Animal and plant laws
Animal and plant laws
The department supports biodiversity in South Australia by ensuring native plants, animals and ecosystems are protected and maintained to survive, evolve and adapt to environmental change and human-caused impacts.
We collaborate with the Australian and local governments, industry, researchers, and community to develop and implement policies, guidelines and programs for interacting with plants and animals in line with relevant laws.
These laws:
- ensure all animals and plants are managed appropriately and humanely
- allow people to enjoy animals and plants and interact with wildlife sustainably
- protect native animals and plants that may be vulnerable to human-caused impacts, misuse or mistreatment, or commercial exploitation.
Legislation we administer includes:
- National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
- Animal Welfare Act 1985
- Wilderness Protection Act 1992
- Native Vegetation Act 1991- see Native Vegetation for landholder conservation and management information.
We support Commonwealth legislation such as the:
Through our policies and programs, we also help to fulfil Australia’s obligations under international laws and conventions such as:
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Convention on Migratory Species
- Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
- International Plant Protection Convention.
Other South Australian legislation relating to the welfare and management of animals and plants includes:
