Download PROTECTING VICTORIA`S ENVIRONMENT – BIODIVERSITY 2036

PROTECTING VICTORIA’S
ENVIRONMENT –
BIODIVERSITY 2036
Supporting Technical Supplement
ISBN 978-1-76047-103-3 (pdf/online)
This document is a supplement
to the draft biodiversity plan,
Protecting Victoria’s Environment
– Biodiversity 2036.
The draft plan contains a number of factual statements,
but does not include a list of detailed references. This
document provides sources, references and further
reading for facts and case studies stated in each
chapter of the draft plan. It matches text from the draft
plan with a selection of relevant material from a range
of sources, including peer-reviewed scientific literature,
government reports, technical reports, websites and
anecdotal evidence. It does not attempt to present an
exhaustive list, but enough relevant and reliable material
to support the statements in the draft plan.
Front cover photo: Growling Grass Frog, DELWP
1
1
INTRODUCTION
p5
paragraph 3
In recent decades, as we have become more conscious of the importance of biodiversity, the rate of clearing of
terrestrial native vegetation has slowed. Yet, despite our efforts to look after what we have, many indigenous plant and
animal species in Victoria remain under threat from the cumulative actions of humans.
Source
•
Department
of Sustainability and Environment (2008) Native Vegetation Net Gain Accounting first approximation
report. State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne.
ttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/97347/Net_Gain_Accounting_-_First_Approximation_
h
Report.pdf
•
Victorian
Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009) Advisory List of Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in
Victoria – 2009. State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria.
•
Department
of Environment and Primary Industries (2013) Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna – 2013.
Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria, East Melbourne, Victoria.
•
Department
of Environment and Primary Industries (2014) Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria –
2014. Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria, East Melbourne, Victoria.
h
ttp://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/threatened-species-and-communities/threatened-speciesadvisory-lists
What is biodiversity?
p 5 box
Biodiversity encompasses all the components of the living world: the numbers and variety of plants, animals and other
living things, including micro-organisms, across our land, rivers, coast and ocean. It includes the diversity of their
genetic information, the habitats and ecosystems within which they live, and their connections with other life forms and
the natural world.
Source
•
Swingland, I.R. (2001) Definition of biodiversity. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, 1, pp.377-391.
•
Morton,
S. and Hill, R. (2014) What is biodiversity, and why is it important? In: Morton, S., Lonsdale, M. and
Sheppard, A. eds., (2014) Biodiversity: Science and Solutions for Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
Making the case for biodiversity
p7
paragraph 1
We take pride in our unique flora and fauna. We value things that are important to our personal or social identity, such
as iconic species or sites of historical or cultural significance. We identify with landscapes and the plants and animals
they contain, such as the Dandenongs, the Grampians, Port Phillip Bay, Red Gum plains, the Murray River, our coasts
and the High Country.
Source
•ABS (2013) Measures of Australia’s Progress, 2013. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/1370.0main+features132013
p7
paragraph 2
Traditional Owners attach great cultural significance to the plants, animals and medicines that feature in their
Dreamtime and creation stories. Many of life’s principles and lessons have been transmitted across generations
through stories, songs and dances about significant species and their living cultural landscapes. It is a basic human
right for Traditional Owners to practice their culture, which relies on good management of our biodiversity.
Source
•
Walsh,
F., Christophersen, P. and McGregor, S. (2014) Indigenous perspectives on biodiversity. In: Morton, S.,
Lonsdale, M. and Sheppard, A. eds., Biodiversity: Science and Solutions for Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
•
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Victoria).
2
p7
paragraph 4
There is much evidence to show that time spent in natural spaces is linked to positive long-term health outcomes.
These outcomes include hastening recovery from surgery, lowering blood pressure, strengthening the immune system,
reducing stress levels, mitigating the symptoms of hyperactivity disorder, and helping to mitigate disease.
Source
•SCBD and WHO (2015) Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health: a state of knowledge review.
Report prepared by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Health Organization.
•Maller, C., Townsend, M., St Leger, L., Henderson-Wilson, C., Pryor, A., Prosser, L. and Moore, M. (2008) Healthy
Parks Healthy People. The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context: A review of relevant literature
2nd edition School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural
Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood.
•Kuo, M. (2015) How might contact with nature promote human health? Promising mechanisms and a possible
central pathway. Frontiers in Psychology 6: 1093.
•Bowler, D.E., Buyung-Ali, L.M., Knight, T.M. and Pullin, A.S. (2010) A systematic review of evidence for the added
benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health 10 (1): 456-66.
•Sandifer, P.A., Sutton-Grier, A.E. and Ward, B.P., (2015) Exploring connections among nature, biodiversity,
ecosystem services, and human health and well-being: Opportunities to enhance health and biodiversity
conservation. Ecosystem Services 12: 1-15.
p7
paragraph 5
Playing in natural environments is essential to our children’s development. Numerous studies have demonstrated the
importance of nature play for development of core skills, including observation, problem-solving, reasoning, creativity
and imagination, along with emotional and intellectual development and the acquisition of gross motor skills, such as
agility, coordination, and balance.
Source
•Ernst, J. and Monroe, M. (2004) The effect of environment-based education on students’ critical thinking skills and
disposition toward critical thinking. Environmental Education Research 10(4): 507–522.
•Gill, T. (2014) The benefits of children’s engagement with nature: A systematic literature review. Children Youth and
Environments 24(2): 10-34.
p 7 box
Scientists believe that phytoplankton (single-celled marine plants) contribute between 50 to 85 percent of the oxygen in
the earth’s atmosphere.
Source
•Earthsky Communications Inc. (2015) How much do oceans add to world’s oxygen?
http://earthsky.org/earth/how-much-do-oceans-add-to-worlds-oxygen
•Earth’s Most Important Creatures (2015)
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150608-what-plankton-have-done-for-us
•Source of Half Earth’s Oxygen Gets Little Credit (2004)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0607_040607_phytoplankton.html
p8
paragraph 1
The beauty and function of our ecosystems and our unique plants and animals underpin the billions of dollars that
tourism contributes to Victoria’s economy. In 2013-14, tourism was worth an estimated $20.6 billion to the economy,
and employed approximately 206,000 people, many of them in regional areas.
Evidence
source
•Tourism Victoria (2014) Economic Contribution of Tourism to Victoria 2013-14. Tourism Victoria Factsheet.
p8
paragraph 1
Nature-based tourism visitors represented 70 per cent of all international overnight visitors to the state in 2013-14,
and approximately 4.3 million day trips were undertaken to and within Victoria by domestic nature-based visitors in the
same period.
Source
•Tourism Victoria (2014) Nature-based Tourism: Market Profile Year Ending June 2014.
http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/research/economic-significance.html
http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/research/domestic-and-regional-research/product-segment-market-profiles.html
3
p8
paragraph 1
In 2012 it was estimated that the Little Penguins at Phillip Island contributed $125 million to the Victorian economy,
with half of that spent in the Bass Coast area.
