Based on Mackey et al. 1998. The governments of Australia use a number of approaches to conserve biodiversity. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act triggers Commonwealth involvement on issues of national environmental significance including World Heritage Areas, wetlands of international significance, endangered species and ecological communities, migratory species and Commonwealth marine areas. Actions that are likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance are subject to a rigorous assessment and approval process. It divides Australia into 80 biogeographic regions representing major environmental units, and is the only continent-wide regionalisation agreed to by all States and Territories.
Much biodiversity occurs only outside formal conservation areas.
The involvement of farmers, businesses, conservation groups, resource users, Indigenous peoples and the wider community is necessary for the conservation of biodiversity.