Draft National Roadmap for protecting and conserving 30% of Australia’s land by 2030

BCSDA Justification
The draft National Roadmap demonstrates a comprehensive and strategic approach towards achieving the 30 by 30 conservation goal. It incorporates significant elements such as the protection of biodiversity hotspots, integration of Indigenous knowledge and land management practices, and alignment with international conservation standards. However, there are areas where further clarity and stronger commitments are required to ensure the target is met and achieve effective implementation and sustained progress.

Key Elements to Amend in the National Roadmap
1. Increased Focus on Private Land Conservation
o Recommendation: Adopt policies similar to those in the U.S., where private land conservation through easements has significantly contributed to national conservation goals. Incentivizing private landholders can greatly expand protected areas without relying solely on public lands.
o Example: In the U.S., private land conservation has increased by 35% over the past decade, showcasing the potential of private landholder involvement (Chapman et al., 2023).
2. Integration of Ecosystem Services in Urban Planning
o Recommendation: Ensure urban planning policies incorporate ecosystem services to enhance sustainability and resilience. This can include green infrastructure, urban green spaces, and the preservation of natural habitats within urban areas.
o Example: In Beijing, integrating ecosystem services into urban planning resulted in enhanced carbon storage, flood regulation, and soil conservation (Li et al., 2020).
3. Enhanced Support for Indigenous and Local Communities
o Recommendation: Strengthen the involvement of Indigenous and local communities in conservation efforts. This includes providing adequate resources, support for traditional land management practices, and ensuring their participation in decision-making processes.
o Example: In many parts of the world, Indigenous-managed lands have shown higher biodiversity and more effective conservation outcomes compared to other protected areas (Garnett et al., 2018).
4. Clear and Measurable Targets
o Recommendation: Establish clear, measurable targets and milestones for each stage of the roadmap. This includes setting interim goals and regularly monitoring progress to ensure accountability and transparency.
o Example: The EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 sets clear targets and monitoring frameworks to ensure progress towards conservation goals (European Commission, 2020).
5. Investment in Restoration and Regeneration Projects
o Recommendation: Increase investment in restoration and regeneration projects, particularly in degraded areas. This includes supporting reforestation, wetland restoration, and other ecological restoration activities.
o Example: Brazil’s initiatives to restore degraded tall forests have shown significant benefits for biodiversity and carbon sequestration (Huang et al., 2023).
Conclusion
BCSD Australia supports the draft National Roadmap but believes its effectiveness can be enhanced by incorporating successful strategies from global examples. These amendments will help ensure that Australia not only meets but exceeds its 30 by 30 conservation goals, contributing to global biodiversity and sustainability efforts.

BCSDA Recommendation: BCSD Australia acknowledges the efforts made in the draft National Roadmap but identifies several critical gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the roadmap's success in achieving the 30 by 30 conservation target. Below are the key gaps and the recommended actions to fill these gaps.
Identified Gaps and Recommendations
1. Comprehensive Involvement of Private Landholders
o Gap: The roadmap lacks detailed strategies for engaging and incentivizing private landholders to participate in conservation efforts.
o Recommendation: Develop a robust framework that includes financial incentives, conservation easements, and technical support for private landowners. The U.S. model of private land conservation through easements has proven successful and can be adapted to the Australian context (Chapman et al., 2023).
2. Integration of Urban Ecosystems
o Gap: The roadmap does not adequately address the conservation and enhancement of urban ecosystems, which are critical for biodiversity and human well-being.
o Recommendation: Incorporate policies that promote green infrastructure, urban green spaces, and the integration of ecosystem services into urban planning. The example of Beijing demonstrates the benefits of such integration, resulting in enhanced carbon storage and flood regulation (Li et al., 2020).
3. Support for Indigenous and Local Community Involvement
o Gap: There is insufficient emphasis on the role of Indigenous and local communities in conservation efforts.
o Recommendation: Strengthen support for Indigenous-led conservation initiatives and ensure their active participation in decision-making processes. Studies have shown that Indigenous-managed lands often exhibit higher biodiversity (Garnett et al., 2018).
4. Clear and Measurable Interim Targets
o Gap: The roadmap lacks specific interim targets and milestones to track progress towards the 2030 goal.
o Recommendation: Establish clear, measurable interim targets and a monitoring framework to ensure accountability and transparency. The EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 includes such mechanisms, which can be adapted for the Australian context (European Commission, 2020).
5. Increased Investment in Restoration Projects
o Gap: The current roadmap does not allocate sufficient resources for restoration and regeneration projects.
o Recommendation: Increase investment in large-scale restoration projects, particularly in degraded areas. Brazil's success in restoring tall forests, which enhances biodiversity and carbon sequestration, can serve as a model (Huang et al., 2023).
Conclusion
BCSD Australia believes that addressing these gaps in the draft National Roadmap will significantly enhance its effectiveness and ensure the successful achievement of the 30 by 30 conservation target. By incorporating these recommendations, Australia can lead in global conservation efforts, ensuring a sustainable and biodiverse future.

