

16. INDIGENOUS
‘Education goes both ways. National Parks staff may have been
staff may have been educating us to become rangers, but we were
rangers, but we were educating them about country. It was a
country. It was a two-way process’
Tom Trevorrow – Ngarrindjeri man -
Coorong SA

17. INDIGENOUS
Joint management – mixed success
Cooperative management
- contracting services
- ranger trainees
- incentive programs
Indigenous protected areas
- NRS – solutions on indigenous own land
- IPA declaration – included in
NRS accounting
- Land and Sea declarations
- Multi-tenure IPAs

18. INDIGENOUSPROTECTED
AREAS
 Areaoflandandorseavoluntarilydeclaredby
traditionalowners
 ManagedbyIndigenoustraditionalownersaspera
managementplan
 ConsistentwithIUCNprotectedareaguidelines
 Funding–governmentandotherpublicandprivate
sources

19. FOURSTAGESFORTHE
ESTABLISHMENTOFIPAS
1. Community consultations
over potential IPA declaration
2. The development of a Plan of
Management
3. IPA declaration
4. On ground works in
accordance with the Plan of
Management

20. 31
35
29
30
20
11
9
15
1
16
2
3
19
18
12
14
6
26
27
25
4
28
32
33
21
61
34
36
39
75
40
41
A
B
7
8
44
45
46
48
22
38
A
10
50
49
D
76
47
54
A
52
53
56
74
73
13
60
58
57
62
65
63
64
55
66
23
24
68
68
69
37
43
17
51
67
70
71
72
42
59
B
77
78
C
A
5
A
E
C
B
A
E
D
Hay
Roma
Moree
Umuwa
Derby
Perth
Sydney
Hobart
Mackay
Cairns
Darwin
Ceduna
Broome
Albany
Mildura
Emerald
Yuendumu
Canberra
Portland
Brisbane
Lajamanu
Adelaide
Melbourne
Devonport
Kowanyama
Burketown
Mount Isa
Mutitjulu
Katherine
Kununurra
Warburton
Esperance
Geraldton
Brewarrina
Townsville
Cunnamulla
Broken Hill
Leigh Creek
Coober Pedy
Kiwirrkurra
Docker River
Port Hedland
Alice Springs
Lockhart River
Mulan
0 500 1,000
250
Indigenous Protected Areas September 2020
1 Nantawarrina
2 Preminghana
3 Risdon Cove
4 Putalina
5 Deen Maar
6 Yalata
7 Watarru
8 Walalkara
9 Mount Chappell Island
10 Badger Island
11 Guanaba
12 Warul Kawa Island
13 Dhimurru
14 Wattleridge
15 Mount Willoughby
16 Paruku
17 Ngaanyatjarra
18 Tyrendarra
19 Toogimbie
20 Anindilyakwa
21 Laynhapuy
22 Ninghan
23 Northern Tanami
24 Warlu Jilajaa Jumu
25 Kaanju Ngaachi
x Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers
26 Babel Island
27 Great Dog Island
28 lungatalanana
29 Pulu Islet
30 Tarriwa Kurrukun
31 Angas Downs
32 Warddeken
33 Djelk
34 Jamba Dhandan Duringala
35 Kurtonitj
36 Framlingham Forest
37 Kalka - Pipalyatjara
38 Boorabee and The Willows
39 Lake Condah
40 Marri-Jabin (Thamurrurr)
41 Brewarrina Ngemba Billabong
42 Uunguu
43 Apara - Makiri - Punti
44 Antara - Sandy Bore
45 Dorodong
67 Kiwirrkurra
68 Nyangumarta Warrarn
69 Matuwa Kurrara-Kurrara
70 Katiti Petermann
71 Ganalanga-Mindibirrina
72 Wardang Island
73 Marthakal
74 South-East Arnhem Land
75 Yawuru
76 Mawonga
77 Ngururrpa
78 Ngadju
Dedicated Indigenous
Protected Areas
Indigenous Protected
Area Consultation Projects
W A
A Jilakurru, Kaalpi and Western Desert Lakes
B Spinifex Pilki
Q L D
A Wuthathi Shelburne Bay
B Wik, Wik Way and Kugu
C Olkola
D Talaroo
E Mamu
N S W
A Werai Forest (CM)
V IC
A Wurdi Youang
N T
A Crocodile Islands Maringa
B Arafura Swamp
C Mimal
D Tiwi Islands
E Haasts Bluff
Data Sources:
Indigenous Protected Areas
© Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Agriculture, Water
and the Environment, 2020.
Localities:
© Commonwealth of Australia , Geoscience Australia, 2006.
Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database - CAPAD
2018:
© Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Agriculture, Water
and the Environment, 2020.
Australian Land Tenure 1993:
© Commonwealth of Australia , Geoscience Australia, 1993
State and Territory Borders:
© Commonwealth of Australia, Geoscience Australia, 2004.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of
the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian
Government or the Minister for the Environment.
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the
contents of this publication are factually correct, the
Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss
or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through
the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
Map produced by:
Environmental Resource Information Network (ERIN), 28/09/2020
© Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Agriculture, Water
and the Environment, 2020.
Albers Equal Area projection on the GDA94 Datum.
46 Weilmoringle
47 Yanyuwa (Barni - Wardimantha Awara)
48 Minyumai
49 Gumma
50 Mandingalbay Yidinji
51 Southern Tanami
52 Angkum
53 Ngunya Jargoon
54 Birriliburu
55 Eastern Kuku Yalanji
56 Bardi Jawi
57 Girringun
58 Wilinggin
59 Dambimangari
60 Balanggarra
61 Thuwathu/Bujimulla
62 Yappala
63 Wardaman
64 Karajarri
65 Nijinda Durlga
66 Warraberalgal and
x Porumalgal
Other protected areas
Aboriginal lands
SA
A Maralinga Tjarutja Lands

