| SECTION | NO | ACTION | COST | TIME | COMP-
LEXITY |
|---|
| Chapter 1 | 1.1 | Access the Australian Virtual Herbarium (http://www.anbg.gov.au/avh/) and the National and State Herbarium websites at (http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/index.html) to see what data and maps of native plant species are available for your region. |  |  |  |
| | 1.2 | Visit the Department of Environment and Heritage website to see if there is a biodiversity hotspot in your region and consider what it means for managing these areas. | | |  |
| | 1.3 | Read about ways of measuring the state of the world’s ecosystems, analysing potential future threats and opportunities and discussions on possible responses by consulting http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.aspx | |  |  |
| | 1.4 | Read the Natural Assets and Natural Values reports on the Ecosystem Services website (http://www.ecosystemservicesproject.org) to learn more about how this approach can be adopted for your region. |  | | |
| | 1.5 | Find out more about the NSW Ecosystem Services Scheme, and how it might apply to your region, at http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/es_scheme.html | | | |
| | 1.6 | Discover more about the importance of the social values of native vegetation by reading publications such as the NSW report The Social Values of the Native Vegetation of New South Wales . | | | |
| | 1.7 | Consider using the activities developed by the Living Systems project on ‘Exploring landholder values’ to relate native vegetation to the core values of landholders. | | | |
| | 1.8 | Learn more about NRM on farms and how people may value their catchment by reading the 2004 ABARE Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms report. | | | |
| | 1.9 | Visit the Statistical Clearing House (http://www.sch.abs.gov.au/) and pick up some tips on the design of surveys and what is currently considered international best practice. | | | |
| | 1.10 | Discover more about indigenous cultural values and native vegetation management by reading Aboriginal Cultural Values of the Native Vegetation of NSW. By visiting the websites on indigenous management of natural resources (http://www.nrm.gov.au/indigenous/index.html) and indigenous communities and the environment (http://www.deh.gov.au/indigenous/index.html) you can also learn about indigenous values. | | | |
| | 1.11 | Read the Economic Values of the Native Vegetation of NSW and relate this to your catchment or regional situation. Consider, for example, the financial benefits provided by native vegetation as a result of the protection of soil and water resources. | | | |
| | 1.12 | Consider if there are opportunities for creating markets for ecosystem services in your region by reading Creating Markets for Ecosystem Services. | | | |
| | 1.13 | Discover more about the different environmental valuation techniques and their application, in laypersons’ language, by visiting the Ecosystem Valuation website http://www.ecosystemvaluation.org/. | | | |
| Chapter 2 | 2.1 | Read more about the National Vegetation Information System and its significance for assessing the extent and condition of native vegetation; see http://www.nlwra.gov.au. | | | |
| | 2.2 | Learn more about the vegetation mapping undertaken by the Bureau of Rural Sciences for the 56 NRM regions in the Australian Natural Resources Data Library. | | | |
| | 2.3 | Visit the relevant website listed in Table 2.1 for your State or region and investigate what vegetation mapping is available. | | | |
| | 2.4 | Read more about the vegetation and land use mapping work of the Bureau of Rural Sciences to see if detailed land use mapping data is available for your catchment. | | | |
| | 2.5 | Consider using the freely available software packages on landscape scale metrics to describe vegetation patterns in your region, while being aware of the assumptions that underpin them. | | | |
| | 2.6 | Consider the frameworks available for classifying landscapes and how they might contribute to planning and management at regional scale. | | | |
| | 2.7 | Read the interim paper on assessing native vegetation condition for the national Matters for Targets and consider how the approach it proposes could be adopted for your region. | | | |
| | 2.8 | Investigate how the condition of native vegetation has changed since European settlement of Australia and read the Science for Decision Makers report on measuring vegetation condition. | | | |
| | 2.9 | Examine information and reports on the use of satellite imagery and other technologies that can be used to improve understanding of the extent and condition of native vegetation at the catchment level; see http://www.nasa.gov | | | |
| | 2.10 | Learn more about survey techniques and their application by reading Biodiversity Monitoring in the Rangelands. The approaches described can be used in all NRM regions, with some modification. | | | |
| | 2.11 | Access and learn more about the concept of native vegetation as a surrogate for biological diversity at the catchment level by reading recent reviews. | | | |
| Chapter 3 | 3.1 | Visit the Australian Natural Resource Atlas and examine the threats identified for threatened ecosystems, wetlands and riparian zones in your region. | | | |
| | 3.2 | Find out what information is available on the rates of vegetation clearance in your region, and if possible, their patterns in space and time, determine what threats it might represent and how relevant policies and regulations are being applied. | | | |
| | 3.3 | Find out more about the ongoing loss of native species after vegetation clearance has ceased by reading the report on the impacts of land clearing on wildlife. | | | |
