Impacts of Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Regulations

Abstract

Australian, state and territory regimes came under review for the Commission's inquiry into native vegetation and biodiversity regulations.

The Commission's preliminary findings were released for public comment in December 2003. It found that the cost of farm regulations could be reduced if good regulatory practices were followed and fundamental changes were made to the targeting of policies and clarification of responsibilities.

The Commission's final report, Impacts of Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Regulations, and Government's response was released in August. In its final assessment, the Commission maintained that state native vegetation and biodiversity regulations were imposing significant and unnecessary costs on landholders, and that more effective and more transparent measures could be used to achieve biodiversity conservation. Its recommendations seek to increase landholder confidence in natural resource planning and regulation, without sacrificing native flora and fauna.

Keywords: Agriculture, biodiversity, conservation, environment, environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999, environmental degradation, farming, forests, investment, land, landholders, mineral exploration, productivity, property values, regulation, sustainability, sustainable development

JEL Classification: R0