Conservation compliance

The ACT Parks and Conservation Service (ACT PCS) administers the Nature Conservation Act 2014. This law aims to protect plants and animals and improve the biodiversity values of the ACT.

Conservation Officers work to help people follow the rules protecting nature. They carry out various activities including:

• public education,
• patrols and inspections,
• audits, and
• investigations.

ACT PCS employs a modern, risk-based regulatory model and takes a proportionate and graduated approach to address non-compliance.

We need the public’s help to report any problems in our national parks and reserves, as well as any illegal activities involving plants and animals. These include:

• illegal activity relating to the keeping and trading of exotic and native animals
• unauthorised access by vehicles to national parks and other reserves
• illegal fishing activities including undersized fish and illicit trade
• taking natural or cultural materials including artefacts, plants, soil or stone from reserves
• cutting or felling trees or taking wood from reserves
• unlicensed taking or keeping of native animals
• injuring or endangering a native animal