Natural Heritage - Number 19
The Journal of the Natural Heritage Trust
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia
Department of the Environment and Heritage, Autumn 2004
ISSN 1440-7256
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About this document
This issue of Natural Heritage pays due credit to Natural Resource Management success stories - either already achieved or yet to be realised - made possible through the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP).
With investment from the Australian Government's $2.7 billion Trust and $1.4 billion NAP, the careful planning, hard work and dedication of many community and landholder groups have paid off.
A recurring theme of these stories is that such positive results cannot be achieved in isolation. Successful projects involve community groups, landholders and governments working together to implement practices that benefit the whole community.
Many of the projects result in social benefits for the communities involved, as well as supporting the natural environment and sustainable agriculture.
The Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Scheme, featured on page 5, is a successful project, which has altered the fire regime to protect the environment. It has also supported the area's cultural heritage by providing employment opportunities for local communities.
Smaller-scale projects that foster community development through education, such as the Murrabit Group School's Weed Warriors program, (see page 3) are no less significant in their impact on the local environment and on the volunteers involved.
Farmers are some of our nation's most active environmentalists and in this edition of the journal we learn that the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd, canegrowers, has signed an Eco-efficiency Agreement with the Australian Government through the Department of the Environment and Heritage (see page 11). Under the Agreement, canegrowers is encouraging its members to adopt best-practice environmental and production techniques to increase productivity and reduce environmental impacts.
To ensure the Trust and NAP continue to achieve results, funding packages are continually refined to meet the environmental and social needs of communities.
The Australian Government Envirofund, introduced in 2002, has provided more than $40 million to 2,600 projects Australia-wide. In the first round of Envirofund for 2003/04, more than $11 million was allocated to assist more than 700 community groups and individuals conserve native plants and animals and promote sustainable resource use.
In early 2004, the first round of the Regional Competitive Component of the Trust was opened. It will invest $20 million over three years in a number of strategic projects. These projects will support pilot activities that lead to significant improvements in the sustainable management of natural resources. Initiatives funded through the Natural Heritage Trust and NAP are as varied as the features of Australia's diverse regions. There are a host of projects under way to support local and regional environmental works and numerous ways for community groups to make a difference.
This is a great partnership and the continued success of the locals-knowbest strategy underpinning NHT and NAP depends on the individuals, community groups and landholders who have volunteered their precious time and effort. It is these quiet achievers that make these programs the success they are today.
Dr David Kemp
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Warren Truss
Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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