Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Land
  4. National Reserve System
  5. About the National Reserve System
  6. National Reserve System protected area requirements

Sidebar first - EN - Land

  • About the NRS
    • Australia's protected areas
    • History
    • Ownership
    • Protecting biodiversity
    • Requirements

National Reserve System protected area requirements

TREE MARTIN, PARRO DARLING NATIONAL PARK, NSW

Protected area establishment and management

A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed through legal or other effective means to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.

All Australian governments have agreed to minimum standards that protected areas must meet to be included in the National Reserve System.

  • The land must be designated a 'protected area' to be conserved forever, with effective legal means guaranteeing its perpetual conservation.
  • The land must contribute to the comprehensiveness, adequacy and representativeness (CAR), of the National Reserve System - in other words it must meet certain scientific criteria and strategically enhance the protected area network. See the National Reserve System scientific framework for more information.
  • The land must be managed to protect and maintain biological diversity according to one of six international classes developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The six-level system classifies protected areas according to their management objectives, which range from strict nature conservation to multi-use reserves (objectives must not be inconsistent with the primary purpose which is biodiversity conservation)
    • IUCN protected areas categories
  • For those who obtained Australian Government funding to establish and manage a property in the National Reserve System, there are additional guidelines and processes, related to management that must be followed.

Protection targets

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a global environmental agreement which guides international action on biodiversity conservation, and provides a guiding framework to inform our domestic biodiversity conservation priorities.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is made up of global goals and targets for biodiversity conservation and restoration, including ensuring that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of coastal and marine areas, are effectively conserved and managed. Australia has committed to protect and conserve 30 per cent of land and 30 per cent of oceans by 2030. 

Australia is a world leader in protected areas, including through our Indigenous Protected Areas program and National Reserve System. Australia has one of the world’s largest representative systems of marine protected areas, covering 45 per cent of Australian waters.

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 31 May 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.