New strategic approaches to protecting and restoring the environment are needed to address the biodiversity and climate crises WA faces.

Key policy recommendations

Implement an ambitious biodiversity strategy

Develop and implement an ambitious biodiversity strategy with measurable targets and strong environmental standards to protect and restore WA’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems, consistent with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Fund nature conservation

Deliver a step change in biodiversity funding consistent with halting and reversing biodiversity loss in WA and maintaining the environmental assets that West Australian communities and industries depend on.

Adopt a bioregional planning framework

Fully resource and prioritise the development of bioregional plans that identify key biodiversity health indicators, threats and trends, critical habitats, ecologically sensitive areas and no-go zones to inform environmental and land use planning and assessments.

Increase strategic assessments

Prioritise and fully fund the EPA to conduct strategic advice and assessments in response to development pressures across WA’s bioregions.

Prioritise ecological restoration and resilience

Ensure full funding and implementation of Recovery Plans for all threatened species and ecological communities in WA, updated every five years. Commit to restoring ecosystems and ecological health, building resilience in the face of existing and forecast climate change impacts.

Ensure use of International Principles and Standards for Ecological Restoration for rehabilitation/restoration of mine sites.

Respect First Nations knowledge and role in Caring for Country

Incorporate Traditional Owner cultural and ecological knowledge into biodiversity strategies, bioregional plans, and environmental assessments.

Strengthen the integration of First Nations land management knowledge and practices into mainstream land and sea management.

Prioritise co-design and joint management of protected areas with Traditional Owners.

Improve water resource planning

Develop, update and implement stronger, science-based water allocation plans for every catchment area, including guaranteed allocations sufficient to maintain environmental values.

Support Indigenous Rangers and appropriate land tenure arrangements

Expand the Indigenous Ranger Program (with guaranteed funding) and support ranger groups for all government-owned lands, and implement joint-management arrangements for National Parks and other conservation land categories.

Reform CALM Act to allow sole vesting with native title holders.

Support private and community conservation programs

Create incentives for private landholders to protect and restore native vegetation through grants and/or state supported covenanting arrangements.

Support and build community conservation groups with long-term funding to scale-up habitat restoration projects.