Source
•Phillip Island Nature Parks (2012) Strategic Plan 2012-2017.
http://www.penguins.org.au/assets/About/PDF-Local-Community/Strategic-Plan-2012-17sm.pdf
p8
paragraph 1
Aboriginal cultural tourism is also expanding to meet the growing international demand for Aboriginal cultural
experiences and products.
Source
•Tourism Victoria (2014) Aboriginal Tourism: Market Profile Year Ending June 2014.
http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/research/domestic-and-regional-research/product-segment-market-profiles.html
p8
paragraph 2
Vegetation, soils, rivers and wetland habitats can play major roles in slowing run-off from catchments to reduce floods.
Coastal habitats can be managed to help address the effects of rising sea level and increased storm surges. In towns
and cities, we can use trees and shrubs around buildings and in public open spaces to provide shade and shelter, thus
reducing energy demands for cooling and insulation.
Source
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2013) Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Department of
Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
• Nature’s role in climate change.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/info/pubs/docs/climate_change/en.pdf
•United Nations Environment Programme (2010) The Role of Ecosystems in Developing a Sustainable ‘Green
Economy’. UNEP Policy Series. Ecosystem Management Policy Brief 2. United Nations Environment Programme.
http://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/Portals/7/Documents/policy%20series%202%20-%20small.pdf
p 8 box
Victoria’s coastal waters are part of The Great Southern Reef. The reef spans more than 71,000 square kilometres as
a network of small reefs and marine habitats that have been identified as a ‘biodiversity hot-spot’. The reef supports
many fisheries and tourism attractions that contribute billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year.
Source
•Bennett, S., Wernberg, T., Connell, S.D., Hobday, A.J., Johnson, C.R. and Poloczanska, E.S. (2015) The ‘Great
Southern Reef’: social, ecological and economic value of Australia’s neglected kelp forests. Marine and Freshwater
Research 67: 47–56.
p 8 box
Ecosystem services is a term that defines the important benefits that flow to humans from a healthy ecosystem. In the
absence of those services our society would suffer.
For example, healthy biodiversity in water catchments saves us from having to treat water for consumption or use
bottled water. Mangroves and seagrass meadows are the nursery for many of our native fish, including those targeted
by fishers. The tall wet eucalypt forests of our catchments provide the health benefits of purified air and water at a
regional scale, but also make a global contribution to limiting climate change by storing carbon.
Source
•Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005.
http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf
•The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2014) Blueprint for a Healthy Environment and a Productive
Economy.
4
Our “Natural Capital’
p9
paragraph 3
Biodiversity is a crucial component of natural capital. Victoria’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors, which directly
rely for their existence on natural capital, contribute around $8 billion, or 2.8 per cent, to annual Gross State Product.
Other sectors that may also draw heavily on our natural capital more indirectly include financial and insurance services,
health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food services.
Source
•The Future Economy Group (2014) Bringing Victoria’s Economy into the 21st Century: Building Prosperity for
Victoria’s Economy, Employment and Environment, Melbourne, June 2014.
http://environmentvictoria.org.au/newsite/sites/default/files/useruploads/The%20Future%20Economy%20
Report%20WEB.pdf
p 10 box
Valuation of benefits from parks
Tourism: $1.4 billion in spending per year is associated with visits by tourists to parks in Victoria. This generates $1
billion gross value added to the state economy and 14,000 jobs.
Health benefits: It is estimated that visits to parks save Victoria between $80 million and $200 million per year from
avoidance of disease, mortality and lost productivity.
Carbon sequestration: Victoria’s network of land-based parks store at least 270 million tonnes of carbon and marine
parks store at least 850,000 tonnes.
Water purification: Avoided costs are estimated at $33 million per year in metropolitan areas and $50 million per year
in non-metropolitan areas.
Flood protection: $46 million per year from avoided infrastructure costs.
Coastal protection: $24 million-$56 million per year from avoided costs.
Source
•Parks Victoria (2015) Valuing Victoria’s Parks. Accounting for ecosystems and valuing their benefits: Report of first
phase findings. Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/valuing-victorias-parks
p 10
paragraph 2
The concept of investing to protect natural capital was explored in a report by the Future Economy Group.
The modelled scenarios suggest that in the long-term, shifting investment from environmentally damaging industries
towards less resource intensive sectors of the economy is likely to result in economic benefit, and greater prosperity
and wellbeing for Victorians. The Future Economy Group estimated that, by 2028, healthier natural capital could
provide between $15 billion and $36 billion in economic benefits for Victoria. On the other hand, continuing without
deliberate action could result in an economic loss of between $16 billion and $78 billion.
Source
•Nous Group (2014) The Future Economy Project: The economic impact of diminishing natural capital in Victoria. A
report for The Future Economy Group, May 2014.
http://www.futureeconomy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Future-Economy-Group-Final-Report-NousJune-2014.pdf
5
p 11
paragraph 2
More recently, at the national level, a CSIRO Australian National Outlook report has similarly identified that future
economic and environmental outcomes could both be strong if policies that mobilise technology and promote reduced
pressure on the environment are appropriately pursued. Estimates of future economic impacts are only ever based
modelled economic scenarios. Therefore specific figures cited are indicative only but highlight the large scale and
strong relationship between natural capital and the Victorian economy.
Source
•Hatfield-Dodds, S., Schandl, H., Adams, P.D., Baynes, T.M., Brinsmead, T.S., Bryan, B.A., Chiew, F.H.S., Graham,
P.W., Grundy, M., Harwood, T., McCallum, R., McCrea, R., McKellar, L.E., Newth, D., Nolan, M., Prosser, I. and
Wonhas A. (2015) Australia is ‘free to choose’ economic growth and falling environmental pressures. Nature 527:
49-53.
p 11
paragraph 3
There are multiple ways to rebuild natural capital, but the best and cheapest is to support and improve natural systems
and environments, rather than trying recreate them from scratch. As demonstrated in the conceptual diagram in Figure
1, without deliberate action we risk our future prosperity. By increasing our efforts and by expanding our investment,
we can reap the rewards.
Source
•The Future Economy Group (2014) Bringing Victoria’s Economy into the 21st Century: Building Prosperity for
Victoria’s Economy, Employment and Environment, Melbourne, June 2014.
6
2
VICTORIA’S CHALLENGE
Facing the challenge
p 13,
paragraph 4
…future generations being denied the opportunity to see 18 species of mammal, two birds, one snake, three
freshwater fish, six invertebrates and 51 plants that have become extinct since European settlement.
Source
•22 non-vascular plants and 40 ecological communities are listed as are listed as threatened under the FFG Act
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List - 2015.
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/threatened-species-and-communities/flora-and-faunaguarantee-act-1988/ffg-listed-taxa-communities-and-potentially-threatening-processes)
•Of 3140 known species of vascular plants, 1826 (58%) are included on the 2014 Advisory List of Rare or
Threatened Plants; 49 are considered to be extinct.
