NRM references
National Vegetation Information System: The major vegetation subgroups are now downloadable as ArcGIS grids. 7 June 2006
The Western Australian Local Government Association's Perth biodiversity project released the Local government biodiversity planning guidelines for the Perth metropolitan region in June 2004. Whilst the publication is obviously focused on the Perth region, there are many principles that apply across the country, such as the local biodiversity planning process.
The Western Australian Government has also released a report titled Biodiversity incentive programs in Western Australia (PDF). This report draws together the various programs available to private landholders wishing to protect, manage and rehabilitate bushland and natural wetlands on their properties. It provides information on what programs are available and who to contact. It covers financial and technical programs, as well as labour programs, land sales, legal protection, training and management agreements.
The Department of Environment and Heritage produces assessments of Australia's native vegetation as part of the Australian natural resources atlas. This is an internet based source of data, maps, information and links to related sites.
More native vegetation information is available from Land and Water Australia.
The Department of Environment and Heritage also produced the biodiversity technical paper No 2 titled, Landscape planning for biodiversity conservation in agricultural regions. A case study from the wheatbelt of Western Australia in 1999.
A good resource for any council wanting to establish an incentives program to promote sustainable land management is Incentives for sustainable land management: Community cost sharing to conserve biodiversity on private lands
The Queensland Government has developed a database of incentives available in that state. You can also look up what councils are providing each type of incentives.
ALGA produced the National local government biodiversity strategy (PDF) in 1999 and the National local government biodiversity survey (PDF) in 2000.
The Murray Darling Basin Commission prepared an NRM Community engagement toolkit that may assist councils to get their community involved in their environmental initiatives.
The Productivity Commission undertook a review of native vegetation legislation (PDF) in April 2004 in a bid to determine how efficient and effective current legislation is.
More than 130 representatives from over 60 councils attended a workshop on 27 August 2004 at the Municipal Association of Victoria to look at the role of local government in the management of native vegetation.
Land and water resources audits
Charles Sturt University have developed a virtual herbarium which is a very useful tool for land managers. It is a free and easy to use database of native plants and also weeds in the Murray Darling Basin.