BCSDA Recommendation: BCSD Australia finds the draft National Roadmap to be somewhat clear. While the document provides a good overview and includes useful figures and diagrams, there are areas that could benefit from additional clarity and detail.

Elements to Improve the Roadmap
1. Step-by-Step Action Plans
o Gap: The roadmap outlines goals but lacks detailed, step-by-step action plans to achieve these goals.
o Recommendation: Include specific, actionable steps and timelines for each goal. Break down the 30 by 30 target into smaller, manageable milestones with clear deadlines and responsible parties.
2. Enhanced Visual Aids
o Gap: Some visual aids, such as graphs and charts, are not intuitive and may be difficult to interpret.
o Recommendation: Use more intuitive visual aids and consider incorporating interactive elements in digital versions of the document. Infographics and flowcharts can simplify complex information and make it more accessible.
3. Case Studies and Examples
o Gap: The roadmap would benefit from more real-world examples and case studies that illustrate successful conservation efforts.
o Recommendation: Include detailed case studies from both domestic and international contexts. Highlight examples such as the U.S. private land conservation efforts and Brazil's tall forests conservation to provide concrete examples of successful strategies (Chapman et al., 2023), (Huang et al., 2023).
4. Increased Focus on Private Land Conservation
o Recommendation: Develop a robust framework that includes financial incentives, conservation easements, and technical support for private landowners.
o Supporting Data: In the United States, private land conservation through easements has increased by 35% over the past decade, significantly contributing to national conservation goals (Chapman et al., 2023). This approach leverages private landowner participation, which is essential for meeting ambitious conservation targets.
5. Integration of Ecosystem Services in Urban Planning
o Recommendation: Ensure urban planning policies incorporate ecosystem services to enhance sustainability and resilience.
o Supporting Data: In Beijing, integrating ecosystem services into urban planning resulted in enhanced carbon storage, flood regulation, and soil conservation (Li et al., 2020). Such integration can significantly contribute to urban sustainability and resilience, addressing both environmental and social benefits.
6. Support for Indigenous and Local Community Involvement
o Recommendation: Strengthen support for Indigenous-led conservation initiatives and ensure their active participation in decision-making processes.
o Supporting Data: Studies have shown that Indigenous-managed lands often exhibit higher biodiversity compared to other protected areas (Garnett et al., 2018). This underscores the importance of involving Indigenous communities in conservation efforts to leverage their traditional knowledge and stewardship practices.
7. Clear and Measurable Interim Targets
o Recommendation: Establish clear, measurable interim targets and a monitoring framework to ensure accountability and transparency.
o Supporting Data: The EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 includes mechanisms for setting clear targets and monitoring progress, which can serve as a model for Australia's roadmap (European Commission, 2020). This approach ensures continuous assessment and adjustment of strategies to meet conservation goals.
8. Increased Investment in Restoration Projects
o Recommendation: Increase investment in large-scale restoration projects, particularly in degraded areas.
o Supporting Data: Brazil's initiatives to restore degraded tall forests have shown significant benefits for biodiversity and carbon sequestration (Huang et al., 2023). Investing in restoration projects not only helps in achieving conservation targets but also enhances ecosystem services and resilience.

Conclusion
BCSD Australia believes that while the draft National Roadmap is generally clear, addressing these areas will significantly enhance its readability and effectiveness. By providing more detail the roadmap can better guide stakeholders towards achieving the 30 by 30 conservation target.