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2014) Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria –
2014. Department of Environment and Primary Industries, East Melbourne, Victoria.
DELWP Advisory Lists of rare or threatened plants in Victoria
Date
Presumed
extinct
Endangered
Vulnerable
Rare
Poorly
known
Total
2003
48
250
473
818
311
1900
2005
51
280
493
834
305
1963
2014
43
366
516
854
318
2097
•Of the extant species of all vertebrate groups, 22% of terrestrial mammals, 19% of birds, 30% of reptiles, 43% of
amphibians and 55% of freshwater fish are considered to be threatened.
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2013) Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna – 2013.
Department of Environment and Primary Industries, East Melbourne, Victoria.
DELWP Advisory Lists of threatened fauna in Victoria
Regionally Extinct in
Critically
Extinct the Wild Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
Near
Threatened
Data
Deficient
Total
70
71
20
275
52
72
68
24
277
57
84
64
14
294
Date
Extinct
2003
10
14
-
37
53
2007
9
15
-
37
2013
9
15
1
50
• Of the known species of invertebrate groups, 178 species are considered to be threatened.
Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009) Advisory List of Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in
Victoria – 2009. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria.
DELWP Advisory List of rare or threatened invertebrates in Victoria
Date
Extinct
2009
1
Regionally Extinct in
Critically
Extinct the Wild Endangered Endangered
5
0
20
28
Vulnerable
79
Near
Data
Threatened Deficient
Total
7
178
38
•Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2015) 2015 Threatened Species Protection Initiative:
Community Volunteer Action Grants Guidelines. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East
Melbourne, Victoria.
7
p 13
paragraph 7
Victoria is the most intensively settled and cleared state in Australia.
Source
•Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2011-12, Commonwealth of
Australia, Canberra.
•Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (2013) State of the Environment Victoria 2013. Office of the
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Melbourne, Victoria.
https://www.ces.vic.gov.au/publications/state-environment-report-2013
•Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2011) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation: Final Report.
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, East Melbourne, Victoria.
http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/RNV_FinalReport%20PDF%20low%20res.pdf
p 13
paragraph 7
Since the introduction of Victoria’s native vegetation regulations in 1989, rates of clearing have reduced and regulated
clearing is now avoided, minimised and/or offset. Despite this we are still allowing the extent and condition of
the state’s remaining areas of native vegetation to shrink by approximately 4000 habitat hectares each year. This
trajectory is largely the result of uses and threats operating outside of the regulatory framework. These include routine
management activities on private and public land which, although necessary, do incur a local environmental impact. As
shown in Figure 2, these impacts taken together are significant and far exceed the impact of regulated clearing.
Source
•Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2013) Permitted clearing of native vegetation – Biodiversity
assessment guidelines. Department of Environment and Primary Industries, East Melbourne.
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/198758/Permitted-clearing-of-native-vegation-Biodiversityassessment-guidelines.pdf
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2008) Native Vegetation Net Gain Accounting first approximation
report. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne
•Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (unpub.) 2015 qualitative update of the 2008 Net Gain
approximation report. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East Melbourne.
p 14
paragraph 1
We are still experiencing a decline in habitat condition (e.g. due to pest plants and animals, fire regimes and reduction
in old growth forests). This in turn impacts on the persistence of species, which are also affected by localised threats
such as introduced predators and diseases. The declining trend for species populations is worse than for habitat,
because potential habitat is not always occupied (or readily re-occupied), or populations may be reduced to such low
numbers that they cannot recover from additional disturbance.
Source
•Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (2013) State of the Environment Victoria 2013. Office of the
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Melbourne, Victoria.
•Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2010) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation Discussion Paper.
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, East Melbourne, Victoria.
http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Full%20Report%20RNV.pdf
•Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2011) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation: Final Report.
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, East Melbourne, Victoria.
http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/RNV_FinalReport%20PDF%20low%20res.pdf
•Fischer, J. and Lindenmayer, D.B. (2007) Landscape modification and habitat fragmentation: a synthesis. Global
Ecology and Biogeography 16: 265-80.bourne.
8
p 14
paragraph 2
Introduced plants and animals are competing with, or preying on, our native plants and animals, and are a primary
cause of biodiversity decline. Pest species also affect the productivity of private land. Weed invasion is the most
commonly identified threat to native plants. After habitat loss, predation by introduced species (mostly foxes and feral
cats) is regarded as being the major threat to endangered terrestrial native animals.
Source
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2010) Invasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework. Department
of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria.
http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/protecting-victoria-from-pest-animals-andweeds/invasive-plants-and-animals/invasive-plants-and-animals-policy-framework
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2012) Department of Sustainability and Environment Flora and
Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Processes List: July 2012. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East
Melbourne, Victoria.
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/251515/201207-FFG-processes-list.pdf
p 14
paragraph 3
The decline in habitats is occurring on both private and public land but, as shown in Figure 2, is significantly more
pronounced on private land.
Source
•Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (unpub.) 2015 qualitative update of the 2008 Net Gain
approximation report. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East Melbourne.
p 16
paragraph 1
More than 100 introduced marine species are established in Port Phillip Bay after arriving on either domestic or
international ships, and now prey on or compete with native species.
Source
•Hewitt, C.L., Campbell, M.L., Thresher, R.E., Martin, R.B., Boyd, S., Cohen, B.F., Currie, D.R., Gomon, M.F.,
Keough, M.J., Lewis, J.A. and Lockett, M.M. (2004) Introduced and cryptogenic species in Port Phillip Bay,
Victoria, Australia. Marine Biology 144(1): 183-202.
p 16
paragraph 1
Both marine and freshwater environments are also threatened by ongoing coastal development and infrastructure,
runoff of excessive nutrients and sediments from catchments, high levels of water consumption, altered flow regimes,
pollution (including oils, pharmaceuticals and micro-plastics) and over-exploitation of marine resources. Along the
south-west, Bellarine and Western Port coasts, vegetation is often narrow, fragmented or absent. The health of the
Gippsland Lakes has declined with reductions in freshwater flows from catchments, along with increased water salinity
caused by the permanent opening of the lakes’ entrance.
Source
•Environment Conservation Council (2000) Marine Coastal and Estuarine Investigation – Final Report. Environment
Conservation Council, Victoria.
•Carey, J.M., Burgman, M.A., Boxshall, A., Beilin, R., Flander, L., Pegler, P. and White, A.K. (2007) Identification of
threats to natural values in Victoria’s Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries. Parks Victoria Technical Series
No. 33. Parks Victoria, Melbourne.
•Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (2013) State of the Environment Victoria 2013. Office of the
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Melbourne, Victoria.
9
Considering the potential impacts of climate change impacts for Victoria
p 18
paragraph 1
Climate change will bring various challenges for Victoria’s species and populations, such as:
• Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events (e.g. droughts, floods, storms);
• More severe fire weather;
• Longer, more intense droughts;
• Rising sea levels;
•Changes in ocean temperatures, currents and ocean acidification (which may affect zooplankton with consequent
serious impacts on marine food chains);
• Changes to freshwater flows, levels and regimes (including wetlands and estuaries);
• Loss of alpine habitats, reduced diversity of habitats;
• Changes to plant growing seasons;
• Changes to invertebrate species, including their range, distribution, abundance and seasonality;
• Changes in the distributions of other species, and the interactions between them, to the disadvantage of some;
•Changes in the range, distribution and impacts of introduced plants and animals, including the introduction of new
pests taking advantage of a changed climate; and
• Changes to habitat resulting from the flourishing of new invasive species.
