Geoffrey Wescott

The development and initial implementation of Australia's ‘integrated and comprehensive’ Oceans Policy

Abstract Australias ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention has led to the declaration of an 11 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone. The increased responsibilities which go with this zone has resulted in the Australian Government preparing an “integrated and comprehensive” Oceans Policy. This paper reviews international progress in the development of oceans policy before describing and discussing the development and initial implementation of the Australian Oceans Policy. The development of the policy is analysed in terms of the interplay between various stakeholders and the issues included in the policy, with reference to lessons which may be of value to other countries in developing and implementing their own responses to the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention.

The role and contribution of private land in Victoria to biodiversity conservation and the protected area system

The distribution and attributes of properties involved in three major programs for biodiversity protection on private land in Victoria, Australia, was investigated to determine their role in relation to the reserve system. Overlaying of datasets in a geographic information system, with particular emphasis on property distribution in relation to bioregions and population centres, was undertaken. Land for Wildlife agreements had greater numbers of properties and total area protected in all bioregions throughout the State, yet average protected area sizes were lower than those of conservation covenants and Trust for Nature reserves. A combination of large bioregional area and human population size tended to attract more private conservation properties and, to a lesser extent, the total area they protected. The potential contribution that such properties made to biodiversity conservation varied between bioregions. Inclusion of properties within a national reserve framework is proposed to improve the coordination and effectiveness of conservation measures.

Partnerships for capacity building: community, governments and universities working together

Abstract This paper summarises initiatives in the area of capacity building between communities, governments and universities since Rio 1992. First the global advances through the UN and associated agencies are described with lessons learned and challenges remaining being highlighted. This is followed by a similar approach for first regionally based initiatives and finally some of the better examples of nationally based approaches. Among the key findings from the review were: trying to keep the initial message simple, asking the “user” what they want and what they need from capacity building, the use of local experts in capacity building where ever possible, universities extending themselves to engage in genuine partnerships as well as offering new courses, subjects, etc., attempting to match the strengths and weaknesses of partners in capacity building, concentrating on improving regional partnerships across national boundaries, deriving methods to sustain capacity building programs over the long term, questioning the absence of the private sector from capacity building partnerships, questioning whether capacity building is receiving the attention, funding and centrality to ICM promotion that it warrants, a proposal to build a global ICM capacity building network, the need for greater critical analysis of capacity building programs, integrating capacity building into ICM practices and recognising that effective capacity building practice may require some time and effort to build up, i.e. there are no universal “quick-fixes”.

Reforming coastal management to improve community participation and integration in Victoria, Australia

Victoria, Australia, has just completed a comprehensive review of its coastal zone management system. The emphasis in the review was on integrating planning and management of both land and near sea areas while increasing community involvement in coastal zone management. This article describes the outcome of the review, the Coastal Management Act 1995, and the current implementation of this act. The increased role of the community in coastal management is described and discussed. Finally, risks to the successful implementation of the revised system are discussed.

The Theory and Practice of Coastal Area Planning: Linking Strategic Planning to Local Communities

Integrated coastal management (ICM) has been slowly accepted over the last decade as a unifying approach for coastal planning and management throughout the world. Coastal planning aimed at achieving the objectives of ICM can be implemented by varying processes and faces many challenges. One major challenge for coastal planning is to adapt the well-developed theoretical principles of ICM to practical and understandable outcomes in local areas. Associated with this challenge is the need to balance coastal planning objectives for conservation and economic development of a nation or state/province with the objectives of the local community. This article describes a three-tiered approach to coastal planning in Victoria, Australia, which will be of value to other countries, particularly those with subnational coastal planning jurisdictions. This approach not only has the aim of balancing subnational (e.g., state government) and local objectives, but also of applying the theoretical concept of ICM in practice on the ground. In addition, the approach sets out to achieve a sense of ownership of the planning process by local communities by maximizing their involvement at all levels of planning and also by making the state strategy as easy to understand and follow as possible.

