National Strategic Plan
National activities
Under the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust), activities are funded at the:
- national level
- regional level
- local level
National activities have a broadscale national, rather than a regional or local outcome, and include:
- matters of direct Commonwealth jurisdiction
- statewide matters and those that cross over state and regional boundaries
National investments comprise of:
- Commonwealth activities that give effect to Federal Government environmental and natural resource responsibilities and priorities, and implemented solely by the Commonwealth or in partnership with other jurisdictions
- joint Commonwealth and state and territory activities, including cross-jurisdictional activities, identified and agreed jointly by the Commonwealth and the states and territories
- state-wide and within-state activities that areidentified and agreed to jointly by the Commonwealth and the states and territories
The Strategic Plan for National Investment (the Plan) focuses on Commonwealth activities.
About the Plan
The Plan sets out the priorities for Commonwealth only investment over the financial years 2003-07. These investment priorities and the Framework for the Extension of the Natural Heritage Trust guide decisions about Commonwealth investments at the national level of the Trust.
Joint Commonwealth and states and territories activities and statewide investments are developed through agreement between the Commonwealth and states and territory governments.
The types of activities funded under this Plan give effect to Commonwealth environmental and natural resource responsibilities and priorities, including:
- world heritage
- Ramsar wetlands and other international obligations
- threatened species and ecological communities
- migratory species
- the environment in Commonwealth marine areas including Commonwealth managed fisheries
and coordinated approaches to capacity building, including:
- training
- technology transfer
- the development of innovative approaches to natural resource management
Objectives of the Strategic Plan for National Investment
This Strategic Plan for National Investment:
- identifies broad principles and outcomes for funding, not detailed activities.
- provides certainty with respect to the scope of activities eligible for funding
- provides the basis for identifying appropriate Commonwealth level investments as they arise
Objectives and programmes of the Trust
All activities funded through the Plan are directed at meeting the three objectives of the Trust through the ten priority areas of activity. They deliver national outcomes for the Trust Programmess of Landcare, Bushcare, Rivercare and Coastcare. The Programmes are given effect through the ten areas of activity which define the scope of Trust investment.
The Trust's objectives are:
- biodiversity conservation - the conservation of Australia's biodiversity through the protection and restoration of terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems and habitat for native plants and animals
- sustainable use of natural resources - the sustainable use and management of Australia's land, water and marine resources to maintain and improve the productivity and profitability of resource based industries
- community capacity building and institutional change - support for individuals, landholders, industry and communities with skills, knowledge, information and institutional frameworks to promote biodiversity conservation
Landcare
The Landcare Programme includes activities that contribute to reversing land degradation and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Bushcare
The Bushcare Programme includes activities that contribute to conserving and restoring habitat for our unique native flora and fauna which underpins the health of our landscapes.
Rivercare
The Rivercare Programme includes activities that contribute to improved water quality and environmental condition in our river systems and wetlands.
Coastcare
The Coastcare Programme includes activities that contribute to protecting our coastal catchments, ecosystems and the marine environment.
Principles for investment
Reports to government on natural resource management (NRM) and biodiversity conservation, and commitments by government identified the following as overarching principles relevant to all Trust investments:
- high priority actions are the focus of carefully targeted investments that contribute significantly to natural system, sustainable production and biodiversity benefits for Australia
- actions that maintain natural systems and biodiversity to deliver both environmental and production outcomes are preferred over remediation, as they return far more benefits per dollar invested
- activities that provide the greatet public benefit that can be measured by directly and indirectly are supported and prioritised
Proposed activities:
- require a national approach for delivery, noting that on ground components of national programs can be delivered through the regional process
- arise from a Commonwealth legislative requirement, international obligation or Commonwealth jurisdiction or policy
- require Commonwealth leadership or collaboration with states
- should not duplicate activities undertaken by existing programs (e.g. the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality)
Activities meeting these principles may be undertaken solely by the Commonwealth or in partnership with other jurisdictions.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting
A Monitoring and Evaluation Plan was developed to complement the National Strategic Plan. The Plan enables evaluation of the outcomes against the four programmes and ten areas of activity of the Trust. Individual investments and projects are also required to have a monitoring and evaluation strategy, with progress and outcomes reported periodically, to enable annual reporting to Ministers. The plans are consistent with the NRM Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
Investment priority outcomes for 2003-2008 grouped by the ten areas of activity for the Trust
(i) Protecting and restoring the habitat of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and migratory birds
Outcomes
- Recovery plans and threat abatement plans developed and implemented, as required under the EPBC Act
- Farmers and other industry groups provided with support in relation to their obligations under the EPBC Act
- Migratory waterbirds listed under the migratory species provisions of the EPBC Act, threatened birds, including albatross and seabirds, and marine wildlife protected
- Understanding of species, community and ecosystems sensitivity to climate changes, potential responses to such changes, and possible role of refugia in the ability of species to cope with climate change improved, and activities at the regional level to address climate change impacts on biodiversity fostered
(ii) Reversing the long-term decline in the extent and quality of Australia's native vegetation
Outcomes
- Control and measurement of the clearing of native vegetation that leads to degradation of land and water quality and unsustainable land use (including clearing in endangered and vulnerable vegetation communities and critical habitat for threatened species).
