

Effectiveness of Antarctic environmental management
Effectiveness of Antarctic environmental management
World heritage of subantarctic islands and protected areas under the Antarctic Treaty
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- The title has been changed from 'World Heritage and protected areas' to 'World heritage for subantarctic islands and protected areas under the Antarctic Treaty' to better reflect the component being assessed.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.
Understanding: Nomination of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) under the Antarctic Treaty, and World Heritage listing for the subantarctic Heard Islands and McDonald Islands, and Macquarie Island are based on their recognised natural and cultural values
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Understanding: The nomination of World Heritage and protected areas is based on their recognised natural and cultural values
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Planning: Management plans are in place and are reviewed regularly
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Planning: Management plans are in place and are reviewed regularly
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Inputs: Financial, human and information resources are available to implement the management plans
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Inputs: Financial, human and information resources are available to implement the management plans
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Processes: For Heard Island and McDonald Islands, there is stakeholder consultation, and all management plans are open to public consultation
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Processes: For Heard Island and McDonald Islands, there is stakeholder consultation and all management plans are open to public consultation
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Outputs and outcomes: Identified natural and cultural heritage values are being preserved
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Outputs and outcomes: Identified natural and cultural heritage values are being preserved
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Understanding: A good understanding of the impacts of human activities in our operational environment exists
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Understanding: There is a good understanding of the impacts of human activities in our operational environment
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Planning: The AAD’s environmental management policy provides an overarching policy framework for all activities in the AAT and the subantarctic islands. This policy is consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Antarctic Treaty
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Planning: AAD's environmental management policy provides an overarching policy framework for all activities in the Australian Antarctic Territory and subantarctic islands. This policy is consistent with Australia's obligations under the Antarctic Treaty
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Inputs: The AAD administers an environmental management system supported by a program of scientific research
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Inputs: AAD administers an environmental management system supported by a program of scientific research
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Processes: The environmental management system is certified to the internationally recognised standard (AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004). The AAD’s environmental policy was last reviewed in 2009
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Processes: The environmental management system is certified to the internationally recognised standard (AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004). The AAD's environmental policy was last reviewed in 2009
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Outputs and outcomes: Relevant management information collected through the environmental management system is used to guide management decisions
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Outputs and outcomes: Relevant management information collected through the environmental management system is used to guide management decisions
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Understanding: There are still a number of significant uncertainties about the impacts of climate change; however, scientific programs are in place to further our understanding of processes and future implications
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Understanding: There are a number of significant uncertainties about the impacts of climate change; however, scientific programs are in place to further our understanding of processes and future implications
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Planning: The forecast infrastructure plan takes into account energy efficiencies and carbon emissions
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Planning: The forecast infrastructure plan takes into account energy efficiencies and carbon emissions
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Inputs: Adaptive management is resourced within the current operational framework
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Inputs: Adaptive management is resourced within the current operational framework
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Processes: Scientific studies are examining potential effects of climate change
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Processes: Scientific studies are examining potential effects of climate change
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Outputs and outcomes: As scientific results become available, policies are formulated
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Outputs and outcomes: As scientific results become available, policies will be formulated
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Introduced and invasive species
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- The title has been changed from 'Pests and invasive species management' to 'Introduced and invasive species'.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.
Understanding: There is a good understanding of threats and impacts of non-native species, on both the Antarctic continent and the subantarctic islands
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Understanding: There is a good understanding of threats and impacts of alien species, both on the Antarctic continent and subantarctic islands
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Planning: Policies are in place to minimise the risk and impact of non-native introductions
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Planning: Policies are in place to minimise the risk and impact of alien introductions
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Inputs: Human resources are allocated to implement policies to minimise the risk of non-native introductions
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Inputs: Human resources are allocated to implement policies that minimise the risk of alien introductions (participation in the Committee for Environmental Protection's Aliens in Antarctica science program, environmental officers on all stations, ships and at the AAD)
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Processes: Environmental training and information are provided to all personnel and the public
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Processes: Environmental training and information are provided to all personnel and to the public
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Outputs and outcomes: The legacy of non-native introductions into Antarctic and subantarctic environments (e.g. rabbits and rodents on Macquarie Island) has been mitigated through eradication efforts
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Outputs and outcomes: There is a legacy of alien introductions into Antarctic and subantarctic environments (e.g. rabbits and rodents on Macquarie Island); however, in recent years, programs have been effective in mitigating the risks
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AAD = Australian Antarctic Division
Assessment Summary Key
Grades
Very effective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
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Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is good for most management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place for addressing all or most significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and operations targeted at major risks. Responsibility for managing issues is clearly and appropriately allocated |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are largely adequate to address management issues. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Well-designed management systems are being implemented for effective delivery of planned management actions, including clear governance arrangements, appropriate stakeholder engagement, active adaptive management and adequate reporting against goals |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are being demonstrably reduced |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
Resilience of environmental values is being maintained or improving. Values are considered secured against known threats |
Effective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
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Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is generally good, but there is some variability across management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place, and management responsibilities are allocated appropriately, for addressing many significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and priorities for addressing major risks, but may not specify implementation procedures |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are mostly adequate to address management issues, but may not be secure. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform decisions, although there may be deficiencies in some areas |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Well-designed management systems are in place, but are not yet being fully implemented |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are in place to manage them |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
Resilience of environmental values is improving, but threats remain as significant factors affecting environmental systems |
Partially effective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
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Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is only fair for most management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Legislation, policies and planning systems are deficient, and/or there is lack of clarity about who has management responsibility, for several significant issues |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in some important areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions, although there are significant deficiencies in some areas |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Management systems provide some guidance, but are not consistently delivering on implementation of management actions, stakeholder engagement, adaptive management or reporting |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are progressing and showing signs of achieving some objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are being developed to manage them |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
The expected impacts of management measures on improving resilience of environmental values are yet to be seen. Managed threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems |
Ineffective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
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Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is poor for most management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Legislation, policies and planning systems have not been developed to address significant issues |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in many areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information to support decisions is deficient in many areas |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Adequate management systems are not in place. Lack of consistency and integration of management activities across jurisdictions is a problem for many issues |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are either not progressing in accordance with planned programs (significant delays or incomplete actions) or the actions undertaken are not achieving their objectives. Threats are not actively being addressed |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
Resilience of environmental values is still low or continuing to decline. Unmitigated threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems |
Recent Trends
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Improving
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Stable
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Deteriorating
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Unclear
Confidence
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Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
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Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
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Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
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Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
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Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
Comparability
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Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
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Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
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Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
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Not previously assessed
Comments
The assessment remains largely the same as in 2011.