Australian Land Conservation Alliance

12/05/2026

Australia cannot reverse its environmental decline on last night's nature funding cuts.

The Australian Government has announced $2.2 billion of cuts to the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio over the next 14 years, including 7 years of funding from Australia’s National Environmental Science Program. Australia’s threatened species program has been confirmed for another two years, but with funding cuts compared to previous years despite the Government’s commitment to ‘no new extinctions’.

Australian Land Conservation Alliance Policy Lead Michael Cornish said, “Nature underpins so much of our economy, our prosperity, and our wellbeing. But the government has just put nature funding on life support.

Australia has committed to halting and reversing nature loss, but those commitments cannot be delivered on funding cuts. The gap between the scale of the problem and the scale of funding is only widening.

Last month, the Federal Government released its second National Ecosystem Accounts. These reconfirm just how valuable nature is, showing that healthy ecosystems store billions of dollars’ worth of carbon and protect hundreds of thousands of homes and people from storms and tidal surges.

“Many ecosystems are on the pathway to collapse, with more animals being added to the threatened species list every year. Yet the Federal Government’s trend of chronic underinvestment continues.

“What further evidence does the government need that public investment in nature is not keeping pace with the scale of decline?”

The only significant nature budget commitment was top-up funding for the Great Barrier Reef, and a two-year extension to the Saving Native Species Program. Previously, this Program had funding certainty over multiple years, and at higher levels.

“Nature’s share of the Federal budget is so tiny already, and yet they’re still cutting it further. They’re using a teacup to put out a bushfire,” said Michael.

“There is a direct correlation between nature loss, and rising insurance costs, food prices, extreme weather impacts, and declining economic productivity.

Australians are already feeling the impacts of nature loss through these mounting costs and pressures, and we cannot solve these challenges if the natural systems we rely on are left to decline and ultimately collapse.

“Underinvesting in the environment might ‘save’ money in the short term, but it is a false economy. It compounds the true costs to all Australians and postpones a much larger reckoning,” said Mr Cornish.

01/04/2026

Abstracts are now open & early bird tickets on sale for the 2026 ALCA Conference.

The conference is happening from 6–9th October in Nipaluna / Hobart and surrounds. It will be here before you know it, so now’s the time to think about your involvement!

This year’s theme, Nature-Climate Action: Our Opportunity to Lead, reflects both urgency and possibility, and will bring together the people, ideas and collaborations driving nature-climate action across Australia and beyond.

We’re seeking submissions for presentations and field trips that share and celebrate impact, innovation and lessons learned - from on-ground practice, policy and research to partnerships, investment models and community-led solutions across Australia, the Pacific and beyond.

We invite people from a broad range of sectors, First Nations groups, sections of society and business, areas of practice, research and policy to apply.

Early bird registration is the best‑value way to attend the event. There are a range of registration types available, including Community, Business & Government, Speaker, Young People and Students. (ALCA members, use the discount code ALCAMEM10% for an extra discount)

Learn more, register, or submit an abstract: https://www.alca.org.au/events/conference/2026

17/02/2026

New research estimates that in one year Australia spent $26 billion on incentives and tax concessions that harm nature. And that's a lot more than what it spends protecting it. (ALCA’s previous estimates have placed Federal Government investment in nature at under $500m.)

Three years ago, Australia signed up to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, committing to identify and reform incentives that damage biodiversity by 2025 (Target 18). According to reporting by ABC News, no government-calculated figure has yet been made public.

Reforming harmful incentives isn’t just about cutting harmful spending. It’s about redirecting investment so public money supports outcomes that actually benefit nature.

With a national progress report due to the United Nations by 28 February, there is an opportunity – and a responsibility – for greater transparency and better alignment between biodiversity commitments and budget settings.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-02-17/26-billion-global-biodiversity-target-nature-subsidies/106328722?

The federal government funds $26 billion of incentives each year that may be harmful to the environment and is yet to report on its international commitments, researchers say.

