Deciding how to manage native vegetation is a key question if it is going to be maintained in the landscape in the longer term. These decisions are underpinned by our knowledge of its extent and condition across Australia, the pressures on these systems and the opportunities to respond. Importantly, regional managers will only be able to meet their goals by working with individual landholders and other land managers. It is also necessary to understand the range of values that society places on native vegetation and what resources communities are prepared to commit to protect and manage it. All of these aspects of vegetation management need to be considered before deciding on options for action and their appropriateness.

While our understanding of many aspects of native vegetation has significant gaps, ongoing decisions about investments and actions need to be made using the best knowledge available. An adaptive approach to learning and management will help ensure that improvements can be made over time by incorporating new knowledge and learning from mistakes. Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation schemes will form a critical component of any adaptive management program.

Regional managers in some areas have recently set targets for native vegetation and biodiversity to protect identified assets and values. While measuring progress against these targets is a requirement for accountability reporting, many are based on a limited understanding of the systems and processes involved. It is important therefore to better understand whether the targets themselves are desirable and feasible within the scope of the management responses available and the capacity of individuals and communities to implement the type and scale of change needed.