About Species and Communities

The Species and Communities Program provides leadership for biodiversity conservation programs and provides expert advice on conservation, policy, and management focussed on threatened species, threatened ecological communities, wetlands, and other matters of conservation significance.  

The provision and interpretation of science-based information and advice to decision-makers and land managers is based on best practice science. Through the maintenance of conservation listings and development and maintenance of databases and other special conservation information, the program provides support to the department, other government agencies, industry, and the community. The program also manages Land for Wildlife and Nature Conservation Covenants programs.  

Key areas of activity include:

• Implementing biodiversity conservation requirements of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
• Maintaining databases and spatial information on conservation significant species and communities
• Maintaining and continually improving the evaluation methodologies and spatial datasets for wetlands
• Coordination of conservation listing processes, including executive officer support for the Threatened Species and Threatened Ecological Community Scientific Committees
• Providing advice to decision makers in the context of implementation of Environmental Protection Act 1986 and Planning and Development Act 2005
• Providing direction for recovery of threatened species and ecological communities through recovery planning and implementation
• Providing strategic approaches to translocations
• Managing the State’s flora and fauna resources through management programs for harvested species, wildlife licencing advice and administering the department’s Animal Ethics Committee
• Conserving wetlands, including Ramsar wetlands, through working with the Commonwealth on implementation of Ramsar policy
• Engaging the community in off-reserve conservation by implementing the Land for Wildlife program and Nature Conservation Covenants program 

The Species and Communities Program also administers the departmental Animal Ethics Committee.

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