Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00555:body:0:p17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00555
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3).

Figure 3. Policies, programs, strategies and regulations at all levels of local, state, territory and Australian governments that relate to the listed Koala recovery. The Conservation Advice (TSSC 2021) is the foundation document used in the development of the recovery plan

4.2 State and territory governments
States and territories are responsible for regulating environmental matters in their respective jurisdictions and are the primary regulators for Australia's native plants and animals. All state and territory governments have legislation to conserve biodiversity and to retain and manage habitats, including through a conservation reserve system. State and territory governments operate native vegetation conservation programs, while also providing for sustainable development of lands and waters within their jurisdictions.

NSW Government
The NSW Government has in place several laws and policies to help secure the future of the listed Koala in the wild.
In May 2018, the first New South Wales Koala Strategy was released. The strategy delivered actions under four pillars: Koala habitat conservation; conservation through community action; safety and health of Koala populations; and building our knowledge and education. In 2020, the NSW Government committed to doubling the New South Wales koala population by 2050 with more than $193 million in funding announced in 2021 to meet this goal (section 14.2).
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) contains provisions for identifying and protecting threatened species. The Koala is listed as a Vulnerable species under Schedule 1 of the BC Act. The BC Act also establishes a framework for assessing and offsetting biodiversity impacts from proposed development. The listing of Koalas as Vulnerable means they must be considered under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 when preparing environmental planning instruments and when undertaking development assessments. The BC Act also requires a Biodiversity Conservation Program be established to maximise the long-term security of threatened species and threatened ecological communities in nature. The NSW Koala Strategy fulfils this requirement.
In addition, on 17 March 2021 the NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2021 (Koala SEPP) was made and commenced. The principles of the Koala SEPP 2021 are to:
    * help reverse the decline of Koala populations by ensuring Koala habitat is properly considered during the development assessment process
    * provide a process for councils to strategically manage Koala habitat through the development of Koala plans of management.
The primary legislation for native forestry on State forests and Crown-timber lands in New South Wales is the Forestry Act 2012, which provides for the Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs). IFOAs integrate the regulatory regimes for environmental planning and assessment, protection of the environment and threatened species conservation and include specific provisions for the identification and protection of Koala habitat.
The BC Act, Local