21. MARINE PROTECTED
AREAS
 Australia’s Marine jurisdiction – 11
million square km of ocean
 Range of habitats from tropical to
sub-Antarctic
 State MPAs and Fisheries marine
protected areas out to 3 nautical
miles
 Great Barrier Reef MPA (joint
Commonwealth/State)
 Commonwealth MPAs (3nm out to
200nm)

23. CHALLENGESFOR
MPADEVELOPMENT
 Scientific criteria – especially in
remote areas
 Stakeholder issues
 competing interests
 Different jurisdictional
approaches
 Monitoring and management

24. Marine Bioregionalisation and the NRSMPA

25. PRIVATELAND
 NRSandprivateland–
achieving targetswith the
support of privatelandowners
 pastoralleases,freeholdtitle.
 Solutions–NGOsandprivate
landholders

26. PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION – NATIONAL
COORDINATION
 National Coordination: - Australian Land Conservation Alliance
 State based covenanting organisations
 Bush Heritage Australia
 Australian Wildlife Conservancy
 Foundations and Trusts
 The Nature Conservancy
 Pew Charitable Foundation

27. PRIVATELAND
COVENANTING
 AustralianLandConservationAlliance
 Statebasedcovenantingorganisations
 Statutoryauthorities–legallybinding
covenantsonprivatelandorleasehold
Table–fromFitzsimons, J.A.PrivateprotectedareasinAustralia:
currentstatusandfuturedirections,Nature Conservation 10:1-23
(2015),p6.

28. PRIVATE LAND
CHALLENGES
 Pastoral Lease Acts – Binding responsibilities on Leaseholders
 Tenure – Covenanting – short term, attached to the title, intersection with
mining legislation
 Funding and support – landowner, government, land trusts, philanthropic
 Incentives – taxes, grants, green marketing
 Targeting NRS priorities – not all private conservation outcomes contribute
to the NRS

29. GovernanceofProtectedAreas
Asof2021-approx
IndigenousProtectedAreas: 50%
PublicReserves: 40%
JointProtectedAreas: 6%
PrivateProtectedAreas: 4%
MarineProtectedAreas: 37%ofourocean
AreacoveredbyProtectedAreas2021:
• Terrestrial:approx.152millionhectares
• Marine:approx.330millionhectares