History and Attributes of Selected Australian Multi-tenure Reserve Networks

The need for conservation planning across the landscape, regardless of tenure, is widely recognised. In Australia, attempts to coordinate the management of conservation lands are characterised by models such as Biosphere Reserves and Conservation Management Networks. This paper outlines the history behind the formation and development of three networks in Australia—the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, the Gippsland Plains Conservation Management Network, and the Grassy Box Woodlands Conservation Management Network—with particular emphasis on the tenure and protection attributes of the various components within these networks. Despite having a similar number of components, the total area represented in the networks varied markedly. There were few similarities in the proportion of components of various tenures and protection mechanisms among networks. Composition of networks is likely to be strongly influenced by both historical factors (degree of subdivision, land ownership and remaining vegetation) and contemporary factors (aims of the network and willingness of landowners to participate). Continued research into both the evolution and the physical and social dynamics of multi-tenure reserve networks enables a better understanding of their operation, and will ultimately assist in improved conservation planning across the landscape.

Recreational use of a marine protected area: Point Lonsdale, Victoria

This article reports findings from observational and questionnaire surveys of visitors to a Marine Protected Area (MPA) at Point Lonsdale, Victoria. The MPA was established primarily to protect the biodiversity of intertidal rock platforms, with only limited restrictions being placed on fishing. Visitor surveys were undertaken to identify and quantify recreational uses, assess level of compliance with regulations, identify the uses most likely to have damaging impacts on biota, and to assess awareness of, and support for, this MPA and for MPAs in general. A questionnaire survey of visitors supported observational survey findings concerning recreational use patterns and provided information on awareness about and attitudes towards conservation measures for this location and for Victorias marine environment. The finding that about half the visitors were not aware that they were visiting a marine protected area has implications for future management of this area and MPAs in general. Most visitors indicated support for the concept of marine conservation areas and marine protected areas.

Certification and labelling as a new tool for sustainable forest management

Sustainable management of the worlds forests has emerged as a major forestry issue on the international agenda. Certification and labelling have caught the attention of the international community as a tool to bring forest management toward sustainability. Certification is the third party assessment of a product or service to show that it is in compliance with a specific standard. In-depth interviews were used in this study of Victorian timber industry stakeholders to determine their current views on certification and labelling. It was found that knowledge levels of certification and labelling varied enormously among respondents. Those with the greatest knowledge see the introduction of certification and labelling as being inevitable if overseas markets are to be maintained. Those with a lesser knowledge displayed tentative support for the concept. All stakeholders envisage that when used appropriately, this tool will lead to improved forest management practices by increasing the pressure on producers to...

Protecting Marine Parks in Reality: The Role of Regional and Local Communication Programs

Assuring compliance with regulations is achieved in two main ways: enforcement and education. It has been found that education works effectively at increasing compliance with regulations in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) (Alcock 1991; Kenchington, 1990). Alder ( 1996) in a study on the cost effectiveness of enforcement vs. education in the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park found that education was more cost effective than enforcement. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) realizing the importance of education, has made it a priority from the time of its declaration in 1975 (Alcock, 1991; Kenchington, 1990).

Backyard bandicoots: community attitudes towards conservation planning in residential developments

ABSTRACT As global populations grow, cities are stretching their urban boundaries into rural areas and bringing the challenges of biodiversity conservation into the backyards of homeowners. Planning controls can attempt to regulate residents’ behaviours to support conservation actions for threatened species but need to consider whether community attitudes align with conservation objectives. This study investigated community attitudes towards planned management interventions in a new conservation strategy designed to protect endangered Southern Brown Bandicoots in new residential estates around Cranbourne, Australia. A survey (n = 318, response rate 15.2 per cent) investigated current resident attitudes towards bandicoot conservation, cat ownership and effectiveness of current planning controls. Results indicate community support for a range of bandicoot conservation actions including confinement of domestic cats and non-lethal cat controls and for new developments being cat-free with bandicoot habitat corridors. Awareness of bandicoots correlated with higher support for conservation actions while cat owners were less supportive overall, particularly to limitations on cat ownership. Potential barriers to management interventions include inadequate knowledge, perceived associated risks and housing turnover. This information is valuable for conservation planning for new developments and to improve implementation of planning controls in existing residential areas for delivery of long-term protection for threatened species like Southern Brown Bandicoots.