10/02/2026

Nature is rising as a boardroom priority, but there's a lot of scope to strengthen oversight, disclosure, and strategic integration.

The Australian Institute of Company Directors and The University of Sydney Business School surveyed and interviewed over 250 directors to understand how boards are responding to nature-related risks and opportunities. They found that:

➞ Boards recognise nature as a business issue, even if they don’t use the word “nature”. Boards are talking about water, waste, land use and supply chains, but often not naming these as nature‑related risks. Still, 81% say these risks are important.

➞ Nature risks are moving from reputational to financial. Directors increasingly link nature to supply chain disruption, cost volatility, and legal exposure. Reputation still matters, but financial risk is now front and centre.

➞ Policy uncertainty is the biggest handbrake. Over half of directors say unclear national policy (especially the lack of environmental standards) slows action. Internal challenges like skills gaps and competing priorities also loom large.

➞ Boards are adapting climate governance playbooks. Many are incorporating nature into existing climate frameworks: updating risk systems, seeking expert advice, and considering financial impacts. But strategic integration is still early.

➞ Oversight and disclosure are patchy. Only 41% say the full board oversees nature; one in five say there’s no oversight at all. Disclosure varies widely, with only 13% aligning to TNFD.

In summary, the study highlights that nature is still nascent in the boardroom, and in the business sector more broadly. Read more:https://www.aicd.com.au/content/dam/aicd/pdf/news-media/research/2025/nature-enters-the-boardroom.pdf

02/02/2026

Wetlands are some of our most powerful ecosystems, and provide critical economic and environmental benefits – they improve water quality, reduce flood risk, sequester carbon, hold deep cultural significance, boost agricultural and fishery productivity, and support extraordinary biodiversity.

As with all ecosystem types, many coastal and inland wetlands are on private or non-government managed land. On World Wetland Day we want to acknowledge the work that ALCA members do, in partnership with large networks of landholders and land managers, right across the country, to protect, steward and restore these critical systems.

One such example is Nari Nari Tribal Council's work protecting 55,000 hectares of wetlands, with the support of an in-perpetuity agreement with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

Gayini Conservation Area land manager, Mark Brettschneider, talks about the importance of the in-perpetuity conservation agreement Nari Nari Tribal Council h...

29/01/2026

ALCA's 2026 Conservation Finance Intensive is coming to Melbourne, and is all about unlocking credible, investible nature outcomes by leveraging climate disclosure, standards and finance.

As nature rapidly becomes recognised as both a material risk and a strategic opportunity, this year’s theme supports real-world application, connecting climate disclosure with sustainable finance frameworks, and on-the-ground conservation delivery with investment decision-making and impact.

It's designed for those in the public, private and philanthropic sectors who currently, or in the near future, have the potential to align conservation with capital by enabling, designing, funding, or delivering conservation at scale.

We're pleased to partner with the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) to deliver the Intensive as a formal side event of the RIAA Conference.

MELBOURNE | 26 MAY | In-person and online tickets available.

Learn more and register: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-conservation-finance-intensive

ALCA's Conservation Finance Network is supported by Bank Australia

A practical, cross-sector forum focused on how climate disclosure, standards and finance can be leveraged to unlock credible, investible nature outcomes.

09/01/2026

Tasmania's feral deer population has surged by more than 30 per cent in just five years, and is causing escalating damage to farms, native habitat, and sensitive protected areas. Despite this, landholders still face unnecessary permitting and licencing requirements to controlling deer on their own land, and current government investment in coordinated, large-scale management efforts remains inadequate to reduce deer populations at scale.

ALCA has made a submission to the Tasmanian Government’s 2025 Deer Management Policy Review, which closes for public consultation today. While we welcome some permit streamlining, the proposed changes will not meaningfully reduce deer numbers or stop the damage being done.

“Making it easier for landholders to act when deer are causing harm is positive, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough. The plan still prioritises recreational hunting interests over agriculture, biodiversity and the broader economy, maintains permit barriers for landholders that slow down effective control, and lacks serious funding for coordinated eradication,” said ALCA Policy Lead Michael Cornish.

