What's a Natural Resource Management plan?
Developing integrated regional Natural Resource Management plans
Following the identification of Australia's 56 regions, an individual integrated Natural Resource Management (NRM) plan was developed for each.
These plans form the basis for regional investment from both the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust) and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), allowing access to different types of government funding without the need for individual project plans or applications.
Accreditation of the plans by Commonwealth, state and territory Ministers occurred via an iterative process of feedback and advice from all levels of government and specialist advisory bodies.
Consultation and negotiation between regional bodies and key stakeholders was a crucial component of plan development and bilateral agreement conditions. Key stakeholders include:
- regional communities
- indigenous people
- academic and scientific communities
- environmental groups
- industry
- local governments
- state, territory and Commonwealth agencies
The means for identifying and achieving NRM targets, formed via agreement between government and the community, are set out in each regional plan.
The plans also defined investment strategies for implementation, the goals and contributions to be undertaken by all parties, and catchment-wide activities addressing a range of NRM issues, including:
- land and water management
- biodiversity
- agricultural practices
Accreditation criteria
Through the development of accredited regional plans, the Australian Government, and state and territory governments agreed to support integrated NRM across Australia. These plans identified regional priorities and established a framework for investment in action.
Accreditation of a regional plan was dependent on the fulfillment of criteria agreed upon by the Australian Government and state and territory governments through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in May 2002.
It was necessary that regional bodies demonstrate that their plans adhered to key elements of the accreditation criteria. Each plan was required to:
- cover the full range of NRM issues
- be underpinned by scientific analysis of natural resource conditions, problems and priorities
- effectively involve all key stakeholders in plan development and implementation
- focus on addressing underlying causes rather than the symptoms of problems
- include strategies to implement agreed NRM policies to protect the natural resource base
- demonstrate consistency with the region's other planning processes and legislative requirements
- set targets at the regional scale, consistent with the national framework for NRM standards and targets
- identify strategic, prioritised and achievable actions to address NRM issues and achieve regional targets, including an evaluation of the wider social economic and environmental impacts of such actions and of any actions needed to address such impacts
- provide for the continuous development, monitoring, review and improvement of the plan
Investment strategies
Following accreditation of a region's NRM plan, regional bodies were responsible for developing investment strategies. Essentially, these strategies formed the region's business plan, used to attract investment.
The Australian Government, and state and territory governments invested in regional plans if they were based on:
- a 'whole of region' approach, addressing significant NRM issues and incorporating environmental, social and economic aspects
- development by an organised catchment or regional body representing the local community, accountable for expenditure of public monies
- meeting agreed targets and outcomes that reflect good science
- meeting a firm timetable agreed upon by all parties
All Commonwealth, state, territory and regional joint investment decisions for the NAP and the Trust were based on a region's investment strategy. An investment strategy defines the actions, costs and timeframes required to implement the plan and achieve regional targets. It also calculates expected returns on the investment.
This strategy was produced during or after the development of a regional plan. It was, however, a necessary step prior to signing of the final partnership agreement by the Australian Government, relevant state or territory government and relevant regional group. Signing of this agreement enacted the formal release of investment funds. A partnership agreement defines:
- funding amounts for salinity and water quality actions identified in the investment strategy
- responsibilities for undertaking the activities
- cost-sharing arrangements
- agreed outcomes to be achieved
- performance measures, targets and milestones
- monitoring and evaluation processes
National objectives
The following specific national objectives were developed for regional NRM plans, in order to guide investment strategies:
- to promote sustainable resource use, particularly sustainable agriculture
- to protect and improve the condition of land, water (including groundwater) and vegetation resources that provide the ecosystem services that support sustainable resource use industries
- to improve water quality and environmental condition in surface and ground water systems, including wetlands and estuaries, while maintaining the economic and social values derived from water use
- to protect our coastal catchments, ecosystems and the marine environment
- to reverse the decline in the extent and quality of native vegetation and maintain and restore habitat for flora and fauna
- to protect and manage places and values of national environmental significance, including threatened species and communities, listed migratory species, Ramsar wetlands of international importance, world heritage areas and national heritage places
- to promote Indigenous community participation in the planning and delivery of regional NRM outcomes
See National objectives for an expanded outline of possible actions and related policies
For a practical guide to the kinds of investments or activities that the Australian Government would support through regional NRM strategies see
Annual and regional reports
See the NAP and the Trust annual reports, and the NAP and the Trust Regional Programs Reports for further information:
- NAP and the Trust Regional Programs Report 2004-05: Summary report
- NAP and the Trust Regional Programs Report 2004-05: Main report
- NAP and the Trust Regional Programs Report 2003-04: Summary report
- NAP and the Trust Regional Programs Report 2003-04: Main report
Region summaries
In this section you will find a summary of each region, each region's plan, natural resource management issues for the region and contact information.
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
You can also use your town name to find your NRM Region.
More information
Region summaries
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
You can also use your town name to find your NRM Region.
Key
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