Implementation of the Ramsar convention on wetlands in Tasmania, Australia

Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy

Volumn 13, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 205-239

  Prahalad, Vishnu N ^b   Kriwoken, Lorne K ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA   (Australia)

^b NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION; LEGISLATIVE IMPLEMENTATION; WETLAND MANAGEMENT;

AUSTRALIA; TASMANIA;

EID: 77955628946     PISSN: 13880292     EISSN: 15481476     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13880292.2010.486697     Document Type: Article

References (137)

1. The authors wish to thank those wetland actors who were interviewed as part of development of the manuscript. We would also like to thank those who commented on earlier drafts, especially Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick and Dr. Joanna Ellison. The authors remain responsible for any errors or omissions the article may contain.
2. This article uses the definition of wetlands as provided under Article 1 of the Ramsar Convention, which is "wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent, or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres." This definition includes rivers, lakes, and estuaries (among others) that are traditionally considered to be separate from wetlands. However, for the purposes of conservation and natural resource management, most of these water dependent ecosystems are interrelated and hence have merit to be classified under an all-encompassing term-wetlands.
3. J.B. Zedler & S. Kercher, Wetland Resources: Status, Trends, Ecosystem Services, and Restorability, 30 ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVT'L RESOURCES 39 (2005).
4. 996 U.N.T.S. 245.
5. M.J. O'Connell, Detecting, measuring, and reversing changes to wetlands, 11 WETLANDS ECO & MGMT. 397 (2003).
6. MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT, ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELL-BEING: WETLANDS AND WATER SYNTHESIS (2005).
7. C. Ravenga et al., Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: Freshwater systems, report of The World Resources Institute (2000), available at http://www.wri.org/publication/pilot-analysis-global-ecosystems-freshwater-systems (accessed 30 November 2009)
8. R.J.S. (Bob) Beeton et al., (2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee), Australia State of the Environment, Independent Report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Department of the Environment and Heritage, (2006).
9. H.K. Jacobson & E.B. Weiss, Assessing the Record and Designing Strategies to Engage Countries, in ENGAGING COUNTRIES: STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACCORDS 511, (E.B. Weiss & H.K. Jacobson eds., 1998).
10. J.B. Kirkpatrick & P.A. Tyler, Tasmanian wetlands and their conservation, in THE CONSERVATION OF AUSTRALIAN WETLANDS 196, (A.J. McComb & P.S. Lake eds., 1988).
11. L.J. O'Toole, Policy recommendations for multi-actor implementation: An assessment of the field, 6 J. PUBLIC POL'Y, 181 (1986)
12. P.A. Sabatier, Top-down and bottom-up approaches to implementation research: A critical analysis and suggested synthesis, 6 J. PUBLIC POL'Y, 21 (1986).
13. RAMSAR CONVENTION SECRETARIAT, THE RAMSAR CONVENTION MANUAL: A GUIDE TO THE CONVENTION ON WETLANDS (RAMSAR, IRAN, 1971) 118 (4th ed. 2006).
14. Id; pursuant to Recommendation 4.2.
15. Resolution IX.1 Annex B (Revised Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (2005)).
16. Resolution IX.1 Annex A (A Conceptual Framework for the wise use of wetlands and the maintenance of their ecological character (2005))
17. P. Bridgewater, A New Context for the Ramsar Convention: Wetlands in a Changing World, 17 REVIEW OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND INT'L ENVTL. L. 100 (2008).
18. Resolution VIII.8 (Assessing and reporting the status and trends of wetlands, and the implementation of Article 3.2 of the Convention (2002)).
19. The latest Ramsar Strategic Plan 2009-2015 was adopted by Resolution X.1 in COP10 (2008).
20. RAMSAR CONVENTION SECRETARIAT, RAMSAR HANDBOOKS FOR THE WISE USE OF WETLANDS, (3rd ed., 2007), available at http://www.ramsar.org
21. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, (1992) available at http://www.environment.gov.au/esd/national/igae/index.html
22. R. Padgett & L.K. Kriwoken, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: The Future Role of the Commonwealth in Environmental Impact Assessment. 8 AUSTRALIAN J. ENVTL. MGMT. 25 (2001)
23. A. Macintosh & D. Wilkinson, EPBC Act-The Case for Reform, 10 AUSTRALASIAN J.NATURAL RES. L. & POL'Y 139 (2005)
24. C. McGrath, Key Concepts of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), 22 ENVTL. & PLANNING L. J. 20 (2005)
