ACTS OR CONVENTIONS

RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT

AND SUSTAINABILITY OF
OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act
1988 & Ramsar Convention
(international treaty,1971)
Background
There are 3 levels of government in Australia; federal, state and local.
Each can create and enact laws in order to manage areas for which
they are responsible. Made in the form of by-laws (local government)
or Acts of parliament (state or federal government).
A treaty is an agreement in written form between nations that is
intended to establish governed by international law. Can also be
known as a convention
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
Was a key piece of legislation that provides for state wide programs
preventing further loss of habitat , maintenance of extant habitats and
species.
An important law to maintain natural ecological processes.
Victorias threatened species and communities have been identified, along
with the processes that threaten their survival.
Objectives (see handout)
The process for enlisting Flora and Fauna under the Act is by submission of
nomination. Anyone can nominate by providing specific information (see
textbook pg. 310)
The nomination is considered by an expert, advisory committee and then,
if considered valid, advertised for public comment.
In light of any further evidence provided, the committee will make its final
recommendations.
Action Statements
Action Statements are prepared by the DEPI (department of
Environment and Primary Industry)
These describe the recommended conservation management
practices for specific threatened species.
They become the recovery plan to return species off the threatened
species list.
https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/__
data/assets/pdf_file/0018/32355/Mountain_Pygmy-possum_Burramys
_parvus.pdf
Ramsar Convention (international treaty, 1971)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvYj6MM5qtM
Is an international treaty that provides the framework for national
action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise
use of wetlands and their resources.
Wetlands are defined in the treaty as; swamps, marshes, billabongs,
lakes, salt marshes, mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat bogs
or bodies of water wether natural or artificial, permanent or
temporary.
Wise use refers to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands
and their resources, for the benefit of humankind.
 Under the three pillars of the Convention, the Contracting Parties
commit to:
work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International
Importance (the Ramsar List) and ensure their effective management;
cooperate internationally on transboundary (shared across one or more
borders) wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.

https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/266
Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula
1(a)(b) The Ramsar site includes a range of marine and inland wetlands
characteristic of the South East Coastal Plain bioregion as well as artificial
wetlands. Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve is the largest area of native
vegetation remaining on the Bellarine Peninsula and Reedy Lake is the largest
freshwater lake in central Victoria.
2(b) The Ramsar site is one of the most important sites in Victoria for migratory
shorebirds. The vegetation of Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve is very
diverse, with 137 native plants being recorded. Forty-five (85%) of the 53 salt
marsh species which occur in Victoria occur at Lake Connewarre. Ready lake
also has outstanding significance due to its large size, floristic richness and
structural diversity (Yugovic 1985). The range of habitats within the Reserve
leads to a very diverse avifauna, with 135 species being recorded (Pescott
1983).
3(c) The Ramsar site supports approximately 50% of the known world
population of Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) and substantial
numbers of important migratory and native waterfowls and waders.