Caring for our Country

What is NRM?

Policies, agreements and frameworks

This page provides information on the range of policies, agreements and frameworks that guide the delivery of integrated natural resource management (NRM) in Australia. It also provides links to further information and downloadable copies of certain documents.

Policies

Australia's Oceans Policy

Released in 1998, Australia's Oceans Policy continues to guide the direction of Australian Government programmes in the marine environment. The policy provides national coordination and consistency for marine planning and management, whilst allowing for regional diversity.

Native Vegetation Policy

Australia's Native Vegetation Policy works to reduce the decline in our native vegetation. It is delivered via the collaborative efforts of governments at the Commonwealth, state and territory levels under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust). The NAP and the Trust mobilise the enthusiasm of the community and support on-ground projects with grants, technical information and other incentives. These projects focus on the protection and rehabilitation of existing native vegetation, or revegetation where degradation has occurred.

Agreements

Intergovernmental Agreement

A formal document between the Australian and state and territory governments, the NAP Intergovernmental Agreement initiated the process of implementing the NAP. All state and territory governments have signed this agreement. The Australian Government has committed $700 million to the NAP over seven years, which will be collectively matched by state and territory governments.

Bilateral Agreements

Bilateral agreements for the NAP were developed in a joint process of consultation and negotiation with the states and territories. They translate the NAP Intergovernmental Agreement into state or territory-specific provisions.

The agreements include the state or territory government's undertakings on land and water reforms. They also identify the regional bodies that are responsible for the development and delivery of NRM plans in their region, and outline certain administrative and accountability arrangements.

Bilateral agreements have also been developed for the delivery of the Trust's second phase. These agreements translate the Trust Extension Framework into state or territory-specific arrangements for the delivery of the Trust, such as:

The Trust bilateral agreements build on regional arrangements already agreed upon for the NAP bilateral agreements. They also implement the framework for the extension of the Trust agreed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC).

Frameworks

A Framework of Regional (Sub-National) Level Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management in Australia

Australia is one of 12 countries involved in the application of the Montreal Process criteria and indicators. The seven criteria identified by the Montreal Process describe the broad forest values that society seeks to maintain.

Australia used the Montreal Process criteria and indicators to develop a Framework of Regional (Sub-National) Level Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management in Australia. The framework is not legally binding, nor is it a compliance document or an operations manual. It provides a list of indicators that forest managers must consider in assessing progress towards sustainable forest management.

A National Framework for Public Environmental Reporting

The National Framework for Public Environmental Reporting was developed following extensive workshop consultation with interested parties in the private and public sectors throughout Australia. It was developed to further facilitate and encourage voluntary public environmental reporting in Australia by providing simple and effective guidance at a national level.

Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) Water Reform Framework

In February 1994, the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG), consisting of the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association, agreed to implement a "strategic framework to achieve an efficient and sustainable water industry."

The framework is based on the recognition that action is required if we are to halt the widespread degradation of our natural resources and minimise the unsustainable use of our precious water resources. It seeks to establish integrated and consistent approaches to Australian water resource management.

National Framework for NRM Standards and Targets

The National Framework for NRM Standards and Targets establishes the principles and requirements for NRM standards and targets. This guides investment through national NRM programmes, particularly through integrated regional NRM plans under the NAP and the Trust.

National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation

Commonwealth, state and territory governments committed themselves, through the Trust, to reverse the long-term decline in the quality and extent of Australia's native vegetation cover.

The National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation, an initiative of the former Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), provides a vehicle through which to implement this goal in a unified and consistent manner, against an agreed framework of best practice management and monitoring measures.

National NRM Capacity Building Framework

The NRM Capacity Building Framework provides a common, consistent and complementary approach to capacity building, acting as a guide to all jurisdictions in the planning and implementation of capacity building investments.

While it is initially focused on supporting NAP and the Trust processes, it also provides a potential framework for other programmes with NRM capacity building components.

Rather than stand in isolation of similar initiatives within other sectors, it is recognised that it is important to be aware of, learn from and draw upon the wide range of capacity building frameworks and strategies already in existence, in order to become an integral component of existing NRM policies and programmes.

National NRM Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

The NRMMC established the National Natural Resource Management Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to assess progress towards an improvement in the condition of natural resources. This progress is to be attained through the development of accurate, cost-effective and timely information on:

Based on a set of principles for monitoring, evaluation and reporting on natural resource condition, the Framework also provides a set of indicators for assessing change in resource condition and programme performance. The roles and responsibilities for meeting national, state and territory and regional reporting requirements are also outlined.

Region summaries

You can also use your town name to find your NRM Region.

Key

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