Source
•Australian Academy of Science (2015) The science of climate change: Questions and answers. Australian
Academy of Science, Canberra.
www.science.org.au/climatechange
•Dunlop, M., Hilbert, D., Ferrier, S., House, A., Liedloff, A., Prober, S., Smyth, A., Martin, T., Harwood, T., Williams,
K., Fletcher, C. and Murphy, H. (2012) The Implications of Climate Change for Biodiversity, Conservation and the
National Reserve System: Final Synthesis. CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, Canberra.
https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/download?pid=csiro:EP105380&dsid=DS4
•Hennessy, K., Fawcett, R., Kironoa, D., Mpelasoka, F., Jones, D., Batholsa, J., Whetton, P., Stafford Smith, M.,
Howden, M., Mitchell, C. and Plummer, N. (2008) An Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on the Nature
and Frequency of Exceptional Climatic Events. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO.
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ag-food/drought/farmmanagementdeposits/csiro-bomreport-future-droughts.pdf
•Reisinger, A., Kitching, R.L., Chiew, F., Hughes, L., Newton, P.C.D., Schuster, S.S., Tait, A. and Whetton, P.
(2014) Australasia. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects.
Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change [Barros, V.R., Field, C.B., Dokken, D.J., Mastrandrea, M.D., Mach, K.J., Bilir, T.E., Chatterjee, M., Ebi, K.L.,
Estrada, Y.O., Genova, R.C., Girma, B., Kissel, E.S., Levy, A.N., MacCracken, S., Mastrandrea, P.R., and White,
L.L. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1371-1438
https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg2/WGIIAR5-Chap25_FINAL.pdf
•Hughes, l. and Steffen, W. (2013) Climate change in Victoria: trends, predictions and impacts. Proceedings of the
Royal Society of Victoria 125(1/2): 5-13.
•Lucas, C., Hennessy, K., Mills, G. A. and Bathols, J. (2007) Bushfire weather in southeast Australia: recent trends
and projected climate change impacts. Consultancy Report prepared for the Climate Institute of Australia. (Bushfire
Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
•Pittock, J., Hanson, L., and Abell, R. (2008) Running dry: Freshwater biodiversity, protected areas and climate
change. Biodiversity 9: 30–38.
•Pickering, C. M., Hill, W. and Green, K. (2008) Vascular plant diversity and climate change in the alpine zone of the
Snowy Mountains, Australia. Biodiversity Conservation 17, 1627- 1644.
10
3
A FRESH VISION FOR VICTORIA’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Goal 1: To encourage more Victorians to value nature
p 26
paragraph 1
dot point 1
The principles of environmental justice require that all Victorians have access to nature and can experience its benefits.
Source
•ESRC Global Environmental Change Programme (2001) Environmental justice – Rights and means to a healthy
environment for all. Report from the Healthy Planet Forum of the WHO Environment and Health Ministers Meeting
in London.
https://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/environmental_justice.pdf
p 26
paragraph 4
Measuring progress
Source
• Please see relevant chapters for evidence to support these measures.
… there are indicators that can assist in drawing general conclusions about attitudes, and to monitor changes in these.
Goal 2: To ensure that Victoria’s natural environment is healthy
p 28
paragraph 5
Measuring progress
Source
•MacNally, R. (2008) The lag dæmon: Hysteresis in rebuilding landscapes and implications for biodiversity futures.
Journal of Environmental Management 88(4): 1202-1211.
Many species are long-lived; their life cycles can be measured in tens or hundreds of years, so the effects of history can
be long lasting, and recovery can be slow. Therefore, we need to plan, invest, manage and adapt over that time scale.
•Vesk, P.A., Nolan, R., Thomson, J.R., Dorrough J.W. and MacNally, R. (2008) Time lags in provision of habitat
resources through revegetation. Biological Conservation 141(1): 174-186.
p 29
paragraph 5
Focusing our effort
Source
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009) Securing our natural future: a White Paper for land and
biodiversity at a time of climate change. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.
Previous reports have identified broad areas that are important for biodiversity values (see Figure 3, for example).
Modern, data-driven tools now allow us to develop more refined views of these values and of the potential benefits of
action.
• See the Strategic Management Prospects fact sheet on the DELWP Portal.
p 31 box
Projects that have made a difference
An important trigger in the rise of environmental consciousness in Victoria was the successful campaign in the late 1960s
to save the Little Desert from subdivision for farms. It led to the establishment in 1971 of the Land Conservation Council
(now the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council). This resulted in a systematic effort to protect representative
habitats and led to protected areas increasing in area from one per cent of Victoria to approximately 17 per cent in 2015.
Controls to regulate the clearing of native vegetation from private land were introduced in 1989. This resulted in native
vegetation loss dropping from 15,000 hectares per year to 4000 hectares per year by 2010.
Establishment of the world’s first network of marine protected areas in 2002, covering more than 5 per cent of
Victoria’s coastal waters.
Source
•Booth, C. (2014) Natural Victoria – Conservation Priorities for Victoria’s Natural Heritage. Nature Conservation
Review. Full Report. Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne.
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2008) Native vegetation Net Gain Accounting first approximation
report. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne.
•Booth, C. (2014) Natural Victoria – Conservation Priorities for Victoria’s Natural Heritage. Nature Conservation
Review. Full Report. Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne.
11
5
A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALTHY VICTORIANS
p 35
paragraph 2
Being connected with nature is beneficial not just for individuals, but ultimately for society and the environment itself.
This is because people who spend time with nature are more likely to recognise its importance to their own wellbeing
and to society, and therefore to behave in ways that help to protect and sustain the environment.
Source
•Kollmuss, A. and Agyeman, J. (2002) Mind the gap: why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers
to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental education research 8.3: 239-260.
•Dutcher, D.D., Finley, J.C., Luloff, A.E. and Johnson, J.B. (2007) Connectivity With Nature as a Measure of
Environmental Values. Environment and Behavior 39(4): 474-493.
•Dunn, R.R., Gavin, M.C., Sanchez, M.C. and Solomon, J.N., (2006) The pigeon paradox: dependence of global
conservation on urban nature. Conservation biology 20(6), 1814-1816.
Why nature is good for us
p 36
paragraph 1
The health benefits experienced from contact with nature have been linked to increased work productivity and faster
recovery rates from surgery, fewer medications, and a strengthened immune system.
Source
•SCBD and WHO (2015) Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health: a state of knowledge review.
Report prepared by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Health Organization.
•Maller, C., Townsend, M., St Leger, L. Henderson-Wilson, C., Pryor, A., Prosser, L. and Moore, M. (2008) Healthy
Parks Healthy People The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context: A review of relevant literature
2nd edition School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural
Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood.
