The following is a simplified outline of this Division:

The Governor-General can proclaim a Commonwealth area to be a conservation zone, to protect biodiversity in the area while it is being assessed for inclusion in a Commonwealth reserve. Regulations can be made to regulate a wide range of activities in a conservation zone. People who have rights relating to an area that is later included in a conservation zone can continue to exercise those rights in the zone. A conservation zone can be revoked if the Minister is satisfied the area concerned should not be included in a Commonwealth reserve. It is revoked automatically if it is included in a Commonwealth reserve.