ACT Nature Conservation Strategy 2013–23 Implementation Plan 1 (2013–2018).

This Implementation Plan 1 has been developed by the ACT Government and provides a road map of the most significant milestones required to deliver the Nature Conservation Strategy (NCS)’s actions and targets during the period 2013–2018. The Plan clarifies that implementation of strategic priorities and related actions will be dependent upon the availability of funding and the ACT Government Directorates focus its efforts to secure resources for actions that demonstrate cost effectiveness in terms of responding to critical conservation priorities and achieving the greatest positive conservation impacts.
Milestones for this first implementation phase, under Strategy 1 (Enhance habitat connectivity and ecosystem function) are: complete a soil and vegetation mapping; agree nationally on native vegetation condition indicators; finalise a migratory Species Action Plan; prepare habitat connectivity mapping for wildlife; complete hydrogeological Landscape Framework; complete a fine scale planning for grassy woodland ecosystems; identify, agree and support funding for Regional Corridor Links; develop a climate change risk impacts statement and a dynamic NRM planning framework to be used to plan for climate change adaptation; fund priority landscape actions such as revegetation and restoration in lowland grassy woodland ecosystems, or in invasive species control projects.
Manage threats to biodiversity (Strategy 2)’s Actions and related milestones are several and can be summarised as follow. To implement the ACT Weed Strategy 2009-2019 the Implementation Plan recognises the need to develop prior Pest Plant Management Plans for critical weed species, a weed alert system, and complete mapping of serious and widespread weeds. To Implement ACT Pest Animal Management Strategy 2012-2022 the Plan identifies as milestones: development of effective identification, surveillance, response and reporting strategies for new pest animal species, completion of the Rabbit Pest Animal Management Plan, implementation of priority pest animal management programs focusing on assisting wildlife corridor restoration, development of guidelines for damage reduction management of native species, agree on Pest Animal Management Plans for additional priority species such as wild dogs, pigs, and deer. Further to that the Implementation Plan to manage total grazing pressure on ecosystem function in reserves lists as milestones: implementation of Rabbit Pest Animal Management Plan, development of Biomass Management Plans for grassland reserve, and an annual monitoring of kangaroo populations in selected reserves. To establish and implement ecologically appropriate fire regimes the Plan lists: review of ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan, continue with post fire recovery monitoring of vegetation, update and implementation of Ecological fire management guidelines and Fuel and Fire Suppression Guidelines for ACT Declared Threatened Species and Endangered Ecological Communities. To improve catchment management to support aquatic ecosystem the Plan prioritizes the completion of Catchment Management Plan and other milestones related to specific fish and ecosystems.
Under Strategy 3 (Protect species and ecological communities), the Implementation Plan to manage protected areas lists as priorities the development of reserve Operational Plans (RoPs) and management plans specific to certain Nature Parks and River Corridors. To restore and manage priority landscape the Plan recognises as milestones, among others: implementation of woodland restoration activities, implementation of invasive species control, and completion of monitoring and restoration of alpine bogs affected by the 2003 fires. Moreover, the Plan recognises as priority the need to develop criteria and principles for identifying and managing biodiveristy refugia under drought and climate change. To implement captive breeding and translocation programs, and propagate and translocate threatened plants the Plan identifies several initiatives for specific animals an plants species.
Enhance biodiversity value of urban areas (Strategy 4) entails activities and milestones that aim at manage impacts of urban development on biodiversity, manage urban landscape (e.g. policies to improve biodiversity outcomes from landscaping, key areas mapped, stocking lakes with native fish species, encourage native plantings and retention of mature hollow, bearing trees across urban areas), enhance connectivity (e.g. Implementation of education and incentive programs to encourage more native plantings in backyard), manage the urban edge (e.g. continue commitment in pet containment, waste management, recreational use, fire management, spread of invasive plants into bushland management and implementation of education program on the impacts of escaped domestic animals), support urban landcare and ParkCare activities (e.g. work with existing urban landcare and ParkCare groups to identify key areas of weed infestation and incorporate this knowledge into proposed weed mapping targets, showcase and promote the research undertaken and knowledge held by Urban Landcare and ParkCare groups, and create training opportunities), assess urban areas, manage and enhance green assets and infrastructure (e.g. to determine the need and suitability for additional tree coverage to mitigate potential heat island effect and develop a strategy for the maintenance and management of the ACT’s green assets and infrastructure).
Strategy 5 (Strengthen community engagement) under the Implementation Plan firstly aims at supporting greater community involvement through volunteering and does so by supporting ParkCare, urban landcare, catchment management groups and encouraging community events related to woodland restoration. To enhance and promote the use of citizen science projects the Plan recommends continuing to provide support to community groups that operate in critical monitoring of the ACT’s biodiversity and to ongoing distribution of environment grants. In regard to education campaigns on targeted issues the Plan identifies, as priority subjects for programmes responsible fishing, box-gum woodlands and native grasslands, climate change, pets roaming from the suburbs, backyards biodiversity, and urban/bushland edge. The Plan also aims at involving youth and indigenous people in woodland restoration, work with indigenous groups to engage with the aboriginal community on NRM and continue to employ an Indigenous Natural Resource Management Facilitator. The Plan also supports appropriate recreational and tourism use of natural areas (milestones: finalise and implement the ACT Tracks and Trails Strategy and ACT Mountain Bike Strategy) and enhances key partnerships across government, community and the private sector (e.g. work with rural landholders, Rural Landholders Association and institutional landholders on woodland restoration works, formalise engagement with national networks focused on biodiversity and climate change, work with NSW partners to identify regional wildlife corridors and work with research partners to develop a dynamic ACT Natural Resource Management).
Regarding governance, the Plan also outlines the roles of ACT Government agencies in meeting the objectives of the NCS, allocates responsibilities to lead ACT agencies for achievement of individual actions, and sets timeframes to enable progress of the actions to be monitored and assessed.