Objectives:

Loss of biodiversity is one of the most serious environmental problems the world faces. The objective of this course is to describe, analyse and evaluate current legal regimes for biodiversity conservation. It also explores the policy issues that arise in relation to biodiversity conservation and examines the need for a broader policy mix.

Conventional legal approaches, based on setting aside special areas and regulation, often fail to grasp the implications of the problem and may need both to be reformed and complemented by other approaches, such as providing positive incentives, such as stewardship payments.

The course will provide a critical understanding of current legal issues relating to terrestrial biodiversity conservation and the design of appropriate policy responses, particularly in relation to private land.

Content:

After outlining the ecological, scientific and socio-economic context in which biodiversity conservation is pursued, this course describes, analyses and evaluates current legal regimes for biodiversity conservation. It includes coverage of:

• International obligations
• Federal/state/local government division of responsibility
• Protected areas;
• Threatened species;
• Native vegetation conservation on private land;
• Private and public forestry
• Regulatory, voluntary and economic instruments;

The course also explores the policy issues that arise from current approaches and examines the need for a broader policy mix.

Students must rely on the Approved Assessment which will be posted to the course homepage on the ANU Law website, prior to the commencement of the course.

Students are required to complete a piece of assessment prior to the commencement of intensive teaching.

LAWS8189 Fundamentals of Environmental Law (non-lawyers)