25. C. McGrath, Review of the EPBC Act, paper prepared for the 2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee (2006), available at http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/emerging/epbc-act/pubs/epbc-act.pdf (accessed 25 August 2009).
26. For example, see Minister for the Environment Heritage v. Greentree (No. 3) [2004] FCA 1317.
27. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), s333.
28. R. Beeton & C. McGrath, Developing an Approach to the Listing of Ecological Communities to Achieve Conservation Outcomes, 13 AUSTRALASIAN J. NATURAL RES. L. & POL'Y, 61 (2009).
29. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ON THE PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY BIRDS, AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES, (2007) available at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/27february2007/treaties/korea_nia.pdf (accessed 21 June 2009).
30. G. Early, Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human /Wildlife Interactions, 11 J. INT'L WILDLIFE L. & POL'Y 101 (2008).
31. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WATER, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS, MANAGING WETLANDS, (2008) available at http://www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/wetlands/managing/index.html (accessed 7 July 2009).
32. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Web site, ABOUT THE NRM MINISTERIAL COUNCIL, (2007), available at http://www.mincos.gov.au/about_nrmmc (accessed 21 March 2009).
33. VNP was involved in the process of developing a national approach to classify and manage high conservation value aquatic ecosystems.
34. AUSTRALIAN NATURE CONSERVATION AGENCY (ANCA), THE WETLANDS POLICY OF THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA (1997).
35. See: http://www.nht.gov.au/nht/index.html (accessed 21 March 2009).
36. L. Robins & S. Dovers, Community-based NRM boards of management: Are they up to the task?, 14 AUSTRALASIAN J. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 111 (2007).
37. See: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/mr20080314.pdf
38. http://www.nrm.gov.au/publications/factsheets/target-info-sheet-landscapescale.html
39. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, CARING FOR OUR COUNTRY OUTCOMES 2008-2013 (2008), available at http://www.nrm.gov.au/publications/books/pubs/caring-outcomes.pdf (accessed 10 December 2009).
40. See: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/wetlands/ramsar/cepa.html (accessed 7 July 2009).
41. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS OFFICE (TAS). THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW HANDBOOK: YOUR PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TASMANIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND PLANNING LAWS (2001).
42. RESOURCE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, GUIDE TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING SYSTEM (2003), available at http://www.planning.tas.gov.au/planning/rmps (accessed 10 December 2009).
43. See: http://www.planning.tas.gov.au/ (accessed 10 December 2009).
44. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT, TASMANIAN WETLANDS STRATEGY (2004), available at http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/LJEM-64FUR2/$FILE/Wetland%20Strategy.pdf (accessed 11 March 2009).
45. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND LAND MANAGEMENT, STATE COASTAL POLICY 1996 (1996).
46. P. DAVIES, WATER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR TASMANIA (2001).
47. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT, WATER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR TASMANIA (2001).
48. See: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/RPIO-4YL9F9?open (accessed 11 March 2009).
49. P.E. Davies et al., The Tasmanian Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystem Values (CFEV) framework: Developing a conservation and management system for rivers, in FRESHWATER PROTECTED AREAS: NEW AND EXCITING TOOLS FOR CONSERVING FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA, 27-28 SEPTEMBER 2004 (IRN and WWF-Australia, 2005).
50. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND WATER, AUDITING TASMANIA'S FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM VALUES-SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK,CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS VALUES PROJECT (2007).
51. See: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/DRAR-7T8VB6?open (accessed 11 March 2009).
52. See: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/SROS-6GV2RK?open (accessed 11 March 2009).
53. See: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/DRAR-7T6AEZ?open (accessed 10 December 2009).