•Kuo, M. (2015) How might contact with nature promote human health? Promising mechanisms and a possible
central pathway. Front. Psychol. 6:1093.
•Bowler, D.E., Buyung-Ali, L.M., Knight, T.M. and Pullin, A.S. (2010) A systematic review of evidence for the added
benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health 10:1 456-66.
p 36
paragraph 1
Additionally, there have been local trials in which GPs have prescribed ‘’green scripts’’, which provide a weekly
program of exercise in local parks for suitable candidates who have chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart
conditions.
Source
•The Age (2012) Doctor’s orders: gentle medicine in the park (June 2, 2012)
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/doctors-orders-gentle-medicine-in-the-park-20120601-1znbr.html
p 36
paragraph 2
In recent years, we have seen the emergence of concepts such as environmental equity and environmental justice.
These concepts hold that all people should have equitable access to nature for sustainable enjoyment, recreation,
cultural and spiritual reasons, and as a way to enhance their mental and physical health. The concepts have emerged
against the background of research showing that the prevalence of ill health and mental disorders is lower among
households that are closer to green spaces, especially among children and households with lower socio-economic
status.
Source
•Dunn, R.R., Gavin, M.C., Sanchez, M.C. and Solomon, J.N., (2006) The pigeon paradox: dependence of global
conservation on urban nature. Conservation biology 20(6): 1814-1816.
p 36
paragraph 7
…there is strong evidence that increasing urbanisation is leading to a decrease in people accessing nature, which in
turn has been linked to more ill health, obesity and mental illness.
Source
•Krekel, C., Kolbe, J. and Wüstemann, H. (2016) The greener, the happier? The effect of urban land use on
residential well-being. Ecological Economics 121: 117–127
•Cutts, B.B., Darby, K.J., Boone, C.G. and Brewis, A. (2009) City structure, obesity, and environmental justice: an
integrated analysis of physical and social barriers to walkable streets and park access. Social Science & Medicine
69(9): 1314-22
12
p 36
paragraph 8
Urbanisation and cultural changes in life pursuits (particularly through advancements in technology for entertainment
and transport purposes) also appear to have resulted in a breakdown of the human-nature link. Many of us are leading
increasingly busy lives, resulting in less physical contact with nature than ever before.
Source
•Hinds, J. and Sparks, P., (2008) Engaging with the natural environment: The role of affective connection and
identity. Journal of Environmental Psychology 28(2): 109-120.
•Hitchings, R. (2013) Studying the preoccupations that prevent people from going into green space. Landscape and
Urban Planning 118: 98-102.
•Nisbet, E.K., Zelenski, J.M. and Murphy, S.A. (2009) The Nature Relatedness Scale: linking individuals’ connection
with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior 41(5): 715-40.
p 37
paragraph 3
... connecting with nature enriches our lives, improves our health and wellbeing, and drives positive environmental
attitudes and vales that promote a lifelong positive relationship with nature.
Source
•Kuo, M. (2015) How might contact with nature promote human health? Promising mechanisms and a possible
central pathway. Front. Psychol. 6:1093
•Duerden, M.D. and Witt, P.A. (2010) The impact of direct and indirect experiences on the development of
environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology 30(4): 379-92.
Making education a key to change
p 38
paragraph 1
An important way to connect people with nature and to increase their awareness of Victoria’s biodiversity is through
education.
Source
•Environment Australia (1999) Today shapes tomorrow : environmental education for a sustainable future : a
discussion paper. Environment Australia, Dept. of the Environment and Heritage.
•Tilbury, D. and Cooke, K. (2005) A National Review of Environmental Education and its Contribution to
Sustainability in Australia: Frameworks for Sustainability. Canberra: Australian Government Department of the
Environment and Heritage and Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability.
•Restall, B. and Conrad, E. (2015) A literature review of connectedness to nature and its potential for environmental
management. Journal of Environmental Management 159: 264-278.
p 38
paragraph 3
Spending time playing and learning in nature provides children with developmental benefits including reduced stress
and mental calming, and contributes to engagement and enthusiasm in all areas of study.
Source
•Clements, R. (2004) An investigation of the status of outdoor play. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood 5:
68–80.
•White, R. (2004) Interaction with Nature during the Middle Years: Its Importance to Children’s Development and
Nature’s Future. White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group. http://www.whitehutchinson.com/children/articles/
nature.shtml
•Staempfli, M.B. (2009) Reintroducing adventure into children’s outdoor play environments. Environment and
Behavior 41(2):268-80.
• Allred, D. (2011) Nature-Deficit Disorder: Causes and Consequences. EDEC 420. 14pp.
13
p 38
paragraph 3
Playing in nature – particularly unstructured, imaginative, exploratory play – is increasingly recognised as an essential
component of child development.
Source
•Dowdell, K., Gray, T. and Malone, K. (2011) Nature and its Influence on Children’s Outdoor Play. Australian Journal
of Outdoor Education 15(2): 24-35
p 38
paragraph 4
Engaging children with nature increases the likelihood that as adults they will be more actively concerned about
biodiversity conservation for future generations. Conversely, a lack of connection and/or appreciation for nature can
contribute to the destruction and vandalism of natural environments by children and teenagers.
Source
•Wells, N. and Lekies, K. (2006) Nature and the life course: pathways from childhood nature experiences to adult
environmentalism. Children, Youth and Environments 16(1): 1–24.
•Asah, S. T., Bengston, D. N. and Westphal, L. M. (2012) The influence of childhood: operational pathways to
adulthood participation in nature-based activities. Environment and Behavior 44( 4): 545-69.
p 39
paragraph 1
Formal and informal education opportunities provide important platforms to foster connections with nature that can
lead to actions that support biodiversity.
Source
•Tilbury, D. and Cooke, K. (2005) A National Review of Environmental Education and its Contribution to
Sustainability in Australia: Frameworks for Sustainability. Canberra: Australian Government Department of the
Environment and Heritage and Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability.
14
6
LINKING OUR SOCIETY AND ECONOMY
TO THE ENVIRONMENT
p 43
paragraph 3
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists believes that key transformative, practical, long-term economic
and institutional reforms for Australia can lead to a healthy environment with a productive economy. One of these
key reforms is to put in place regional scale, national environmental accounts that monitor the condition of our
environmental assets, so that people can make better decisions to support a healthy and productive Australia.
Source
• Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2014) Blueprint for a Healthy Environment and a Productive Economy.
p 43
paragraph 4
In 2012, the United Nations launched a new global environmental accounting system as a framework for linking the
quantity and quality of environmental assets to socio-economic benefits. The System of Environmental-Economic
Accounting (SEEA) is being adopted by DELWP and other lead agencies internationally. It is an internationally accepted
standard, with a set of established accounting principles that can help recognise the interdependence of societies,
economies and the environment. It aims, in short, to support governments and environment agencies make more
informed, integrated and coherent decisions.
