The Governor - General can proclaim a Commonwealth area to be a conservation zone, to protect biodiversity in the area while it is being assessed for inclusion in a Commonwealth reserve.

Regulations can be made to regulate a wide range of activities in a conservation zone.

People who have rights relating to an area that is later included in a conservation zone can continue to exercise those rights in the zone.

A conservation zone can be revoked if the Minister is satisfied the area concerned should not be included in a Commonwealth reserve. It is revoked automatically if it is included in a Commonwealth reserve.