54. V.N. PRAHALAD, Temporal Changes in South East Tasmanian Saltmarshes, MASTER'S THESIS, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania (2009).
55. PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FORESTRY TASMANIA AND DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT, TASMANIAN RESERVE MANAGEMENT CODE OF PRACTICE (2003).
56. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT, TASMANIAN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (2002), available at http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/ALIR-57A8R4/$FILE/ReportNoPics.pdf (accessed 11 March 2009).
57. CRADLE COAST NRM, CRADLE COAST NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2005), available at http://www.nrmtas.org/library/cradle/documents/CCNRM_Strat_LR.pdf (accessed 21 March 2009)
58. NRM NORTH, NORTHERN TASMANIA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2005), available at http://www.nrmtas.org/regions/north/pdfs/NRMCorpPlan2007.pdf (accessed 21 March 2009)
59. NRM SOUTH, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SOUTHERN TASMANIA (2005), available at http://www.nrmtas.org/library/south/documents/Fin_Strat_200505v1_WEB.pdf (accessed 21 March 2009).
60. NRM NORTH supra note 51
61. NRM NORTH, NRM NORTH CORPORATE PLAN 2007-2010 (2007), available at http://www.nrmtas.org/regions/north/pdfs/NRMCorpPlan2007.pdf (accessed 21 March 2009).
62. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT supra note 50
63. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND WATER, REVIEW OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (NRM) FRAMEWORK AND LEGISLATION, 2007: DISCUSSION PAPER (2007).
64. See: http://www.wildcaretas.org.au/pages/groups.php (accessed 21 June 2009).
65. See: http://www.tasland.org.au/about/ (accessed 21 June 2009).
66. TASMANIAN LAND CONSERVANCY, Egg Islands conserved, 17 TASMANIAN LAND CONSERVANCY NEWSLETTER 2 (2008).
67. PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, MOULTING LAGOON GAME RESERVE (RAMSAR SITE)MANAGEMENT PLAN (2003).
68. TASMANIAN LAND CONSERVANCY, LONG POINT RESERVE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2007).
69. TASMANIAN LAND CONSERVANCY, ANNUAL REPORT 2004-2005 (2005).
70. TASMANIAN LAND CONSERVANCY supra note 58.
71. N. Males, Help us to help the ducks, 1 AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY TASMANIA NEWSLETTER 4 (2004).
72. TASMANIAN LAND CONSERVANCY supra note 58.
73. F. L. Spruzen, A.M.M. Richardson & E.J. Woehler, Spatial variation of intertidal macroinvertebrates and environmental variables in Robbins Passage wetlands, NW Tasmania, 598 HYDROBIOLOGIA 325 (2008)
74. H. DUNN, ASSESSING THE CONDITION AND STATUS OF TASMANIA'S WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN VEGETATION: SUMMARY OF PROCESSES AND OUTCOMES OF A COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL LAND AND WATER AUDIT, report by DPIWE (2002)
75. CRADLE COAST NRM supra note 51.
76. H. DUNN, BOULLANGER BAY/ROBBINS PASSAGE RAMSAR NOMINATION: REPORT OF A NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST PROJECT (2000).
77. J. Elix & J. Lambert, Mapping the Values of Shorebird Habitat in Tasmania: A Tool for Resolving Land Use Conflict, 24 CONFLICT RESOLUTION QUARTERLY 471 (2007).
78. See: http://www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/water/wetlands/ (accessed 21 June 2009).
79. Elix & Lambert supra note 65 at 471.
80. CRADLE COAST NRM 2005 supra note 51.
81. Ralphs Bay Racecourse Flats Bird Habitat was identified as an Australian natural heritage place on 25 May 1996 for its significant bird values, see http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE17905 (accessed 20 October 2009).
82. BIRDS TASMANIA, BIRDS TASMANIA REPORT ON THE BIRD VALUES OF LAUDERDALE (2006) available at http://www.christinemilne.org.au/files/campaigns/extras/Ralphs%20Bay%20Bird%20Values.pdf (accessed 20 October 2009).
83. See: www.saveralphsbay.org/ (accessed 20 October 2009).
84. See: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/Submissions/2008EdHallAwd.pdf (accessed 20 October 2009).
85. See: http://mps.tas.greens.org.au/issues/index.php?CampaignID=51 (accessed 20 October 2009).
86. RESOURCE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, PROPOSED LAUDERDALE QUAY DEVELOPMENT BY WALKER CORPORATION PTY LTD 19 (2006).
87. Id at 10.
88. C.M. Finlayson & A.G. van der Valk, Wetland classification and inventory: A summary, 118 VEGETATIO 185 (1995)
89. C. Ravenga et al. supra note 7
90. C.M. FINLAYSON, N.C. DAVIDSON, AND N.J. STEVENSON: Wetland inventory, assessment and monitoring: Practical techniques and identification of major issues.PROCEEDINGS OF WORKSHOP 4, 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WETLANDS AND DEVELOPMENT, DAKAR, SENEGAL, 8.14 NOVEMBER 1998, SUPERVISING SCIENTIST REPORT 161 (2001)