“If the state were genuinely prioritising agriculture, nature and the economy, deer would be treated like foxes – declared pests targeted for rapid and systematic elimination, rather than ongoing management to sustain hunting opportunities.”

Deer are undermining Tasmania’s agricultural productivity, conservation efforts on private and public land, and Tasmania’s nature-based tourism industry which depends on healthy landscapes and wildlife. Delaying meaningful action will significantly increase long-term costs for farmers, communities, taxpayers, and Tasmania’s tourism brand.

More here: https://alca.org.au/tasmania-urged-to-act-decisively-on-feral-deer-damage/

Image: Joachim van Soest via iNaturalist
CC BY-NC 4.0

Feral deer numbers are rapidly increasing across Tasmania, but large-scale management efforts remains inadequate to reduce deer populations.

24/11/2025

The Federal Government is hoping to pass major changes to Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act before parliament rises on Thursday.

What happens to these laws will set the standard for nature protection for decades, determining whether future generations inherit thriving ecosystems or a legacy of decline.

It is extremely disappointing that, overall, the second of the Federal Government’s proposed environmental reform packages takes a big step backwards for nature compared to the Nature Positive Bills package it proposed last Parliament.

The primary purpose of environmental protection legislation is to protect our environment and the communal prosperity that it safeguards, not to help facilitate irreversible development on top of irreplaceable nature at the unaccountable discretion of the Minister of the day.

ALCA does not support the Bills in their current form. However, key amendments would ensure that Australia’s environmental protection laws focus more on environmental protection, and better safeguard the biodiversity and ecosystems that sustain life, now, and for future generations.

We encourage everyone to have their say, and and to make a submission as soon as possible.

Read more here:

What happens to these laws will set the standard for nature protection for decades, determining whether future generations inherit thriving ecosystems or a legacy of decline.

01/10/2025

A big welcome to our newest ALCA members: Biodiversity Legacy and the National Landcare Network.

Biodiversity Legacy offers a unique approach to conservation that prioritises locally-led ownership and stewardship of land for future generations. By supporting the creation of community-governed not-for-profits and the transfer of land titles into these secure ownership structures, Biodiversity Legacy empowers local people and communities to safeguard the places they love, beyond their lifetimes. The organisation provides practical tools, guidance, and ongoing governance support to make this possible. More here: https://biodiversitylegacy.org.au/

The National Landcare Network is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia and works to provide a voice for Landcare at the national level. With 2,000+ State and Territory member organisations, 6,000+ local groups, and 160,000+ active Landcarers, the Network champions the grassroots movement that has been caring for land, water, and biodiversity for decades. Their purpose is to represent, support, and strengthen Landcare so communities everywhere can continue restoring and protecting the natural resources we all rely on. More here: https://nln.org.au/

Membership expansion continues to enrich our dialogue—bringing broader perspectives and diverse approaches that deepen our collective understanding of both the challenges and opportunities ahead.

View all of our members: https://alca.org.au/members/

Image: Nick Hanson / National Landcare Network

03/09/2025

Nature is essential to our health, wellbeing, and way of life—and this important new Nature Economics report from 30 by 30 shows it’s also a powerhouse for our economy. Every year, nature contributes over $511 billion to the Australian economy, which is more than mining or finance.

Yet despite the immense economic, social and environmental benefits that nature provides, federal expenditure on nature remains disproportionately low (less than 0.1% of the budget) and the underinvestment is showing. Australia leads the world on mammal extinctions, and 17 of our unique ecosystems are showing signs of collapse.

The opportunity is clear: increasing federal investment in nature to just 1% of the budget could preserve our unique ecosystems for future generations, boost productivity growth by 40%, as well as strengthen climate resilience and reduce disaster recovery costs.

Investing in nature is not just good for the planet—it’s smart economic policy.

Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gzHUtsvd

Congratulations to all involved in the report, we're pleased to be part of launching it today at Parliament House.