In recent years Australia has made progress in understanding its ecological diversity and advancing towards a more representative national system of protected areas. However, this has not stemmed a serious decline in Australia’s biodiversity. As a consequence, both environmental decision-makers and NGO advocates are searching for additional tools to encourage biodiversity conservation on all lands. The 70% of Australia’s landmass under private freehold, leasehold or indigenous title has therefore become a focus of attention. This focus on private lands and the involvement of private landholders, is a marked shift from the past when nature conservation was essentially a matter for the public sector. This paper looks at some of the key drivers of the change before outlining a variety of models – ecosystem networks, indigenous protected areas, private protected areas, binding and non-binding voluntary agreements, financial and other incentive mechanisms. The importance of such mechanisms is underscored by the fact that science tells us that protecting intact ecosystems is seven times more cost effective than trying to reestablish them after damage. The paper concludes that while the extension of models is essential these efforts should support, not replace or erode public protected areas. There must also be sustained political and community support and financial backing if real progress is to be sustained.