91. H. DUNN supra note 63.
92. Resolution IX.1 Annex E (Integrated Framework for wetland inventory, assessment, and monitoring (2005)).
93. C.N. Finlayson & N.C. Davidson, Global Review of Wetland Resources and Priorities for Wetland Inventory: Project description and methodology, in GLOBAL REVIEW OF WETLAND RESOURCES AND PRIORITIES FOR WETLAND INVENTORY 144 (C.M. Finlayson & A.G. Spiers eds., 1999).
94. Resolution VIII.6 (A Ramsar Framework for Wetland Inventory (2002)).
95. C. M. Finlayson & N. Rea, Reasons for the loss and degradation of Australian wetlands, 7 WETLANDS ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT 1 (1999)
96. R.L. Pressey & P. Adam, A review of wetland inventory and classification in Australia, 118 VEGETATIO 81 (1995).
97. See: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/ramsar-report10.html (accessed 21 November 2009).
98. ENVIRONMENT AUSTRALIA, A DIRECTORY OF IMPORTANT WETLANDS IN AUSTRALIA (3rd ed., 2001).
99. H. DUNN supra note 63.
100. J. ATKINSON, AN INVENTORY SYSTEM FOR TASMANIAN WETLANDS (1991).
101. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT supra note 38.
102. NRM SOUTH, ATLAS OF TASMANIAN WETLANDS FOR POTENTIAL INCLUSION INTO THE DIRECTORY OF IMPORTANT WETLANDS IN AUSTRALIA (2007).
103. S.A. Blackhall et al., Tasmania, in A DIRECTORY OF IMPORTANT WETLANDS IN AUSTRALIA 81 (Environment Australia eds., 2001).
104. J.B. KIRKPATRICK & S. HARRIS, THE DISAPPEARING HEATH REVISITED 210 (1999)
105. J.B. Kirkpatrick & P.A. Tyler supra note 9.
106. NRM SOUTH supra note 86.
107. Resolution VII.11 (Strategic framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (1999)).
108. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT supra note 38 at 23.
109. J.B. Kirkpatrick & P.A. Tyler supra note 9
110. H. DUNN supra note 63.
111. R.D. King & P.A. Tyler, Meromictic Lakes of South-west Tasmania, 32 AUST. J. MAR. FRESHWATER RES. 741 (1981).
112. Resolution VIII.17 (Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (2002)).
113. See: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/ramsar-report09.html (accessed 21 November 2009).
114. Resolution VII.13 (Guidelines for identifying and designating karst and other subterranean hydrological systems as Wetlands of International Importance (1999)).
115. R.T. Kingsford & J. Nevill, Scientists urge expansion of freshwater protected areas, 6 ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION 161 (2005).
116. J.B. Kirkpatrick & C.E. Harwood, Plant Communities of Tasmanian Wetlands, 31 AUST. J. BOT. 437 (1983)
117. J.B. Kirkpatrick & C.E. Harwood, Conservation of Tasmanian macrophytic wetland vegetation, 117 PAP. PROC. R. SOC. TASM. 5 (1983).
118. J.B. Kirkpatrick & P.A. Tyler supra note 9.
119. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA supra note 19
120. P. Cullen, Challenges to the conservation of Australian freshwater biodiversity: An epilogue, 6 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM HEALTH & MANAGEMENT 97 (2003).
121. J.B. Kirkpatrick & P.A. Tyler supra note 9.
122. L. Tucker, Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia, in A COMPENDIUM OF INFORMATION FOR MANAGING AND MONITORING WETLANDS IN TROPICAL AUSTRALIA 215 (C. M. Finlayson & A.G. Spiers eds., 1999).
123. V.N. PRAHALAD supra note 48.
124. Natural Heritage Trust extension bilateral agreement Attachment A available at http://www.regionalnrm.qld.gov.au/policies_plans_legislation/policies_strategies/pdf/trust_attachment_a.pdf (accessed 20 October 2009).
125. P. Cullen supra note 100.
126. A.H. Arthington, S.E. Bunn, N. Leroy Poff, & R.J. Naiman, The challenge of providing environmental flow rules to sustain river ecosystems, 16 ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 1311 (2006).
127. Data from Department of Primary Industries and Water annual reports available at http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/CBRT-5G85MW?open (accessed 21 November 2009).
128. MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT supra note 6.
129. H. DUNN, PROTECTION TOOLS FOR FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IN TASMANIA 36 (2003).
130. Resolution VIII.31 (The Convention's Programme on communication, education, and public awareness (CEPA) 2003-2008 (2002).
131. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENT supra note 38 at 43.
132. PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE supra note 57.
133. See: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3232 (accessed 10 December 2009).
134. V.J. THORP, DISCOVERING TASMANIA'S RAMSAR WETLANDS report for Tasmanian Environment Centre (2002).
135. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND WATER supra note 44.
136. H.K. Jacobson & E.B. Weiss supra note 8.
137. H. DUNN supra note 109.