Source
•United Nations Statistics Division. System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). http://unstats.un.org/
unsd/envaccounting/seea.asp
•European Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations, World Bank (2012) System of Environmental-Economic
Accounting – Central Framework. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/envaccounting/White_cover.pdf
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Latestproducts/4655.0.55.002Appendix12013?
opendocument&tabname=Notes&prodno=4655.0.55.002&issue=2013&num=&view=
Leading the way in accounting for our environmental assets
p 46
paragraph 4
… the Valuing Victoria’s Parks study assessed a wide range of benefits that parks provide, including tourism
expenditure of $1.4 billion per year and supporting 14,000 jobs.
Source
•Parks Victoria (2015) Valuing Victoria’s Parks. Accounting for ecosystems and valuing their benefits: Report of first
phase findings. Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
p 47 box
Case Study: Benefits from nutrient regulation processes in Port Phillip Bay
Marine ecosystems provide natural waste assimilation processes that help regulate nutrient loads. For example, a
recent study by the University of Melbourne has shown that Port Phillip Bay naturally removes 5,000 tonnes of nitrogen
each year. The value of this benefit is estimated at $11 billion per year, which represents the costs that would be
incurred to achieve equivalent denitrification through alternative means, considering options such as upgrading the
Western Treatment Plant or wetland enhancement works.
If Port Phillip Bay’s nutrient regulation processes are degraded, water bills may increase, as Melbournians would need
to pay to maintain the same level of water quality through artificial means. Benefits from natural waste assimilation
processes in marine areas enable development of fishing and tourism industries, along with other social and
recreational activities, which make Melbourne a great liveable city.
Source
•Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (in prep.) Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East Melbourne.
p 49 box
Case Study: Puma’s environmental accounts
In 2011, the multinational sportswear company Puma developed and implemented an Environmental Profit & Loss
account for its business and estimated a financial value on its use of natural capital of around €145 million (USD 190
million), which included impacts like water use, greenhouse gas emissions, land use conversion, air pollution and
waste.
Source
• Puma environmental profit and loss account
http://about.puma.com/en/sustainability/environment/environmental-profit-and-loss-account
15
p 49 box
Case study: Bank Australia Conservation Landbank
Bank Australia is demonstrating environmentally responsible business practices by driving biodiversity conservation
in Western Victoria’s Wimmera. The bank is in a partnership with Trust for Nature in Bank Australia Conservation
Landbank, a scheme that involves purchasing land for conservation and funding community groups such as Landcare
to deliver on-ground action, which provides incentives to develop land for conservation rather than other purposes.
For Bank Australia, the scheme helps to offset the loss of biodiversity resulting from its financing of new homes and
vehicles, as well as emissions from running the bank. The Conservation Landbank mitigates biodiversity loss by, for
example, setting aside the same amount of land that is lost through a new home construction to be protected or revegetated. New home owners with a loan from Bank Australia can access this financial service through Bank Australia
Conservation Landbank.
Source
• https://bankaust.com.au/responsible-banking/planet/our-conservation-reserve/
p 50 box
Case Study: VicSuper and Kilter Rural Future Farming Landscapes project
Since 2007, VicSuper has invested in the Future Farming Landscapes project. The project is based in the southern
part of the Murray Darling Basin in northern Victoria, one of Australia’s major regions of agricultural output.
Source
• http://www.kilterrural.com/farmland-investment-experience.html
Creating more liveable and climate-adapted local communities
p 51
paragraph 2
Environmental assets in the natural environment help to sustain, protect and enhance our communities and their built
infrastructure and also make them more liveable. For example, coastal mangroves not only support high levels of
biodiversity, they also sequester carbon and help mitigate the effects of storm surges and sea level rise.
Source
•McLeod, E. and Salm, R.V. (2006) Managing mangroves for resilience to climate change. Gland, Switzerland: World
Conservation Union (IUCN).
p 51
paragraph 4
Urban forests boost amenity and enjoyment for people, remove harmful air pollutants, filter water and help reduce the
urban heat island effect – a phenomenon that is estimated to result in annual health costs within the City of Melbourne
area alone in the order of $283 million.
Source
•City of Melbourne (2015) Unleashing the potential of nature: discussion paper on city ecology, ecosystems and
biodiversity.
http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/application/files/6114/3443/1191/Unleashing_the_Potential_of_Nature_
Public_Workshop_Report_2.pdf
p 52 box
Case study: Climate Change Adaptation Plans for Victoria’s catchments
The Goulburn-Broken CMA’s 2015 draft plan takes a social-ecological systems approach to identify:
•Priority landscapes for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the context of improving the resilience of natural
resources;
•Options for climate change adaptation and mitigation, including carbon sequestration, within focus areas and
priority landscapes; and
•Risks to catchment processes from carbon sequestration activities and mitigation actions.
Source
•http://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/land_and_biodiversity/climate_change
16
Increasing nature-based tourism
p 54
paragraph 1
Victorian environmental assets attract millions of local, domestic and international visitors every year.
Source
• Tourism Victoria (2014) Nature-based Tourism: Market Profile Year Ending June 2014.
http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/research/domestic-and-regional-research/product-segment-market-profiles.html
p 54
paragraph 3
More than 1.4 million international nature-based tourism visitors to Australia travelled to Victoria in the year ending
June 2014, accounting for 35.8 million overnight stays. Nature-based tourism visitors represent 70% of all international
overnight visitors to Victoria. In addition, about 4.3 million day trips were undertaken to and within Victoria by domestic
nature-based tourists in the year ending June 2014.
Source
• Tourism Victoria (2014) Nature-based Tourism: Market Profile Year Ending June 2014.
http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/research/domestic-and-regional-research/product-segment-market-profiles.html
p 54
paragraph 4
According to the Valuing Victoria’s Parks study, $1.4 billion per year in spending is generated by tourist visits to
Victoria’s parks. This generates $1 billion gross value added and supports 14,000 jobs. Regional economies that
benefit most from park-based tourism include the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, the Yarra Valley,
the Dandenong Ranges and Gippsland.
Source
•Parks Victoria (2015) Valuing Victoria’s Parks. Accounting for ecosystems and valuing their benefits: Report of first
phase findings. Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
p 55 box
Case study: The Grampians long-term fire, climate and fauna research program –
a collaborative approach
A research project launched in the Grampians in 2008 is investigating how species respond to major climatic changes
and fires through time, and how this knowledge can be utilised to manage our ecological assets. Parks Victoria
and Deakin University researchers established 36 long-term small mammal monitoring sites across the Grampians
landscape. After several years of bushfires and significant flooding in 2011, this monitoring has become critical in
establishing the roles that climate and fire play in driving faunal communities. The sites have been monitored annually
since 2008 by Deakin University students, assisted by Parks Victoria staff.
With 65,502 trap nights of survey effort and captures of 5457 small mammals, the research has yielded significant
information on how systems recover from fire under differing climatic conditions. Species monitored include the Agile
Antechinus (Antechinus agilis), Common Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina), Heath Mouse (Pseudomys shortridgei) - and
the introduced House Mouse (Mus musculus).
