The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 represents an advance for invertebrate conservation in New South Wales. Currently terrestrial vertebrates and vascular plants dominate the schedules, but a small number of threatened invertebrate species have been listed. Three snails and four insects have been placed on the endangered species schedule. However, experience has shown that there are difficulties in using the Act to protect invertebrates. Issues include: use of criteria in the Act; taxonomic and scientific impediments; the need to protect habitat rather than individual species; conflicts with the scientific community and amateur collectors; and the exclusion from consideration of all aquatic invertebrates.