| National Reserve System Australia | |
|---|---|
 Sample of Signage, within aWet Tropics portion of National Reserve System | |
| Established | 1992 |
| Area | > 137 million hectares (340×10 |
| Managing authorities | |
| Website | National Reserve System |
Australia'sNational Reserve System (NRS) is a network of more than 10,000Commonwealth plusstate and territoryprotected areas which,[1] in combination, on a national scale, protect more than 137 million hectares (340×10^6 acres), greater than 17% of thecontinent, of uniquebiodiversity and most significantecological landscapes for future generations.[2] The aim of the NRS is protect the diversity of allnative landscapes,flora andfauna across Australia through strategichabitat protection. It consists of public, indigenous and privately protected areas of land and inland freshwaters.[3]
As part of the National Reserve System Cooperative Program, theInterim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia framework was developed as a planning tool to assist in identifying areas of priority.[4]
Privately protected areas consist of privately owned areas where owners have entered into "in perpetuity" covenants which are governed by the various legislative Act of the states, territories and commonwealth of Australia.[5] Consequent to these laws, states, territories and commonwealth maintain registers of the lands and their covenants. See for example the NSW register.[6]
The move by the Australian Government to establish this National Reserve System was triggered by the internationalConvention on Biological Diversity, as part of the nation's commitment to fulfilling the objectives of that convention.[7] In particular, after signing and ratifying the convention in 1992 the thenPrime Minister, Paul Keating, announced[7]
The establishment of a comprehensive system of protected areas is vital if we are to retain our status as a region of megadiversity. Besides being ecologically viable these areas must represent the full range of ecosystems. The Government is committed to the development of a national comprehensive system of parks and reserves. This will be achieved in cooperation with States and Territories.
Within the first 4 years (1992–1996) $11.2 million was spent establishing the system and, with the cooperation and agreement of the AustralianStates and territories 5,600 properties (covering almost 60 million hectares (150×10^6 acres)) were included within the system and a newIndigenous Protected Area (IPA) program was initiated to include some of the most valuable and rare ecological landscapes onIndigenous Australian owned lands.[7] 17 Indigenous Protected Area were declared by 2003 which significantly added to the NRS.[8]
Within the next 10 years (1996–2007), with further substantial investment (through aNational Heritage Trust) an additional 30 million hectares (74×10^6 acres) were added to the National Reserve System, two thirds of which were Indigenous Protected Areas. During this time, starting in 1999,Tasmania took a lead investing in partnerships to create protected areas on other private lands; and by 2005 all the states and territories re-affirmed their joint commitment to what was to be described as a national 'flagship in biodiversity conservation'.[7]
The National Reserve System continues to be an Australian Government priority, with continuing funding "target[ing] areas with low levels of protection, including the sub-tropical savanna fromCape York to theKimberley, theMitchell grass country ofnorth-west Queensland and aridcentral Australia;[7] continuing investment in indigenous protected areas;[7] plus a new National Reserve System strategy identifying priorities and actions to be taken over the next 20 years.[9]
The NRS has been praised by theWWF Australia as a successful, cost-effective conservation measure.[10]CSIRO modelling has concluded that the NRS will be an important conservation tool to combat the effects ofclimate change in Australia on the environment.[11]
