The Conservation Regulator is responsible for the regulation of fire prevention, use of public land, wildlife, and biodiversity in Victoria. We are a specialist regulator, established within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
We take a graduated and proportionate approach to regulation. We focus on encouraging compliance with the law through engagement and education, helping people understand the risks and impacts of illegal activities on Victoria’s forests and wildlife.
We actively monitor compliance and investigate alleged breaches of the law. Where necessary, we take enforcement action to protect Victoria’s wildlife, biodiversity and public land for the benefit of current and future generations.
Our work is delivered in partnership with Victorian communities, Traditional Owners, land managers, co‑regulators and other stakeholders. By working together, we support stronger compliance and achieve better conservation outcomes.
Our mission
To be an effective, trusted, best practice regulator.
Our vision
To create and maintain liveable, inclusive, sustainable communities and thriving natural environments.
Our regulatory outcomes
We regulate to achieve 3 key outcomes:
- equitable and safe access to public land and use of natural resources
- protected natural and heritage values
- sustainable communities – social, economic, and environmental.
Our regulatory priorities
We focus our regulatory effort where it can make the biggest difference for Victoria’s wildlife, biodiversity, and public land. To do this, we use a state‑wide information gathering and risk assessment process to understand where the greatest risks and harms are occurring.
2025–2027 regulatory priorities
illegal fires on public land
illegal take of firewood
cruelty to wildlife
protection of threatened species
illegal vehicle use
This process draws on data, intelligence and on‑the‑ground insights to identify patterns of non‑compliance, emerging risks and trends over time. It helps us decide where targeted education, monitoring and enforcement will have the greatest impact.
In 2025, we adopted a 2‑year priority cycle, reflecting our increased intelligence gathering maturity and capability, allowing us to implement longer‑term strategies while providing greater certainty to the community and stakeholders about our regulatory focus.
While we regulate across all our responsibilities, these priorities guide where we focus our strategic effort to protect Victoria’s environment and support safe, responsible use of public land.
The 2025–2027 priorities reflect areas where illegal or harmful activities can have significant and lasting impacts on forests, wildlife and threatened species, as well as on the safe and sustainable enjoyment of public land. The priorities also reflect that Victorians are increasingly getting out into Victoria’s great outdoors, and the importance of the Conservation Regulator supporting education, monitoring and, where necessary enforcement.
Overview of our regulatory approach – our compliance and enforcement approach
We focus our efforts on the issues that pose the greatest risk to Victoria’s biodiversity, wildlife and public land. This enables us to use our resources more effectively and focus our efforts where they will have the greatest positive impact on the environment and the community.
When deciding where to focus our work, we consider:
- the level of risk that non-compliance poses to the outcomes we are trying to achieve
- our ability to reduce these risks
- the most effective use of our resources.
We recognise that it is not always practical or appropriate to respond to every suspected breach of the law. Instead, we concentrate our efforts where there is the greatest potential harm, and where our actions can most effectively reduce that risk.
Our response is guided by the circumstances of each situation. We consider factors such as whether non‑compliance was deliberate, repeated or unintentional, as well as the impact of the behaviour. Depending on the situation, our response may range from providing information and advice to help people understand and meet their obligations, through to stronger enforcement action such as fines, licence or permit cancellations, or prosecution for serious offences.
We monitor compliance to help prevent harm to the environment wherever possible. Monitoring also helps us detect illegal activity and reinforces the importance of following the law. We place strong emphasis on prevention — working through media, education and engagement with stakeholders to raise awareness of regulatory requirements, support responsible behaviour, and encourage the community to report suspected wildlife and forest crimes.
Our impact at a glance
Engagement and education
- 251,236 visits to our website
- 949 news mentions of conservation regulator
- 9,507,887 social media views
- 198 social media posts
- 6,464 calls and emails concerning wildlife
- 25 engagement events attended
- 6 new documents published to support education and compliance
- 16,587 licences and permits issued or renewed
Enforcement
- 956 charges laid
- 26 offenders prosecuted
- 9 offenders convicted
- 336 proactive patrols on public land
- 5 operations targeting identified priority areas and high environmental risks
- 324 infringements issued
- 157 official warnings
Impact
- 17% increase wildlife-related enquiries
- 18% increase charges laid
- 90% new permission applications submitted online
- 1,292 people engaged: operation save our hoodies
- Significant increase in engagement across platforms
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