September 2023

e-Bulletin

The Biodiversity Conservation Forum brings together community and government representatives to work together on current and emerging issues relating to the conservation of biodiversity, environmental planning and policy in the ACT. 

The forum considers many topics related to biodiversity conservation, including climate adaptation, landscape and ecosystem management, threatened species management, urban biodiversity and invasive species. 

The Forum is co-chaired by the Conservation Council ACT Region, Landcare ACT and the Conservator of Flora and Fauna. Membership includes representative from Friends of Grasslands, Canberra Ornithologists Group, National Parks Association of the ACT, Ginninderra Catchment Group, Southern ACT Catchment Group, Molonglo Conservation Group, Australian Native Plants Society, ACT for Bees, Invasive Species Council, ACT Bushfire Council, ACT Scientific Committee, and the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust. Secretariat services are currently provided by Landcare ACT. For enquiries please email communications@landcareact.org.au

The most recent meeting was held Monday 11th September.

This e-Bulletin is intended to provide a summary of the discussions of the Forum for public distribution. 

Presentations:

Brian Prince, Director, Parks Planning and Policy. Outcomes of the review into Reserve Management Plans and next steps

A review was completed by Prof Mark Hockings and Dr Andrea Levington of Protected Area Solutions. The report contains 19 recommendations.

The report found that existing processes meet ACT legislative requirements, but some improvements were suggested, including: 

• implementing a values-based* planning approach
• developing an overarching strategy for the reserve system, and a policy framework which would apply across the system
• Consideration could be given to producing a resources document separate from the management plan and simplifying approval process for some components
• Operational plans should link directly to management plan strategies and actions and support implementation reporting.

It was identified that ParkCare volunteers are keenly interested in the operational level documents.

Dr Chloe Sato, Director, Environmental Offsets. Currently acting Director, Strategic Environment Policy with Office of Nature Conservation. Update on Commonwealth Environmental Reforms (including Nature Positive Plan) and ACT Government engagement 

The ACT govt is currently involved in 6 separate streams of environmental policy reform of environmental policy at national and international levels (including framing ofInternational Biodiversity targets planned to be finalised by April 2024, and National Biodiversity Targets for public consultation in November 2023 that will feed into the Global Biodiversity Framework Targets). The ACT govt is able to represent positions on the National Reserve System, Nature Conservation, offsets, Nature Repair Market, etc at these discussions. An indication of Headline targets and initiatives was provided to the forum.

The current ACT reform process allows for alignment with Global Biodiversity Framework and Nature Positive Plan. If passed by the federal government, the Nature Positive Plan and the new EPBC Act will result in significant changes to planning and development legislation.

Michaela Watts, Parks and Partnerships Power Tool use by volunteers update 

The Volunteer Coordinator within the ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) has scheduled a training/accreditation session on power tools and specifically brush cutters for PCS and Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate volunteer management staff in October 2023. This training/accreditation is occurring alongside meetings between PCS/TCCS and government workplace health and safety officials to discuss the safety risk assessment and proposed procedures.

The outcomes of the training/accreditation and the discussions about risk assessments and procedures will guide and inform the final decision on the types of power tools that will be endorsed for use by the ACT’s environmental volunteer groups, before being progressed for approvals across both directorates.

Dr Rosie Cooney, Senior Director, Office of Nature Conservation (on behalf of Dr Brett Howland). Concept plans for Habitat Restoration 

Significant funds were made available for Habitat Restoration in the current budget, to combat ongoing issues including increases in invasive plant and animal species, reductions in native species (such as small birds), and increasing fragmentation.

The Office of Nature Conservation and PCS are currently selecting sites for restoration based on prioritisation across conservation, connectivity, community, culture, cost, and threatened species values. The three sites emerging as frontrunner “showcase” sites for initial restoration are Ainslie-Majura, Urambi Hills, and Namadgi grassy valleys. The project is intended to act as a proof of concept for an ongoing nil-tenure program with shared mapping, monitoring and reporting tools, and a strong evaluation framework built in. Significant interest was expressed by community groups to engage with and support the program. 

The forum members asked a question regarding reflecting volunteer conservation work being reflected within a layer on ArcGIS - response was that the ACT govt is actively looking into this option.

Other Updates

Review of the Nature Conservation Strategy (NCS)

The Nature Conservation Strategy is due for review at the end of the year. Consultants Umwelt have been engaged to support the consultation phase.They will engage with the Biodiversity Conservation Forum members during October, and run community consultation sessions early next year. Their report is expected by Feb 2024. 

Community Engagement on Invasive Plants

The Conservator of Flora and Fauna proposed to develop a chart/matrix  of community engagement groups with contact details, agendas and minutes of meetings to be provided to the Biodiversity Conservation Forum to support community engagement and communications.

Connecting Nature Connecting People program (CNCP)

The Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design, a component of the new Territory Plan, is going live today, due to commence in November. 

A new CNCP initiative -Canberra Urban Biodiversity Surveys (CUBS) is commencing to undertake significant monitoring work, with pollinator surveys commencing soon. Interested parties are invited to get in touch. This is being supported by Canberra Nature Map, who have been provided with funds to upgrade capacity as part of the CNCP program.

The full list of CNCP grant sites will be announced soon. Plans for connectivity restoration work along 4 waterway corridors will be developed, and some on-ground works funded. 

Work on the Sullivan’s Creek renaturalisation project has also commenced, including Ngunawal engagement. Your Say community engagement has also commenced. This project aligns with the Habitat restoration work being done by the Office of Nature Conservation.

Items on Notice

For noting - Hazard Reduction Burn at Bluett’s Block being considered

For noting - Jean Casburn (one of the founders of the Bluetts Block group) died recently.