30. NRS STRATEGY 30
YEAR VISION
Themes
• International and National Context
• Design and Selection
• Establishment
• Planning and Management
• Science, Knowledge Management, Monitoring and
Performance Reporting
• Strengthened Partnerships and Community Support

31. THREE BIG ISSUES
1. Climate change mitigation
2. Addressing the diminishing
government support for the
Public Reserve System
3. Support for the growth of
Indigenous and private
protected areas

32. CONCLUSION
 THEN: Big challenge to achieve a national approach to NRS
 Whole of government collaboration and ownership of a united
vision
 Excellent and visionary national framework - 30 year NRS strategy
 NOW: Action stalled and thwarted by politics
 mistrust between the states
 loss of united vision and and little collaboration of vision
 poor attempt: Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019-2030
 FUTURE – New partnerships
 NGO, Private and Indigenous solutions
 Partnerships between private and public
 Climate Change mitigation – the elephant in the room

33. REFERENCES AND LINKS
CONTACTS: peter.taylor@anu.edu.au and Richard.thackway@anu.edu.au
Precursor to NRS & Pre IBRA
 Thackway, R. and Cresswell, I. D. (1992). Environmental regionalisations of Australia - A user-oriented approach.
Environmental Resources Information Network, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.
NRS & IBRA
 Thackway, R. and Cresswell, I. D. (Eds). (1995). An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia: A framework for
setting priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program, Version 4.0, 31 March 1995. Australian Nature
Conservation Agency, Canberra
 Thackway, R., Szabo, S., and Smyth, D. (1997). Indigenous protected areas: new opportunities for the conservation of
biodiversity. Chapter 12 In P. Hale and D. Lamb (Eds), Proceedings of the conference on Conservation Outside of
Nature Reserves Centre for Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane. Pp 62-73.
 Australia's bioregions (IBRA)

34. NRSMPA&IMCRA
 Thackway, R. and Cresswell, I. D. (1995). Development of a terrestrial biogeographic
regionalisation for Australia. In J. Muldoon (Ed), Proceedings of the conference on Towards a
Marine Regionalisation for Australia. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
 Thackway, R. and Cresswell, I. D. (eds) and Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for
Australia (IMCRA) Technical Group (1998). Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for
Australia: an ecosystem-based classification for marine and coastal environments, Version 3.3.
Environment Australia, Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Australian and
New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council, Canberra
 Marine Protected Areas Working Group (2007). Progress in implementing the National
Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). Final Version 040407 20 Nov 07.

35. NRS, IPAS PRIVATE LAND, MARINE & IUCN
 Strategy for Australia’s National Reserve System 2009-2030:
https://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/publications/strategy-national-reserve-
system#:~:text=Strategy%20for%20Australia%27s%20National%20Reserve%20System%202009-2030%20(PDF%20-
%207.49%20MB)
 Indigenous Protected Areas: Dept Agriculture, Water and Environment:
https://www.environment.gov.au/land/indigenous-protected-areas
 Indigenous Protected Areas: National Indigenous Australian’s Agency: https://www.niaa.gov.au/indigenous-
affairs/environment/indigenous-protected-areas-ipas
 Australian Land Conservation Alliance: https://alca.org.au/
 International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – protected area theme:
https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas
 Australian Marine Parks: https://parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/management/resources/scientific-
publications/australias-marine-protected-areas-protecting-our-coasts-and-oceans/

36. OTHER PAPERS
 Taylor, P., (2015), ‘Valuing People in the Landscape: Re-thinking Conservation Approaches,’ in Science and
Stewardship to Protect and Sustain Wilderness Values: Tenth World Wilderness Congress Symposium 2013,
Salamanca Spain, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Proceedings RMRS-P-74, pp 187-194.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1xue5wimouls9jw/Wild10-PT-page187.pdf?dl=0
 Taylor, P., (2012), ‘Daunting problems, exciting prospects – a personal reflection’, in, Innovation for 21st Century
Conservation, ed Figgis, P., Fitzsimons, J., and Irving, J., IUCN National Committee Australia, pp24-29.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9sk6vdm4om032e/cons-gen-innovation-for-21st-publication.pdf?dl=0