What is the Queensland approach to regional NRM?
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Regional natural resource management (NRM) is a partnership between government, industry, Indigenous Australians and the wider community. Queensland invests in regional NRM to protect, repair and restore our natural resources.
Regional NRM is also an investment in the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of our communities.
What are the current regional NRM arrangements?
Queensland's regional NRM bodies are community-based, non-statutory bodies—either an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporations Act 1981 or a limited company under the Corporations Act 2001. Twelve of the regions have well established community-based regional NRM bodies with accredited plans. The two other regions—Torres Strait and Cape York—have interim arrangements. Each regional NRM body has its own website.
Why a regional community-based approach?
The regional approach to NRM in Queensland maximises the opportunity for direct community participation and ownership of NRM. It is based on the recognition that the people closest to the issues are often the ones best placed to manage them.
The big NRM issues—salinity; water; vegetation management; erosion and soil conservation; weeds and pests; biodiversity; climate change; sustainable development; and social, economic, and environmental integration—are the province of the regional approach.
Regional NRM bodies are the caretakers of the community’s plan for NRM in their region. Community plans identify NRM assets and improvement targets for the region. Regional bodies obtain and provide funds for on-ground projects to implement regional NRM plans accredited by both state and federal governments. According to their region's needs and resources, regional NRM bodies interpret their roles differently. The Fitzroy Basin Association, for example, focus much of their energy on issues concerning their abundant waterways and surrounds. Drier regions, such as those covered by Desert Channels Queensland, are more concerned with issues such as weed control and grazing land management.
What have Queensland's regional NRM bodies achieved to date?
During 2002-2006, Queensland's regional NRM bodies:
- rehabilitated or improved the protection of 517 661 hectares of vegetation
- implemented 927 500 hectares of pest plant and 5 389 500 hectares of pest animal control measures
- ensured the adoption by 26 farmers, in one region alone, of improved irrigation practices on 9 450 hectares of land
- commenced 600 new or improved natural resource monitoring programs
- signed 2 583 conservation agreements protecting over 132 094 hectares.
Who supports Queensland's regional NRM bodies?
In 2002 and 2004 respectively, the Queensland Government signed agreements with the Australian Government for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) Extension. Both programs are based on regional, community-led NRM planning and investment.
Under the programs, the Australian Government will have contributed approximately $238 million from 2002 to 2008. For the same period, the Queensland Government will have contributed approximately $142 million in matching in-kind and $90 million in direct funding.
Landholders and land-managers across the state have also made contributions to the programs through both cash and in-kind contributions. The Australian Government is investing approximately $22 million from 2003-2008 in additional funds under the National Landcare Program.
Who manages Queensland's regional NRM bodies?
The Joint Queensland-Australian Government NRM Steering Committee guides Queensland's NRM arrangements.
The Queensland Ministers for Natural Resources and Water, and Primary Industries and Fisheries are members of the national Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. The council is the peak government forum for NRM issues.
What is the future of regional NRM bodies?
The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust Extension programs end in June 2008. Both the Queensland and Australian governments are committed to the future of regional NRM bodies and are negotiating a bilateral agreement for the third phase of NHT.
Related topics
- Why consider social and economic aspects in natural resource planning?
- What incentive mechanisms are available for NRM change?
- Who should regional bodies develop partnerships with?
- Why monitor and evaluate the social and economic aspects of NRM?
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Last updated 07 January 2009