Australia's Natural Resources
1997-2002 and beyond
National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2002
Preface
AUSTRALIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES: 1997-2002 AND BEYOND
Australia is committed to natural resource management.
In August 1999, Ministers attending the sixteenth meeting of the Agricultural and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand noted the following principles. The Council also noted that these principles might be amended in time to capture economic and regional issues, important changes in attitudes and behaviour, and findings from the monitoring and evaluation of progress.
Principles for natural resource management
- Ecologically sustainable development is the framework for the management of our natural resources.
- Natural resource management requires integrated management at the appropriate scale recognising ecosystem processes.
- Natural resource management requires a partnership between government, communities, industry and individuals, with clear and agreed roles and responsibilities.
- Relative contributions to the costs of natural resource management are to reflect the private and public costs incurred or benefits derived.
- A mix of policy and delivery instruments is required for natural resource management outcomes.
- Policy and programs are to be consistent and aligned within and between all levels of government.
- Natural resource management actions are to be based on best available science and experience and the principle of continuous improvement. New natural resource management requires a continued investment in science and innovation.
- Capacity building, leadership and empowerment are fundamental to natural resource management.
- Natural resource management requires a fundamental change in society's values, thinking and behaviour.
- Natural resource management objectives are outcome focused and S.M.A.R.T.—simple, measurable, achievable, reasonable and time-bound.
- Natural resource management recognises the rights and aspirations of indigenous people and their connection to natural resources.
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
The Hon. Warren Truss The Hon. Dr David Kemp Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister for Environment and Heritage Parliament House Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Ministers,
I have pleasure in presenting to you Australia's Natural Resources 1997-2002 and beyond. This report is the final report of the initial National Land and Water Resources Audit. It summarises the principal findings and describes some of the substantial uses already made of the Audit's information. Recognising the government's commitment to continue the Audit, suggestions are made for its future role.
The Audit assessments show that a significant proportion of Australia is in sound condition, with some of it in excellent condition (e.g. approximately 50% of our estuaries are in near-pristine condition—strategic protective management for these areas will be cost effective and ensure these areas continue to deliver the services we need from them—fish production and biodiversity).
The Audit assessments also demonstrate that our country faces a number of serious issues in natural resource management, particularly within the more intensively developed rural areas. The Audit has identified where these issues are occurring and some of the key remediation and management opportunities. It has highlighted the continuous improvements occurring in industries to meet natural resource management responsibilities. There is scope for many further improvements: improvements that maximise productivity, maintain our resource base and minimise off-site impacts.
Continued Audit partnerships between the governments, industries and individuals using Australia's natural resources are essential. We will be able to track changes in condition as we implement programs, provide reports of improvements, and assess the effectiveness of various management actions and incentives. This information will underpin decisions on priorities, policies and programs to meet emerging natural resources challenges.
Providing information to underpin management requires a strategic approach involving:
- content, with gaps identified and filled, to meet the various and changing needs of clients;
- availability of data through libraries, information through atlases and brokering improvements in skills and understanding; and
- application at a variety of scales to meet local, regional and Australia-wide objectives; to undertake scientific assessments; determine trade-offs where necessary; and monitor the outcomes and quality of policy and management decisions.
A continued investment in assessing Australia's natural resources to determine their status and change in condition as a result of use, will be cost-effective and will underpin the success of natural resource management initiatives. The National Land and Water Resources Audit Advisory Council recommends the delivery of this process through the establishment of an independently based organisation that can build on partnerships across all governments, the community and industry; and on maintaining and updating core data sets established during the five years of the Audit. There must also be scope for further demand-driven data collections and facilitating of Australia-wide standards for data collection that are underpinned by Australia New Zealand Land Information Council-developed data access and management protocols. The Audit should be overseen by a council responsible to the chairpersons of the Natural Resources Management Ministerial Council.
Audit activities have already had a significant influence on Australia's natural resource management programs and on behalf of the Audit Advisory Council I thank you for your support and the Government's commitment to continue with this strategic approach to collecting and disseminating information on our natural resources.
Yours sincerely
Roy Green
Chair, National Land and Water Resources Audit Advisory Council