PRINCIPLES
1. Victoria’s unique indigenous biodiversity is intrinsically valuable and must be protected.
2. Biologically diverse ecosystems and ecosystem processes sustain Earth’s life support systems, including the climate system.
3. Biodiversity is essential to human survival, health, and wealth.
4. Healthy and resilient ecological systems are essential for current and future generations and should thrive in our cities, agricultural and rural areas, as well as in all parts of the natural environment.
5. Economic development and technologies must be within the limits of our biologically diverse ecosystems if we are to survive and flourish.
6. The ongoing loss of Victoria’s biodiversity poses an unacceptable risk to human and ecosystem health, and dramatically reduces our ability to cope with major environmental threats.
7. Victorian ecosystems are vital for the survival of nationally and internationally significant species of migratory animals, and the loss of biodiversity in Victoria has national and international ramifications.
8. Local Indigenous Networks have an important role to play in the protection of Victorian biodiversity.
9. All legislation should abide by precautionary principles; that is, if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or the environment, protective action should be supported before there is complete scientific proof of a risk.
AIMS
10. Review of all current environmental legislation to evaluate how effectively each is protecting relevant aspects of the natural environment (i.e. specific areas, biomes and species), and identify where improvement is needed.
11. Pass legislation to prevent actions that are damaging our ecological systems and processes.
12. Resource environmental legislation implementation to fulfil its primary objectives of maintaining and improving the natural environment.
13. Establish a comprehensive statewide biodiversity framework with a funding mechanism aimed at reversing the ongoing degradation of existing biodiversity. This framework will give priority to protecting ecosystems, allowing our fauna and flora to evolve naturally.
14. Develop a comprehensive, adequate, and representative system of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine protected areas (MPAs), including all remaining areas of high conservation value, managed primarily to protect biodiversity.
15. Protection from accidental or deliberate introduction of non-native plants, animals and organisms which may compromise Australia’s biodiversity.
16. Improved support for services which anticipate and address biosecurity risks and invasive species threats at a state level.
17. Support for science-based, large-scale programs for habitat protection, restoration of ecological systems, and protection of all indigenous species.
18. Promote effective integration of regional and urban planning, ecological sustainability, economic development, and social wellbeing.
19. Liaise with and support environmentally focused community groups to further identify areas of environmental concern.
20. Market-based processes and trading mechanisms such as biodiversity banking and offsets to not be used to clear or contaminate conservation areas for development, given their appalling implementation track record.
21. Introduce state measures to end broad-scale clearing and incremental loss of native vegetation, including degradation of native forests and excessive strategic fuel break construction.
22. Native vegetation clearing offsets to be the last resort when considering approval of projects and development applications, and to be secured and approved before the final decision.
23. Establish evidence-based buffer zones in high conservation areas, with linkage and restoration of ecological fragments on public and private land.
24. Strengthening the planning scheme to allow councils to better protect biodiversity.
25. Research humane and sustainable means of controlling existing and potential threats to biodiversity from feral animals, weeds, and pest species.
26. Increase and enforce penalties for the killing or capture of state-listed threatened and endangered species and damage to their habitat.
27. Support programs to work with private landowners and community groups to protect, restore, and conserve natural values on their land, including conservation covenants.
28. Develop and enforce recovery plans for threatened and endangered species and protection plans for ecological communities.
29. Create indigenous flora and fauna reserves where animals and plants can be protected or re-established.
30. Resourcing for research to monitor the status of ecosystems and inform government policy.
31. Resourcing for biodiversity education programs.
These state policies were last amended by members at a policy forum held on 14 June 2025.