Source
•http://www.deakin.edu.au/life-environmental-sciences/research/wildlife-conservation-biology/fire-ecology-andmanagement
17
p 56 box
Case study: Phillip Island Nature Parks
Since its formation, the Nature Parks has achieved significant gains for the ecology and economy of Phillip Island.
Of the annual surplus generated from its eco-tourism attractions, $3.5million is spent annually on research and
environmental management programs. As a result, Phillip Island Nature Parks has become a world class destination
that enables the local community and international and domestic tourists to connect with Victorian wildlife. In 2014-15,
Nature Parks welcomed a total of 1,261,882 visitors (58 per cent international) with an annual economic contribution to
the Victorian economy of $402.5 million, and underpinning 1753 full-time jobs.
And importantly the number of penguins has grown – more than 30,000 breeding penguins now utilise the reclaimed
peninsula as their home.
Source
• Phillip Island Nature Parks Annual Report 2014-15
http://www.penguins.org.au/assets/About/PDF-Publications/Annual-Report-2014-15.pdf
• A Natural Partnership - Phillip Island Nature Parks and Phillip Island Landcare Group
http://basscoastlandcare.org.au/index.php/component/k2/item/190-a-natural-partnership-phillip-island-natureparks-and-phillip-island-landcare-group
• Phillip Island Nature Parks Australia – conservation programs
http://www.penguins.org.au/conservation/environment/conservation-programs
p 57
Figure 6
In 2014-15, the average daily number of penguins crossing the beach at the Penguin Parade (969) was higher than the
long term average of 850 for the fifth year in a row.
Source
• Phillip Island Nature Parks Annual Report 2014-15
http://www.penguins.org.au/assets/About/PDF-Publications/Annual-Report-2014-15.pdf
18
7
p 59 box
INVESTING TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
Zoos Victoria – “Fighting Extinction”
Zoos Victoria works locally and globally to deliver tangible conservation outcomes. It is committed to the recovery
of 20 native threatened species through captive breeding and reintroduction, and is also undertaking broad-based
conservation programs in six countries, six grass-roots community conservation campaigns and 54 research projects.
Source
• http://www.zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction
Boosting our investment to change our environmental trajectory
p 60 box
Green Bonds
A bond is a financial instrument issued by governments, companies and financial institutions as a means of raising
funds. Purchasers of bonds (investors) are paid a fixed interest rate over the life of the loan and their initial investment is
returned on maturity of the bond. A ‘green bond’ only differs from a regular bond in that the funds raised are invested
in projects that have positive environmental and/or climate benefits (e.g. renewable energy, sustainable buildings and
reforestation). The global green bond market is still relatively new but has grown strongly in the past couple of years
in line with demand from an emergent pool of investors. In this initial phase, green bonds are often being applied to
climate change projects. However, there is scope to explore options for them being used for more biodiversity-specific
initiatives.
Source
• Explaining green bonds
https://www.climatebonds.net/market/explaining-green-bonds
• International Capital Market Association - Green Bond Principles
http://www.icmagroup.org/Regulatory-Policy-and-Market-Practice/green-bonds/green-bond-principles/
• Bonds. Green bonds - Insights into the future of green bonds
http://www.ey.com/AU/en/Services/Specialty-Services/Climate-Change-and-Sustainability-Services/EY-lets-talksustainability-issue-3-bonds-green-bonds
p 62 box
Case study: The AGL Marine Rescue Project
When scoping the partnership, renewable energy company AGL Energy Ltd saw a logical fit between AGL’s brand
promise ‘Energy in Action’ and the action-oriented goals of the Marine Response Unit.
Other synergies included:
•AGL is Australia’s biggest provider of renewable energy, which aligned well with Zoos Victoria’s ambition to be the
world’s first carbon neutral zoo;
•Both the AGL and Zoos Victoria brands are well known, household names with a long history (AGL was
established in 1837 and Melbourne Zoo in 1862); and
• Both organisations have a strong focus on families.
From the partnership, AGL has naming rights sponsorship of both the AGL Marine Response Unit and the Wild Sea
precinct at Melbourne Zoo. The partnership is promoted across the Zoo, including through:
• Branded signage and interpretation throughout the Wild Sea precinct;
• Recognition of the AGL partnership in the daily seal show and behind the scenes experiences; and
• A video to be played within the Wild Sea precinct highlighting the AGL Marine Response Unit and its achievements.
The partnership has seen the issue move from a high-profile problem to a high profile success story through the
establishment of the AGL Marine Response Unit.
Source
• http://www.zoo.org.au/about-us/vision-and-mission/our-projects/aglmru
19
Making it easier to protect biodiversity and tackle climate change
p 63
paragraph 1
More than two thirds of Victoria, including some of the state’s most important and irreplaceable remaining vegetation, is
privately owned.
Source
•Bennett, A. F., 1995, Wildlife conservation and management on private land – facing the challenge, pp. 119-127
in People and Nature Conservation: Perspectives on Private Land Use and Endangered Species Recovery (eds A.
Bennett, G. Backhouse and T. Clark), Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Sydney.
•Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2011) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation: Final Report. East
Melbourne, Victoria.
20
8
BETTER, SMARTER MANAGEMENT OF OUR BIODIVERSITY
Meeting climate change and other management challenges
p 69
paragraph 2
A changing climate will bring inevitable challenges for native species, which will need to cope with changing
distributions and ecological relationships. Due to the complex interactions between environmental factors such as
drought and competition between species, our ability to predict the future for each species is far from perfect and we
must manage and make decisions against this background of uncertainty.
Source
•Dunlop, M., Hilbert, D., Ferrier, S., House, A., Liedloff, A., Prober, S., Smyth, A., Martin, T., Harwood, T., Williams,
K., Fletcher, C. and Murphy, H. (2012) The Implications of Climate Change for Biodiversity, Conservation and the
National Reserve System: Final Synthesis. CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, Canberra
https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/download?pid=csiro:EP105380&dsid=DS4
•MacNally, R., Bennett, A.F., Thomson, J.R., Radford, J.Q., Unmack, G., Horrocks, G. and Vesk, P.A. (2009)
Collapse of an avifauna: climate change appears to exacerbate habitat loss and degradation. Diversity and
Distributions 15: 720-730.
•Reisinger, A., Kitching, R.L. Chiew F., Hughes L., Newton P.C.D., Schuster S.S., Tait A. and Whetton P. (2014)
Australasia. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects.
Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change [Barros V.R., Field C.B., Dokken D.J., Mastrandrea M.D, Mach K.J., Bilir T.E., Chatterjee M., Ebi K.L.,
Estrada Y.O., Genova R.C., Girma B., Kissel E.S., Levy A.N., MacCracken S., Mastrandrea P.R., and L.L. White
(eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1371-1438.
https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg2/WGIIAR5-Chap25_FINAL.pdf
•Steffen, W., Burbidge, A.A., Hughes, L., Kitching, R., Lindenmayer, D., Musgrave, W., Smith, M.S. and Werner, P.A.