| | 3.4 | Discover more about the impacts of fragmentation on the long-term viability of plant species and native vegetation communities and consider how this affects the management of these systems in your regions. | | | |
| | 3.5 | Read the brochure on the decline of paddock trees to find out what your landscapes might look like in the next 50–100 years and the management actions needed to start reversing this trend. | | | |
| | 3.6 | Read the national report on the impact and use of firewood in Australia, the national approach to its collection and use, and where relevant, the findings of regional workshops, to learn more about how the threat can be managed in your region. | | | |
| | 3.7 | Find out if the naturalised plants that have been identified as candidates for eradication occur in your area and plan an appropriate course of action. | | | |
| | 3.8 | Assess the usefulness of the weed risk assessment system for species used in revegetation and farm forestry activities in your region. | | | |
| | 3.9 | Read the reports on climate change and its impacts on biodiversity in Australia and consider how potential changes in climate could affect planning and management at a regional scale. | | | |
| Chapter 4 | 4.1 | Undertake a comprehensive review of all relevant regional plans in light of current native vegetation management research outcomes, and assess the needs of the plans, with particular consideration to the suitability and feasibility of management options and measuring progress. | |  | |
| | 4.2 | Use the community engagement toolkit to familiarise yourself with the diversity of tools and techniques available to support community consultation processes in natural resource management. | | | |
| | 4.3 | Use the compendiums and toolkits on native vegetation and biodiversity policies, programs and legislation as a starting point to discover what applies in your region. | | | |
| | 4.4 | Access the Natural Resource Information Management Toolkit to discover how your region can implement best practice in the access, management, integration, analysis and communication of data. | | | |
| | 4.5 | Read the report on scientific advice on natural resource management to discover how your region can make the best use of current, new and emerging science. | | | |
| | 4.6 | Consider how the principles developed in the book Managing and Conserving Grassy Woodlands apply or may be adapted in your region. | | | |
| | 4.7 | Access the agroforestry series published by RIRDC to explore where planting trees for multiple outcomes may fit in your region. | | | |
| | 4.8 | Go though the set of principles developed in the Heartlands project before undertaking substantial revegetation activities. | | | |
| | 4.9 | Before embarking on large-scale seed collection and revegetation projects, access the Florabank website and the report on Strategic Seed Collection to ensure seed supply issues are addressed. | | | |
| | 4.10 | Before embarking on revegetation activities, consider whether assisted natural regeneration, direct seeding or planting seedlings is the most appropriate and cost-effective technique. | | | |
| | 4.11 | Read the report on the Costs of Revegetation to help minimise the financial and human resources used in this activity. | | | |
| | 4.12 | Read the special issue of Thinking Bush to understand the complexities underlying the current scientific understanding of thresholds in rural landscapes. | | | |
| | 4.13 | Find out more about the Wildcountry principles on connectivity in the landscape by reading the Naturelinks brochure and the paper in Pacific Conservation Biology. | | | |
| | 4.14 | Before utilising offsets as part of native vegetation management, become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of this approach by reading Biodiversity Offsets: Views, experience and the business case and related publications. | | | |
| | 4.15 | To help improve the integration of native vegetation and biodiversity into regional planning processes, read the case studies – which cover all of Australia – and consider the findings in the report Integration of Biodiversity Conservation into Regional NRM Planning. | | | |
| | 4.16 | Read the landmark publication series on Local Government to understand the important role that local councils play in the management of native vegetation. | | | |
| | 4.17 | Access the Biodiversity Toolbox for local government to see where councils can track performance towards conserving and managing local biodiversity. | | | |
| | 4.18 | To understand how local and regional planning schemes can be better integrated read the report on regional catchment strategies. | | | |
| | 4.19 | Consider the frameworks for native vegetation and biodiversity conservation developed in south-west WA as models to link management goals and on-ground outputs and outcomes. | | | |
| | 4.20 | When developing a weed management plan, draw on guidelines developed in the Introductory Weed Management Manual and Weeds of National Significance. | | | |
| | 4.21 | Read the report on the eradication of weeds to understand under what circumstances it may be possible to totally remove weed species. | | | |
| | 4.22 | Access the Science for Decision Makers information on pest management and the PESTPLAN guidelines to understand what is realistic and achievable at the regional scale. | | | |
| | 4.23 | Examine the steps outlined for preparing a regional scale fire management strategy for local governments to help ensure fire management and planning is an integral component of your regional NRM strategy. | | | |
| | 4.24 | Consider the guidelines on Managing Water for Native Terrestrial Vegetation Health in Saline Areas when developing management and monitoring actions in areas with dryland salinity. | | | |
