New biodiversity legislation has been introduced to Western Australia's Parliament with the promise of protecting endangered animals and safeguarding threatened habitats.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob introduced the bill into State Parliament, saying its passage into law next year would signal a new start for conservation in WA.

"This bill ushers in a new era for conservation by introducing a contemporary legislative basis for conservation actions, the listing and recovery of threatened species, [and] recognition of threatened ecological communities," he said.

Mr Jacob told Parliament the bill would help protect the biodiversity of WA's South West, one of world's 35 recognised biodiversity hotspots, allowing the listing of both endangered species and critical habitats.

Anyone seriously threatening endangered species would face maximum fines of up to $500,000, compared to the current penalty of just $10,000.

There are also tough provisions for anyone destroying critical habitats.

"The bill also includes the capacity for courts to require repair of significant biodiversity conservation damage as an alternative to, or in addition to, fines," he said.

"This will provide a further disincentive to people considering damage to the most important habitat sites."

Sandalwood fines increased

The new legislation increases the maximum penalty for illegal sandalwood harvesting from $200 to $200,000 for individuals and $1 million for corporations.

Mr Jacob said it also sought to streamline decision-making by government, including the process for listing or de-listing endangered species.

He said the bill had been the result of an extensive consultation process which started in 1992 with the release of discussion paper.

Wilderness Society state director Jenita Enevoldsen said her organisation had not been consulted on the proposed new laws, but welcomed many of its provisions.

"The crown is now bound by this act. So there's not now one rule for the people and one rule for the Government, it is now all encompassing," she said.

Ms Enevoldsen said greater protection of native habitats was an important feature of the bill, but she wants more done to protect native animals, not just those under immediate threat.

"Currently, there are only threatened species being looked after. We're concerned that if the current habitat isn't protected, more species will be on that list," she said.

Ms Enevoldsen said the society would also closely scrutinise the provisions covering land clearing, which she said was widespread and very difficult to quantify.

"There's a lot of clearing going on and we'd really like to see that reined in," she said.