Inundation by rising sea levels and increased storm surges is likely to have a significant impact on coastal habitats and biodiversity around Australia. Using GIS and risk assessment methods, the impacts of projected sea level rise on beach-nesting shorebirds and native coastal vegetation were assessed across all land tenures in Tasmania. The pilot study identified and mapped 118 coastal areas as the highest priorities for conservation management. Options for the conservation of beach-nesting shorebirds and coastal native vegetation in priority locations were developed as practical adaptation responses. Three response types were identified - refugia, retreat pathway sites (threat avoidance areas) and squeezed-out sites. For refugia, land managers are recommended to minimise activities that disturb or threaten natural values. For retreat pathways, facilitating protection is important through minimising new developments or infrastructure, and minimising disturbance and physical threats. For areas that are to be inundated or squeezed out, it may be important to consider alternative management options including translocation and monitoring of the location to assess impacts. A short list of high risk values (beach-nesting shorebirds and coastal-obligate plant species locations) were identified, with sections of the Tasmanian coast zoned into three management response categories, allowing for efficient and effective allocation of management effort and resourcing. This is the first time this approach has been undertaken in Australia and the results of this approach clearly demonstrate that it is possible to effectively prioritise sites for biodiversity conservation management to mitigate the projected impacts of sea level rise on coastal values.