Biodiversity Act
The South Australian Government is developing new legislation to protect and conserve biodiversity.
Our state does not currently have a dedicated Act to safeguard biodiversity, instead provisions exist across multiple laws, which has led to gaps in protections.
A new Biodiversity Act will boost biodiversity conservation in our state, while integrating the goals of the Native Vegetation Act 1991, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Importantly the Act will also incorporate the knowledge of Aboriginal South Australians in the management of land and respect for its ecosystems.
From the air we breathe to the water we drink, we rely on the earth’s biodiversity. If you’d like to learn more about the important role biodiversity plays in sustaining our everyday lives, check out our video with Tim Jarvis AM.
This page will be regularly updated with news, developments and announcements relevant to the Biodiversity Act. To stay informed, subscribe here.
What's happening?
Community consultation took place from December 2023 to March 2024 to gather feedback on the priorities for the new Act, focussed on topics identified in a discussion paper.
A consultation report is now available, summarising what we heard as part of this consultation process.
We have also undertaken engagement with First Nations peak bodies and groups to ensure their aspirations and perspectives are understood and considered in the drafting of the new Act. We are currently reviewing the feedback provided as part of this engagement process and will notify participants directly when a summary report is available.
We will consider all the feedback provided to help guide the development of a draft Biodiversity Bill.
What’s next?
Everyone will have another opportunity to share their thoughts on the Biodiversity Act when the draft Bill opens for community feedback in the second half of 2024. You can subscribe to be kept informed.
South Australia’s biodiversity champion
We’re partnering with Tim Jarvis AM to help us inform the community about the development of the new Act and encourage people to get involved.Tim was recently named Australian of the Year for South Australia. He is an internationally recognised environmental scientist and adventurer, with more than 25 years of experience in both disciplines. Tim is passionate about environmental advocacy which is reflected in the wide range of initiatives he supports and works on, including supporting conservation charities, his recent 4 years of patronage of Nature Play SA and 5 years’ service on the board of Zoos SA who are leading work in endangered species conservation.
Keep up to date
From government to industries and individuals, all of us must to come together to address the challenges facing our biodiversity. To get involved and keep up-to-date:
- Sign-up to receive updates on the development of the Biodiversity Act
- Contact us at biodiversityact@sa.gov.au
