Australia National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

Summary

In November 2019, Australia’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP), known as Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019–2030, was endorsed by the Meeting of Environment Ministers. The Strategy for Nature was developed by the interjurisdictional Biodiversity Working Group, which consists of representatives of the Australian, state, and territory governments. The NBSAP serves as Australia’s principal framework for implementing its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and establishes a coordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to biodiversity conservation through 2030.

Strategy for Nature 2019–2030
The Vision states: “Australia’s nature, now and into the future, is healthy and resilient to threats, understood, and valued both in its own right and for its essential contribution to our health, wellbeing, prosperity and quality of life.” The strategy sets national priorities organized around protecting and restoring ecosystems, preventing species extinction and supporting recovery, improving ecological resilience in the face of climate change, and embedding biodiversity considerations into land-use planning and economic decision-making. It emphasizes partnerships with Indigenous peoples, including recognition of Traditional Owners’ knowledge and land management practices, and promotes stewardship across public and private sectors.

Strategy for Nature 2024–2030
Australia’s NBSAP was updated to guide the development of new and innovative approaches to implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework. Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024–2030 establishes national targets in 6 priority areas of the Global Biodiversity Framework that are most relevant to addressing the key drivers of biodiversity decline in Australia between then and 2030. The Vision of the 2024 plan adds that “Australia will halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, putting nature on a path to recovery, meaning that by 2050 we will be living in harmony with nature.” This includes protect and conserve 30% of Australia’s landmass and 30% of Australia’s marine areas by 2030.” This plan was endorsed at the June 2024 Meeting of Environment Ministers.

Convention on Biological Diversity & Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
In December 2022, the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held, where 188 countries – including Australia – adopted the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity agreed to update their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan with national targets to support the Global Biodiversity Framework.

The GBF has 23 targets to achieve by 2030, and 4 goals to achieve by 2050, including: conserve and restore biodiversity; enhance First Nations stewardship; strengthen benefit sharing; encourage private investment in nature; mainstream biodiversity considerations into decision-making.

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