- Improved knowledge of native vegetation communities and national standards for assessing the condition and quality of native vegetation.
- Economic instruments that connect the ecological condition of natural systems to use for products and services.
(iii) Protecting and restoring significant freshwater, marine and estuarine ecosystems
Outcomes
- Reduced inputs of nutrients, sediments and other pollutants into inland, marine and estuarine waters identified as being under greatest pressure and of highest biodiversity value.
- Conservation of inland water systems improved.
- Water quality in inland, coastal and marine ecosystems improved.
(iv) Preventing or controlling the introduction and spread of feral animals, aquatic pests, weeds and other biological threats to biodiversity
Outcomes
- Effective prevention, early warning, emergency response and eradication measures for invasive species.
(v) Establishing and effectively managing a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of protected areas
Outcomes
- A comprehensive, adequate and representative National Reserve System, including support for the Indigenous Protected Areas program, progressed
- Australia's obligations under the World Heritage Convention to protect and manage Australia's world heritage areas met
- Establishment of an estate of marine protected areas that represent most of all the marine ecosystems in Commonwealth waters progressed
(vi) Improving the condition of natural resources that underpins the sustainability and productivity of resource based industries
Outcomes
- Improved productivity of resource-based industries, while maintaining the resource base, including best practice management systems and techniques for resource-based industries.
- Improved landholder and industry understanding of the complexity and interactions of natural systems so that management capacity in productive resource based industries is enhanced.
- Better understanding of climate variability and change to improve capacity for drought preparedness and sustainable natural resource management
(vii) Securing access to natural resources for sustainable productive use
Outcomes
- Industries adopting and implementing best management practices that promote profitable and sustainable natural resource and environmental management.
- Improved tools for natural resource management to enable sustained access and utility.
- Ecologically sustainable natural resource management through the identification of environmental values and natural resources for sustainable productive use.
(viii) Encouraging the development of sustainable and profitable management systems for application by land-holders and other natural resource managers and users
Outcomes
- Tools and practices that improve the management of natural resources, including techniques, practices, decision support tools and incentives.
- Dissemination and transfer of information and knowledge about tools and practices that improve the management of natural resources.
- Innovative approaches and technologies for the management and conservation of natural resources.
(ix) Providing land-holders, community groups and other natural resource managers with understanding and skills to contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management
Outcomes
- Dissemination and transfer of information and knowledge that improve the management of natural resources, including Indigenous ecological knowledge.
- Engagement of industries and communities, including Indigenous communities, in improved natural resource management.
- Assessments of the extent and condition of Australia's natural resources to ensure that data and information is available to assist in improving that management of these resources.
- Effective training resources and programs to assist land managers and regional organisations in the sustainable management of natural resources.
(x) Establishing institutional and organisational frameworks that promote conservation and ecologically sustainable use and management of natural resources
Outcomes
- Institutional and organisational frameworks that promote improved management and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
- A farm systems approach to NRM incentives which: encourages best-practice land and conservation management beyond duty of care; and provides financial assistance to bring about accelerated change in land management practices.
Reports considered
The following reports were considered during the development of the Plan:
- Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Report: Sustaining Our Natural Systems and Biodiversity (the PMSEIC Report)
- Australia State of the Environment 2001 Report
- Biodiversity Conservation Research: Australia's Priorities (2001): not available on the Internet
- National Land and Water Resources Audit reports (2000-2002)
- Native Vegetation Policy - Statement by Minister for the Environment and Heritage (2001)
- Steering Committee Report to Australian Governments on the Public Response to Managing Natural Resources in Rural Australia for a Sustainable Future: A Discussion Paper for Developing a National Policy
- National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation 2001 - 2005 , (2001), Environment Australia, Canberra