4.2.

5
Acts or conventions related
to the management and
sustainability of outdoor
environments.
 Key Knowledge:
Be able to relate the:
- ‘Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988)
- Ramsar Convention (1971)

From the study to outdoor environments visited/studied.

design
Key Skills:
Describe and evaluate the effectiveness of specific acts
and conventions related to managing and sustaining
outdoor environments.
 STATE LEVEL

Flora and
Fauna
Guarantee
Act 1988
(Vic)
  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
What is it?
Victoria.

 Under the Act, an Action Statement must be

prepared by the Department of Environment and
Primary Industries for each species following a
listing.

Action Statements
These are prepared by DELWP
after careful and thorough
research and investigation
They are a detailed document that describes the recommended
conservation management practices for specific threatened
species.
They essentially act as a recovery plan that sets out how to get the
species off the threatened list.
Action Statements identify what has to be done where and by
whom in order to conserve the species. It is based on the
following:
• 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)
  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.
How does it  Application is reconsidered once all evidence
work? and comment from the public has been
submitted.

 The final recommendation from the

committee is forwarded to parliament for a
final decision.
  Threatened species are protected by law,
holding society accountable for their existence.
Strengths of  People can be fined/go to court based on the
the FFG Act breaching of species included in the FFG Act.
(Uncommon).
  The FFG Act is not enforced - Since 1988 there
has only been one temporary order for a
breach.
 The Victorian Government does not provide
Weaknesses of the DELWP (formerly DEPI) with adequate
resources for implementing Action Statements.
the FFG Act
 Lack of resourcing means that implementation
relies heavily on community and volunteer
groups e.g. Friends of the Prom for weeding
etc.
  Whilst the FFG Act has the greatest of
intentions for Victoria’s threatened flora and
fauna species, it is hard to argue that it has
been effective in sustainably managing outdoor
So… environments.
Is it effective?  The lack of enforcement (1 case in 18 years)
and under-resourcing has lead to a lack of
effectiveness across all listed species (though it
may be considered effective for some).
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

Ramsar
Convention
(international
treaty, 1971)
  The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that
provides a framework for national action and international
cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands
and their resources.

 It defines wetlands as: swamps, marshes, billabongs, lakes,

salt marshes, mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat
bogs or bodies of water whether natural or artificial,
What is it? permanent or temporary.
(purpose)  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 designated
wetlands of international importance, which they protect.
 • There are currently 11 Ramsar protected sites
listed in Victoria.

• Management plans have been developed for

each of these sites based on maintaining the
ecological character of Victoria’s Ramsar sites
Goals through conservation and wise use.

• The 2016-2024 Ramsar Plan operates under

three strategic pillars:
 • Work towards the wise use of all their wetlands
through national land use planning, appropriate
policies and legislation, management actions and
1. public education

• Designate suitable wetlands for the List of wetlands

of International importance (Ramsar list) and ensure
2. their effective management

• Cooperate internationally concerning transboundary

wetlands, shared wetland systems, shared species,
3. and development projects that may affect wetlands

*Wetlands that occur across one or more borders

 Origins:
when did it  The Ramsar Convention was adopted in the Iranian city
begin? of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
 It is the only global environmental treaty that relates to
one specific ecosystem.
  The convention provides for national and
international recognition of the importance of
wetlands and habitats for migratory birds.
Strengths of  The convention promotes community
Ramsar involvement which in turn creates awareness
for the need to protect and appreciate the
importance of healthy outdoor environments.
  Ramsar sites/zones are negatively affected by
processes which occur outside of them, yet impact
on them. e.g. Western Port Bay (a Ramsar site) has
14 waterways that filter into it, most of which
carry waste from agricultural practices and other
primary industries.
Weaknesses of
Ramsar  Funding is required for projects, yet is not always
available.

 Reviews are often completed several years apart,

leading to inconsistent findings and management
of new and existing pressures.
  An audit of Victoria’s wetlands has found that
there is limited evidence to suggest that
Ramsar sites are being protected. (article on
website).
So…  Effectiveness is not systematically monitored,
Is it effective? reviewed or evaluated. There is no structure to
the governance of these sites.
 Wetlands are declining in health and pressures
continue to mount.