4.2.

5
A C T S O R C O N V E N T I O N S R E L AT E D T O T H E
M A N A G E M E N T A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y O F
OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS.
FROM THE STUDY GUIDE

• Describe specific legislation and agreements related to

managing and sustaining outdoor environments.

• Be able to relate the ‘Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988)

and the Ramsar Convention (1971) to outdoor environments
visited/studied.
S TAT E L E V E L

FLORA AND
FA U N A
GUARANTEE
ACT 1988
W H AT I S I T ?

• The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 provides for the
listing of Victoria’s threatened plant and animal species,
ecological communities and potentially threatening processes.

• It is the key piece of legislation operating to protect

threatened species and communities in Victoria.

• Under the Act, an Action Statement must be prepared by the

Department of Environment and Primary Industries for each
species following a listing.
A C T I O N S TAT E M E N T

Action Statements include the following information:

• items (species, communities or threatening processes

• locations (areas of management)

• threats (which processes are considered)

• actions (what practical strategies are adopted)

• organisations and individuals who carry out actions

• results (to assess the success of management)

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• Anyone can submit a nomination for a listing under the Act.

• The nomination is considered by an expert advisory committee, if

this is considered valid, the public may comment.

• Application is reconsidered once all evidence and comment from

the public has been submitted.

• The final recommendation from the committee is forwarded to

parliament for a final decision.
CASE STUDY
The Leadbeaters Possum: Central Highlands (Victoria)

• Conservation Status: Endangered (FFG)

• Habitat: Ash Forests (Toolangi, Yellingbo, Baw Baw)

• Threats: Fire (climate), timber harvesting, decline in habitat quality,

population fragmentation.
A C T I O N S TAT E M E N T

Objectives of Action Statement

• I. To secure populations or habitat from potentially incompatible land use or

catastrophic loss

• II. To maintain or increase the extent of habitat

• III. To increase knowledge of biology, ecology or management requirements

• IV. To maintain or increase community awareness and support

• V. To review and evaluate the ecological effectiveness of actions for the

recovery of the Leadbeater’s Possum
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

• Establish a Special Protection Zone: In order to exclude

timber harvesting operations within a 200m radius. Zone will
be mapped and all future timber operations will only exist
outside of this zone.

• Responsible body = DEPI

Zoning would prevent further black areas increasing.
• Provide artificial nest boxes: At key locations to support
existing populations. The decline in den sites (hollow-
bearing trees) calls for supportive nesting options.

• ‘Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum’ has been effective in

implementing this so far, in a partnership with Parks Victoria
and Zoos Victoria.

• Responsible body = DEPI, Parks Vic., Zoos Vic.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L L E V E L

RAMSAR
CONVENTION
1971
W H AT I S I T ?

• The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for national

action and international cooperation for the conservation and
wise use of wetlands and their resources.

• Wise use: the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and

their resources, for the benefit of man kind.

• The purpose of the Ramsar Convention is also to ensure

migratory birds have habitats maintained at both ends of their
migratory path and countries have designate wetlands of
international importance.
 WHEN DID IT BEGIN?

• The Ramsar Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of

Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

• It is the only global environmental treaty that relates to one

specific ecosystem.
W H AT I S I N C L U D E D ?

• The convention includes swamps, rivers, marshes, lakes,

estuaries, tidal flats, river deltas, mangroves, coral reefs, salt
lakes, peatlands and oasis.
CASE STUDY
Western Port Ramsar Site: Page 314 of your textbook.