The new Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 will replace both the Wildlife Conservation Act and the Sandalwood Act. On 3 December 2016, several parts of the new Act were proclaimed by the State Governor in the Government Gazette. The parts that came into effect include:

the ability for the Minister for Environment to approve `biodiversity management programs'
the ability for the Minister for Environment to agree to `biodiversity conservation agreements'
the ability for the Director General of DBCA to enter into `biodiversity conservation covenants' with private landholders, and
the ability for the Minister for Environment to make regulations for certain matters identified in the Act.
While the Act provides new arrangements for biodiversity conservation covenants, these arrangements do not replace or invalidate existing registered nature conservation covenants, which will continue unaffected.

Our marine areas are unique and many of them rival their terrestrial counterparts in scenic grandeur. Western Australia’s coastline spans more than 13,500km and is home to some of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems and marine wildlife, including massive whale sharks, humpback whales and several threatened species of sea turtles. Many of the State’s marine plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world.

The ability to carry out customary activities is an important part of Aboriginal culture as it defines Aboriginal people’s fundamental connection to the land.