The ACT Nature Conservation Strategy is the overarching policy for nature conservation in the ACT.

We are developing a new Nature Conservation Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy will:

• lay out the long-term vision and goals for nature conservation in the ACT, shaping legal, policy and program development
  
• guide how government and community partners work together
• support a nature‑positive future for the ACT.

A ‘Nature Positive’ approach means that our natural values are not only protected from further loss but are actively recovering and regenerating in clear, measurable ways.

With a combination of governance, targeted interventions, community engagement, and regular evaluations, the Strategy will guide decision-making and conservation action for the next decade.

The Draft Strategy details how we will care for the ACT’s environment. It sets out a clear nature-positive plan for looking after nature across the whole landscape. The Strategy aims to protect and recover our most valuable natural areas. It also focuses on helping these places recover and grow in ways we can measure.

• Our vision: Canberra is a city thriving within a healthy and flourishing natural environment, where the aspirations for conserving nature reflect Canberrans’ love for their Bush Capital.
• Our mission: To embed a Nature Positive approach to protecting and restoring our natural values through proactive conservation and collective stewardship.
• Our purpose: To have ecosystems that are biodiverse, connected, functioning, and valued by the community, enabling nature to thrive in a rapidly growing city and changing climate.

The Draft Strategy's targets are statements for what we aim to accomplish within the next 10 years. The strategy has 44 targets across the following 5 key areas:

• Helping nature cope with climate change
• Working with community and Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians
• Restoring nature and having funding to do it
• Using fit-for-purpose policy, science and data
• Controlling weeds, pests and helping threatened species

Core to the strategy is partnership: all Canberrans working together to care for nature. That’s why we need your involvement to make sure it’s effective.

In particular, we’d like your thoughts on

• the Guiding Principles—such as whether the nature-positive direction aligns with your aspirations for the ACT and how the community’s values are reflected
• the Strategic Targets, including their clarity, realism, priorities, and coverage of key elements of nature conservation.

There are a number of ways you can have your say on the draft Strategy.

Currently, the ACT Government is also accepting feedback on the draft Climate Change Strategy. Protecting our natural environment plays an important role in our response to managing a changing climate.

To have your say on the draft Climate Change Strategy, visit the project page.

The Nature Conservation Strategy is required by the Nature Conservation Act 2014 (the Act). The Act sets out the objectives for conservation in the ACT. The Strategy outlines practical steps to achieve them and ways to measure success. The Act is also under revision.

Since 2022 we have been engaging with the community. This engagement has been both on a review of the Act and the development of a new Strategy. Public consultation on the Nature Conservation Act took place through YourSay in mid-2024. The consultation also asked people to comment on the Strategy.

Since work began on the draft Strategy in 2024, we have been committed to co-developing it. Since this time, we have undertaken significant consultation. We engaged with over 200 partners (individuals, groups, environmental organisations and internal agencies) and received more than 180 responses. These responses have helped shape the current draft Strategy.

Your feedback will help shape the direction, targets and implementation approach of the new Nature Conservation Strategy.

All comments received will be reviewed and analysed to identify common themes, areas of support, and opportunities for improvement. These insights will directly inform the final version of the Strategy and ensure it reflects the values, concerns and ideas of the ACT community.

A summary of what we heard and how it influenced the final Strategy will be created when consultation closes, with updates on the Strategy’s progress shared with our key delivery partners.