Strategies for an integrated approach to ecologically sustainable land management

Abstract

There is a recognised need to implement an integrated approach to natural resource management that leads to sustainable outcomes - the long-term viability and use of land and its associated natural resources. This includes both economic viability and the maintenance of environmental values (ecologically sustainable land management). The need for adaptive management to improve natural resource management outcomes in Australia is highlighted in this paper. We discuss the need for an integrated framework for natural resource management that is based on an ecosystem approach. The key components have been developed but they still need to be widely and effectively integrated in a suitable overall framework. We address that need for integration in this paper. The integration is achieved by linking three existing frameworks - ecoregional planning, environmental management systems, and monitoring and evaluation. This is an ecosystem approach in which ecological sustainability is addressed adaptively to achieve continual improvement in environmental performance at a range of scales appropriate to government, industry and wider community interests. Issues that must be considered for the integration of an existing national monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework, and performance indicators within the overall framework, are discussed. Drawing from regional assessment in forestry, we present an example of how the integrated approach can be applied. Show more