ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999

Commonwealth Numbered Acts

Objects of Act

(a): to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are matters of national environmental significance; and
(b): to promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources; and
(c): to promote the conservation of biodiversity; and
(d): to promote a co-operative approach to the protection and management of the environment involving governments, the community, land-holders and indigenous peoples; and
(e): to assist in the co-operative implementation of Australia's international environmental responsibilities; and
(f): to recognise the role of indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity; and
(g): to promote the use of indigenous peoples' knowledge of biodiversity with the involvement of, and in co-operation with, the owners of the knowledge.

(a): recognises an appropriate role for the Commonwealth in relation to the environment by focussing Commonwealth involvement on matters of national environmental significance and on Commonwealth actions and Commonwealth areas; and
(b): strengthens intergovernmental co-operation, and minimises duplication, through bilateral agreements; and
(c): provides for the intergovernmental accreditation of environmental assessment and approval processes; and
(d): adopts an efficient and timely Commonwealth environmental assessment and approval process that will ensure activities that are likely to have significant impacts on the environment are properly assessed; and
(e): enhances Australia's capacity to ensure the conservation of its biodiversity by including provisions to:

(i): protect native species (and in particular prevent the extinction, and promote the recovery, of threatened species) and ensure the conservation of migratory species; and
(ii): establish an Australian Whale Sanctuary to ensure the conservation of whales and other cetaceans; and
(iii): protect ecosystems by means that include the establishment and management of reserves, the recognition and protection of ecological communities and the promotion of off-reserve conservation measures; and
(iv): identify processes that threaten all levels of biodiversity and implement plans to address these processes; and

(f): includes provisions to enhance the protection, conservation and presentation of world heritage properties and the conservation and wise use of Ramsar wetlands of international importance; and
(g): promotes a partnership approach to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation through:

(i): bilateral agreements with States and Territories; and
(ii): conservation agreements with land-holders; and
(iii): recognising and promoting indigenous peoples' role in, and knowledge of, the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of biodiversity; and
(iv): the involvement of the community in management planning.

AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback