Management arrangements should, to the extent practicable, provide for broad and meaningful participation by the community, public organisations and private interests in designing and carrying out the functions of the reserve or zone.
2 Effective and adaptive management
Management arrangements should be effective and appropriate to the biodiversity objectives and the socio‑economic context of the reserve or zone. They should be adaptive in character to ensure a capacity to respond to uncertainty and change.
3 Precautionary principle
A lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent degradation of the natural and cultural heritage of a reserve or zone where there is a threat of serious or irreversible damage.
4 Minimum impact
The integrity of a reserve or zone is best conserved by protecting it from disturbance and threatening processes. Potential adverse impacts on the natural, cultural and social environment and surrounding communities should be minimised as far as practicable.
5 Ecologically sustainable use
If resource use is consistent with the management principles that apply to a reserve or zone, it should (if it is carried out) be based on the principle (the principle of ecologically sustainable use) that:
(a) natural resources should only be used within their capacity to sustain natural processes while maintaining the life‑support systems of nature; and
(b) the benefit of the use to the present generation should not diminish the potential of the reserve or zone to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.
6 Transparency of decision‑making
The framework and processes for decision‑making for management of the reserve or zone should be transparent. The reasons for making decisions should be publicly available, except to the extent that information, including information that is culturally sensitive or commercial‑in‑confidence, needs to be treated as confidential.
7 Joint management
If the reserve or zone is wholly or partly owned, by Aboriginal people, continuing traditional use of the reserve or zone by resident indigenous people, including the protection and maintenance of cultural heritage, should be recognised.
Part 2—Principles for each IUCN category
1 Strict nature reserve (category Ia)
1.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a strict nature reserve (IUCN protected area management category Ia).
Schedule Sch 8 - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2025 - Australian IUCN reserve management principles | Zoe
1.01 The reserve or zone should be managed primarily for scientific research or environmental monitoring based on the following principles.
1.02 Habitats, ecosystems and native species should be conserved in as undisturbed a state as possible.
1.03 Genetic resources should be maintained in a dynamic and evolutionary state.
1.04 Established ecological processes should be maintained.
1.05 Structural landscape features or rock exposures should be safeguarded.
1.06 Examples of the natural environment should be secured for scientific studies, environmental monitoring and education, including baseline areas from which all avoidable access is excluded.
1.07 Disturbance should be minimised by careful planning and execution of research and other approved activities.
1.08 Public access should be limited to the extent it is consistent with these principles.
2 Wilderness area (category Ib)
2.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a wilderness area (IUCN protected area management category Ib).
2.01 The reserve or zone should be protected and managed to conserve its unmodified condition based on the following principles.
2.02 Future generations should have the opportunity to experience, understand and enjoy reserves or zones that have been largely undisturbed by human action over a long period of time.
2.03 The essential attributes and qualities of the environment should be maintained over the long term.
2.04 Public access should be provided at levels and of a type that will best serve the physical and spiritual well‑being of visitors and maintain the wilderness qualities of the reserve or zone for present and future generations.
2.05 Indigenous human communities living at low density and in balance with the available resources should be able to maintain their lifestyle.
3 National park (category II)
3.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a national park (IUCN protected area management category II).
3.01 The reserve or zone should be protected and managed to conserve its natural condition according to the following principles.
3.02 Natural and scenic areas of national and international significance should be protected for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational or tourist purposes.
3.03 Representative examples of physiographic regions, biotic communities, genetic resources, and native species should be perpetuated in as natural a state as possible to provide ecological stability and diversity.
3.04 Visitor use should be managed for inspirational, educational, cultural and recreational purposes at a level that will maintain the reserve or zone in a natural or near natural state.
3.05 Management should seek to ensure that exploitation or occupation inconsistent with these principles does not occur.
3.06 Respect should be maintained for the ecological, geomorphologic, sacred and aesthetic attributes for which the reserve or zone was assigned to this category.
3.07 The needs of indigenous people should be taken into account, including subsistence resource use, to the extent that they do not conflict with these principles.
3.08 The aspirations of traditional owners of land within the reserve or zone, their continuing land management practices, the protection and maintenance of cultural heritage and the benefit the traditional owners derive from enterprises, established in the reserve or zone, consistent with these principles should be recognised and taken into account.
4 Natural monument (category III)
4.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a natural monument (IUCN protected area management category III).
4.01 The reserve or zone should be protected and managed to conserve its natural or cultural features based on the following principles.
4.02 Specific outstanding natural features should be protected or conserved in perpetuity because of their natural significance, unique or representational quality or spiritual connotations.
4.03 Opportunities for research, education, interpretation and public appreciation should be provided to an extent consistent with these principles.
4.04 Management should seek to ensure that exploitation or occupation inconsistent with these principles does not occur.
4.05 People with rights or interests in the reserve or zone should be entitled to benefits derived from activities in the reserve or zone that are consistent with these principles.
5 Habitat/species management area (category IV)
5.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a habitat/species management area (IUCN protected area management category IV).
5.01 The reserve or zone should be managed primarily, including (if necessary) through active intervention, to ensure the maintenance of habitats or to meet the requirements of collections or specific species based on the following principles.
5.02 Habitat conditions necessary to protect significant species, groups or collections of species, biotic communities or physical features of the environment should be secured and maintained, if necessary through specific human manipulation.
5.03 Scientific research and environmental monitoring that contribute to reserve management should be facilitated as primary activities associated with sustainable resource management.
5.04 The reserve or zone may be developed for public education and appreciation of the characteristics of habitats, species or collections and of the work of wildlife management.
5.05 Management should seek to ensure that exploitation or occupation inconsistent with these principles does not occur.
5.06 People with rights or interests in the reserve or zone should be entitled to benefits derived from activities in the reserve or zone that are consistent with these principles.
5.07 If the reserve or zone is declared for the purpose of a botanic garden, it should also be managed for the increase of knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of Australia’s plant heritage by establishing, as an integrated resource, a collection of living and herbarium specimens of Australian and related plants for study, interpretation, conservation and display.
6 Protected landscape/seascape (category V)
6.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a protected landscape/seascape (IUCN protected area management category V).
6.01 The reserve or zone should be managed to safeguard the integrity of the traditional interactions between people and nature based on the following principles.
6.02 The harmonious interaction of nature and culture should be maintained through the protection of landscape or seascape and the continuation of traditional uses, building practices and social and cultural manifestations.
6.03 Lifestyles and economic activities that are in harmony with nature, and the conservation of the social and cultural fabric of the communities in the reserve or zone concerned should be supported.
6.04 The diversity of landscape, seascape and habitat, and of associated species and ecosystems, should be maintained.
6.05 Land and sea uses and activities that are inappropriate in scale or character should not occur.
6.06 Opportunities for public enjoyment should be provided through recreation and tourism appropriate in type and scale to the essential qualities of the reserve or zone.
6.07 Scientific and educational activities, that will contribute to the long term well‑being of resident populations and to the development of public support for the environmental protection of similar areas, should be encouraged.
6.08 Benefits to the local community, and contributions to its well‑being, through the provision of natural products and services should be sought and promoted if they are consistent with these principles.
7 Managed resource protected area (category VI)
7.01A This clause sets out the management principles for a managed resource protected area (IUCN protected area management category VI).
7.01 The reserve or zone should be managed mainly for the ecologically sustainable use of natural ecosystems based on the following principles.
7.02 The biological diversity and other natural values of the reserve or zone should be protected and maintained in the long term.
7.03 Management practices should be applied to ensure ecologically sustainable use of the reserve or zone.
7.04 Management of the reserve or zone should contribute to regional and national development to the extent that this is consistent with these principles.