| | 4.25 | Read the National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan to see how climate change can be integrated with natural resource planning and management processes at local and regional scale. | | | |
| | 4.26 | Consider the potential to link revegetation activities to carbon trading in your region by reading the Regional Response to Climate Change. | | | |
| | 4.27 | Investigate the Australian Greenhouse Office website for more on greenhouse and climate change at http://www.greenhouse.gov.au | | | |
| | 4.28 | Access State and National lists of, and recovery plans for, threatened species and ecosystems to ensure their needs are catered for in regional planning and management processes. | | | |
| | 4.29 | Before choosing the most appropriate incentive mechanism for native vegetation management in your region, read the report and access the website developed in Queensland. | | | |
| | 4.30 | Regional managers should identify the range of current incentives programs operating in their area. | | | |
| | 4.31 | When delivering incentives for native vegetation management at the regional level, incorporate the findings from the two reports on incentives into your program of activities. | | | |
| | 4.32 | Read the article on Mechanisms for biodiversity conservation on private land to understand the application of market-based principles to native vegetation management. | | | |
| | 4.33 | Examine the different frameworks for cost-sharing identified in the report on cost-sharing for on-ground works to understand the principles underlying the approach to natural resource management. | | | |
| | 4.34 | Access the reports published by the Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building to understand capacity building and the programs that need to be put in place at the regional level to enhance the capacity of communities and institutions to change. | | | |
| | 4.35 | Raise awareness of the range of approaches available (and needed) when developing participatory processes for managing native vegetation at the regional scale by reading the reports on community participation from the rangelands and elsewhere. | | | |
| | 4.36 | Ensure that indigenous communities and knowledge in your region, either in northern or southern Australia, are engaged in regional planning and management by reading the growing number of reports and publications on indigenous involvement in natural resource management. | | | |
| Chapter 5 | 5.1 | Consult the Australian Natural Resources Atlas to see what integrated natural resource management opportunities for biodiversity conservation have been identified in your region. See Biodiversity conservation across the wider landscape at http://audit.ea.gov.au/ANRA/vegetation/vegetation_frame.cfm?region_type=AUS®ion_code=AUS&info=bio_asses. | | | |
| | 5.2 | Consider the principles identified for integrating biodiversity into regional NRM planning and what changes would need to be made to meet them. | | | |
| | 5.3 | If plantations are being considered as an option in your region, read the summary and longer reports on plantations and water yield to appreciate the planning and management actions needed. | | | |
| | 5.4 | Read the report on sediment and nutrient exports to see how careful targeting of restoration works can both reduce costs and improve water quality. | | | |
| | 5.5 | Review the range of approaches used to tackle the threat of salinity to biodiversity and consider whether your regional plans give adequate recognition to these issues. | | | |
| | 5.6 | Discover what management options are available for carbon sequestration by native vegetation, as well as the potential to meet other management objectives, by reading the reports on forests, agricultural/low-rainfall areas and rangelands. | | | |
| | 5.7 | Consult the RIRDC website for reports on the productive use of native plant species and the potential for environmental certification. | | | |
| | 5.8 | Consider ways of valuing and investing in ecosystem services to support integrated regional management in your region, using the resources developed by the Ecosystem Services project. | | | |
| | 5.9 | Consider the wide array of mechanisms being tested under the National Market-based Instruments Pilot Program to value and invest in ecosystem services to support integrated regional management. | | | |
| | 5.10 | Visit the websites of major industry research corporations and centres to discover what activities they are undertaking on managing native vegetation from the farm to catchment scale. | | | |
| | 5.11 | Consider the method trialled by the Heartlands initiative to develop an integrated land use map for sub-catchment-scale planning and implementation in your region and to identify some of the potential tensions between competing objectives. | | | |
| | 5.12 | Consider the integrated, catchment-scale method developed by the Landmark project, developed for the intensive land-use zone, to assess the sustainability of current land use and revegetation scenarios for application in your region. | | | |
| | 5.13 | Use the EMS Navigator to discover the potential for EMS to integrate a range of NRM issues and link through to on-farm processes to regional targets. | | | |
| | 5.14 | Read the report on understanding NRM techniques and visit the MODSS web-site to discover the range of tool available to help integrate natural resource management decisions. | | | |
| | 5.15 | Consider using LUPIS as a participatory tool to explore different land use options that satisfy multiple goals efficiently with the lowest cost in terms of opportunities forgone. | | | |
| | 5.16 | Visit the MODSS website to see if the software Facilitator could help your region make informed decisions about different land use options. | | | |
