Nature reserve (Australia) is the title of a type of protected area used in the Australian jurisdictions of the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia. The term âÂÂnature reserveâ is defined by state and territory statutes rather than by a single national statute. As of 2014, 1767 (or ) out of a total of 10339 protected areas listed within the Australian National Reserve System were âÂÂnature reserves.âÂÂ
The term âÂÂnature reservesâ is only used in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.
As of 2014, 1767 protected areas whose titles include the words âÂÂnature reserveâ have been listed on the National Reserve System with a total area of or 1.47% of the Australian territorial area. This compares with the National Reserve SystemâÂÂs total inventory of 10339 protected areas that have a total area of or 17.88% of the Australian territorial area.
In the Australian Capital Territory, the term âÂÂnature reserveâ appears in the following legislation - the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and the Planning and Development Act 2007 with the former defining the term as âÂÂan area of public land reserved in the territory plan for a nature reserve under the Planning and Development Act 2007â while the latter defines it as one of the purposes for which âÂÂpublic land may be reserved in the territory plan.âÂÂ
As of 2014, a total of 43 nature reserves are listed as part of the National Reserve System with a total area of .
In New South Wales, a nature reserve is defined by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 as land being reserved to âÂÂidentify, protect and conserve areas containing outstanding, unique or representative ecosystems, species, communities or natural phenomena.âÂÂ
As of 2014, a total of 418 nature reserves have been listed as part of the New South Wales contribution to the National Reserve System with a total area of .
In Tasmania, a nature reserve is defined in two statutes - the Nature Conservation Act 2002 and the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002. The first statute defines a nature reserve in respect to âÂÂan area of landâ as âÂÂthe conservation of the natural biological diversity or geological diversity of the area of land, or both, and the conservation of the natural values of that area of land that are unique, important or have representative value.â The second statute includes a list of seven objectives for the management of nature reserves concerned with matters such as âÂÂnatural biological diversityâÂÂ, âÂÂgeological diversityâÂÂ, water quality & catchment protection, âÂÂsites or areas of cultural significanceâÂÂ, education, research, protection & rehabilitation, and engagement with Aboriginal people.
As of 2014, a total of 80 nature reserves have been listed as part of the Tasmanian contribution to the National Reserve System with a total area of .
In Western Australia, a nature reserve is defined in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 as being used for land which has been vested in a government agency known as the Conservation Commission either by a person or persons, or by other state legislation where land has been reserved for â the conservation of flora or fauna, or both flora and fauna.âÂÂ
As of 2014, a total of 1226 nature reserves have been listed as part of the Western Australian contribution to the National Reserve System with a total area of .