Victoria's Framework for Conserving Threatened Species

These are:

a. to guarantee that all taxa of Victoria's flora and fauna, other than taxa specified in the Excluded list, can persist and improve in the wild and retain their capacity to adapt to environmental changes; and

b. to prevent taxa and communities of flora and fauna from becoming threatened and to recover threatened taxa and communities so their conservation status improves; and

c. to protect, conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity, including -

i. flora and fauna and their habitats; and

ii. genetic diversity; and

iii. ecological communities; and

iv. ecological processes; and

d. to identify and mitigate the impacts of potentially threatening processes to address the important underlying causes of biodiversity decline; and

e. to ensure the use of biodiversity as a natural resource is ecologically sustainable; and

f. to identify and conserve areas of Victoria in respect of which critical habitat determinations are made.

The Mt Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly, Riekoperla darlingtoni, is one of the two species of wingless stoneflies found in Australia. It is the only wingless species of stonefly found in Victoria. This species is listed as critically endangered under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

The Wingless Stoneflies are found within a 1km radius from the summit of Mt Donna Buang, within the Yarra Ranges National Park. With such a limited range, any disturbance or development has the potential to severely impact the species.

The Scientific Advisory Committee made a recommendation to the Secretary to make a critical habitat determination. The Secretary decided not to make a critical habitat determination because the existing arrangements adequately mitigate threats to the habitat value of the area. The Secretary considered the Minister for Planning’s decision to amend the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination Project, removing proposed trails that presented unacceptable risks of significant effects to the Mount Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly and its habitat.

The full statement of reasons for this decision can be found below.

Mount Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly Statement of Reasons (PDF, 298.8 KB)

The FFG Act is supported by the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Regulations 2020. The Regulations were made under section 69 of the FFG Act. The key elements of the Regulations are:

• eligibility criteria for the listing of taxa, communities of flora or fauna and potentially threatening processes;
• information that must be included in nominations for the listing of taxa of flora and fauna;
• decision-making criteria for licences, permits and authorisations consistent with the updated objectives of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act; and
• the form of notices, applications and certificates issued under the Act.

The Regulations include the following schedules:

Schedule 1 - Eligibility criteria for determining eligibility for listing of species (taxa) of flora or fauna under the FFG Act

Schedule 2 - Eligibility criteria for determining eligibility for listing of communities of flora or fauna under the FFG Act

Schedule 3 - Eligibility criteria for determining eligibility for listing of potentially threatening processes under the FFG Act

Schedule 4 - Prescribed Information required by the FFG Act to be provided with nominations

Schedule 5 – Forms, e.g. notices, applications and certificates used under the FFG Act

Visit the Victorian Legislation website for a current version of the Regulations.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation. While the Victorian Government has primary responsibility for environmental protection across the State, any action (e.g. proposal or project) in Victoria that is likely to have a significant impact on a ‘matter of national environmental significance’ must be referred to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment under the EPBC Act to determine whether an action can proceed.

The Australian Government and all states and territories in Australia have agreed to establish a Common Assessment Method for the assessment and listing of threatened species. The CAM will facilitate a nationally consistent approach to the listing of threatened species using IUCN categories and criteria and the alignment of threatened species lists across Australia into a single operational list.

The FFG Act requires that a Biodiversity Strategy is prepared which includes proposals for achieving the objectives of the Act, targets to measure the achievement of the objectives and a monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.

Protecting Victoria’s Environment - Biodiversity 2037 is the current Biodiversity Strategy under the FFG Act.

The Wildlife Act aims to ensure the protection and sustainable use of all wildlife, which includes native wildlife, as well as non-native wildlife such as deer that has been declared to be wildlife.

The Wildlife Act works in conjunction with the FFG Act to protect threatened species. However, it also contains extensive provisions which are not directly related to threatened species, such as protection of whales and seals, the management of wildlife and nature reserves and the regulation of the keeping and trading of wildlife. The FFG Act lists all threatened species – flora, fauna and fish – and the Wildlife Act provides regulatory protection to threatened wildlife.

More information can be found on our wildlife page.