Management of Ramsar Wetlands in Western Australia
Report No 9 -
September 2006
Background
Western Australia (WA) has 120 wetlands of national importance,
12 of which are listed as being of international importance under the
International Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention.
The Convention is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation
and ‘wise use’ of wetland.
Management of WA’s Ramsar wetlands rests with
the State under a complex legislative and policy framework, though the
Commonwealth, as the signatory to the Convention, is ultimately responsible
for Australian commitment and compliance with the Convention.
The examination
assessed the management of Ramsar wetlands in WA with particular focus
on the operations of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)
and the Conservation Commission.
What the examination found...
The State
has recognised the importance of registering rare and unique wetlands
under the Ramsar Convention. However, conservation of these sites needs
to improve, particularly the management planning and implementation of
strategies if degradation is to be prevented and prohibitive rehabilitation
costs avoided.
Policy and Direction
- Ramsar sites are not managed in
accordance with specific overarching policies and strategies, but as
individual sites. There are significant differences in activity and
control across the 12 sites.
- The protection of Ramsar wetlands in
Western Australia is generally supported by the legislative and policy
framework though aspects such as more specific recognition of these
wetlands should be improved.
Funding of Activities
- While there is
no dedicated program of funding by either the Commonwealth or State
for Ramsar wetlands, significant funding by DEC has benefited five
Ramsar sites. Small amounts of funding have been provided for other
sites as part of DEC’s general conservation activities. Management activity to
prevent site degradation is limited in the absence of funding.
Management
and Reporting
- At the sites we visited, we found committed and skilled
staff who were undertaking work of high quality. We also observed
that work at one site has received national acclaim.
- A lack of coordinated
and uniform monitoring means that DEC cannot provide an overview
of the health of the 12 wetlands.
- There is clear evidence of a worsening
in ecological character in at least two Ramsar wetlands which DEC
has not reported to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth and States are
currently developing systems to report changes in the ecological character
of wetlands.
- Six
of the 12 Ramsar wetlands at present have no plans for their management.
The preparation of management plans is a State obligation. Without
a management plan DEC is restricted in the conservation activity it
can undertake. DEC in June 2006 sought external funds for preparation
of the remaining management plans.
- There is no agency with final
responsibility for the protection and management of the ecological
character of three Ramsar sites and part of a fourth. DEC is
charged with implementing the Ramsar Convention but it has no legal
authority to do so on these four sites because they are not vested
in the Conservation Commission.
What the examination recommended...
- DEC as the lead agency for management
of Ramsar wetlands should establish and communicate a clear direction
for their conservation. This direction should include:
- explicit objectives
for the overall management of Ramsar wetlands
- improved prioritisation
and timelines for the preparation of management plans
- systematic
plans for monitoring and scientific activities.
- DEC should clarify
with the Commonwealth and other stakeholders the respective responsibilities
for Ramsar implementation including funding.
- DEC should as a priority
develop and implement management plans for those Ramsar sites which
lack them.
- DEC on behalf of the State should investigate options to
obtain clear authority for sites not vested in the Conservation Commission.
It should also advocate that any new or amended legislation provides
clear responsibilities for such sites.
- DEC should conduct a gap
analysis of research and monitoring that has occurred on Ramsar wetlands.
Following this DEC should develop and implement a monitoring program
that will allow it to provide regular and reliable information regarding
all Ramsar sites.
- In the absence of an agreed methodology for assessing
ecological character and wetland indicators, DEC should report emerging
concerns to the Commonwealth.
- DEC and the Commission should establish
procedures to end delays that occur in the finalisation of management
plans such as regular review of progress against internal deadlines.
In addition, DEC and the Commission on behalf of the State should
consider proposing legislative amendments to provide statutory
deadlines for finalising stakeholder agreement.
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