(2009) Australia’s biodiversity and climate change. CSIRO Publishing.
p 69
paragraph 4
As outlined in the Plan Melbourne Refresh Discussion Paper, the benefits that may arise include improving our
health (e.g. better air quality, less exposure to heatwaves) and creating a more liveable city (a greener more attractive
cityscape).
Source
•Victorian Government (2015) Plan Melbourne Refresh Discussion Paper October 2015.
http://refresh.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au/plan-melbourne-refresh-discussion-paper
p 71
paragraph 3
dot point 2
Noisy Miners, a native honeyeater that aggressively excludes other native birds from favoured woodland habitat. Where
woodlands have declined or become fragmented, competition for habitat resources increases, and the Noisy Miner has
a significant impact on the survival of other birds
Source
• Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis - Avifaunal Disarray from a single Despotic Species.
http://aceas.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=86
21
p 71
paragraph 4
Introduced species are another primary cause of biodiversity decline; new marine pests and environmental weeds
are emerging regularly. Although Victoria has implemented successful programs to control a number of widespread
introduced species, there is a need for a more consolidated approach that can effectively tackle key threats such as
feral cats – along with over-abundant wildlife and new and emerging threats that we are not yet aware of.
Source
•Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (2010) Control of Invasive Plants and Animals in Victoria’s Parks. Victorian
Auditor-General’s Report. Victorian Government Printer.
http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/2009-10/20100526-Invasive-Plants-Full-Report.pdf
•Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Marine Pests web page. http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/forestryand-land-use/coasts/marine/marine-pests
• Agriculture Victoria. Weeds web page.
http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/weeds
• Public land
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/weeds-and-pests
• Department of Agriculture
http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/weeds/state-prohibited-weeds/what-isgovernment-doing-in-invasive-plant-and-animal-management
•SAC (1996) Final recommendation on a nomination for listing as a potentially threatening process: Invasion of
native vegetation by “environmental weeds”. Scientific Advisory Committee, Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources.
p 72 box
Over-abundant native animals
Native sea urchins (Heliocidaris erthyrogramma) have undergone significant population expansion in Corner Inlet, and
have been creating ‘urchin barrens’ by grazing on seagrass meadows. They naturally occur there, and no one knows
why the populations have suddenly grown, nor how badly they might impact the seagrass meadows that are so
important for biodiversity, and consequently for commercial fishers.
Source
•Parks Victoria (unpub.) Urchin barren formation in a seagrass meadow, Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park:
Initial report of surveys completed September 2014 and May 2015.
p 72
paragraph 2
The current management and extent of Victoria’s contribution to the National Reserve System may not in itself be
sufficient to achieve our goal of a healthy natural environment. Some species and habitat types are well represented
in the reserve system, while others are significantly under-represented, since they occur predominantly in agricultural
or peri-urban landscapes. (For example, on the Victorian Volcanic Plains bioregion, only 1.3 per cent of the native
vegetation is in conservation reserves, and in the Wimmera, only 1.5 per cent.)
Source
•Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (2013) State of the Environment Victoria 2013. Office of the
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Melbourne, Victoria.
•Booth, C. (2014) Natural Victoria – Conservation Priorities for Victoria’s Natural Heritage. Nature Conservation
Review. Full Report. Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne.
•Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2010) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation Discussion Paper.
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, East Melbourne, Victoria.
http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Full%20Report%20RNV.pdf
•Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2011) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation: Final Report.
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, East Melbourne, Victoria.
http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/RNV_FinalReport%20PDF%20low%20res.pdf
22
p 74 box
Role of private land
In some parts of the state (e.g. the Victorian Volcanic Plains), very little of the most important habitats, such as
endangered native grasslands, occur in the public reserve system. Some of the best and biggest grasslands, and
threatened grassland species, occur mostly on private land. These grasslands have a history of light grazing, and
continue to be productive grazing farms at the same time as they support important biodiversity values.
Source
•Craigie, V. And Moorrees, A. (2003) Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement No. Central Gippsland Plains
Grassland, Forest Red Gum Grassy Woodland, Northern Plains Grassland, South Gippsland Plains Grassland,
Western (Basalt) Plains Grassland. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
p 74 box
Case Study Trust for Nature
In northern Victoria, between 1998 and 2010, Trust for Nature (TfN) undertook a partnership with the then Department
of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to conserve the critically endangered Northern Plains Grasslands. TfN
undertook a targeted program of land purchase and covenanting, to supplement the existing and DSE-acquired
conservation reserves. This created a landscape-scale, ecologically connected network of public and private land
reserves on the Avoca and Patho Plains, with both public and private land managed to complement each other, using
mutually agreed practices.
Source
• Trust for Nature Conservation Bulletin No. 61. November 2014.
http://www.trustfornature.org.au/bulletins/
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2010) Conservation and protection of Northern Plains Grasslands –
a strategic direction. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
Choosing the right tool for the right job
p 75
paragraph 3
While Victoria’s loss of native vegetation is estimated at about 4,000 habitat hectares per annum, it is important to
note that different sources of vegetation loss have different levels of impact, as shown in Figure. 3 in Chapter 2. For
example, loss due to permitted clearing is a relatively small part of the total annual loss of native vegetation (and is
required by law to be offset by improvements elsewhere), whereas losses due to current natural resource disturbance
regimes, such as weeds or excessive grazing, are likely to be much greater, and losses due to routine land use (which
are outside the regulatory system and are not therefore offset) are much greater again. This demonstrates that the
drivers of decline are those outside of the current regulatory offset system, and that it is essential to use the right
combination of tools (e.g. not only regulation) that will address all the impacts that result in the loss of native vegetation.
Source
•Department of Sustainability and Environment (2008) Native vegetation Net Gain Accounting first approximation
report. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne.
•Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (unpub.) 2015 qualitative update of the 2008 Net Gain
approximation report. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East Melbourne.
p 80 box
Case study: Spatial decision support tools
One of the tools, Strategic Management Prospects, identifies areas and actions with the highest potential return on
investment for biodiversity conservation.
Source
•See the brochure on the Better, smarter management of our biodiversity page on the HaveYourSay website, http://
haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/biodiversity-plan-chapter-8
23
p 81 box
Case study: Melbourne Strategic assessment
The Melbourne Strategic Assessment (MSA) conducted under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is an example of a strategic approach to regulation. The MSA assessed
the impacts of urban development in Melbourne’s growth corridors on biodiversity, including matters of national
environmental significance listed under the EPBC Act, and set out a range of conservation measures to mitigate these
impacts.
Source
•http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/biodiversity/melbourne-strategic-assessment
p 87 box
Our Catchments Our Communities – integrated catchment management in Victoria 2016 – 2019
Our Catchments, Our Communities is a new Victorian Government strategy that is currently under development. It
outlines improvements to the current Integrated Catchment Management framework (land, water and biodiversity
management) that will support and enhance our environment, community and economy.
Source
•http://delwp.vic.gov.au/water/governing-water-resources/our-catchments,-our-communities