Parks

National Reserve System

Thorny Devil at Craven's Peak, Queensland. Photo by Nick Rains, courtesy of the National Reserve System.
NRS Task Group.
Photo: Tim Bond

Coordinating the National Reserve System

The development and management of the National Reserve System is guided by the Directions for the National Reserve System, which was developed by the State and Territory conservation agencies and endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in 2005. There are a number of inter-government groups that have an interest in the NRS which are involved in its future development and management.

In 2003 Environment Protection and Heritage Council was created by amalgamating the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), the environment protection components of the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), and Heritage Ministers' Meetings. The natural resource management components of ANZECC were transferred to the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council.

Under the Environment Protection and Heritage Council the Protected Areas Policy Working Group focuses on issues related to tourism, Indigenous and private engagement and climate change (carbon sequestration) issues for protected areas. Under the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and through the Natural Resource Policies and Programs Committee the NRS Task Group focuses on the 38 directions in the national Directions Statement concerned mainly with the development and management of the National Reserve System. The Scientific Advisory Sub Group provides support to the NRS Task Group focusing on the more technical elements regarding adequacy, climate change, priorities inclusion in the NRS and the scientific framework.

The National Reserve System Section in Parks Australia is the principle coordinating group for the NRS within the Australian Government. They provide support services to the National Reserve System Task Group and NRS Scientific Advisory Sub Group. Both these groups have representatives from the states and territories. The following diagram the shows relationships between the relevant coordinating groups.

Each year there is a national meeting of peak conservation NGOs and the National Reserve System Task Group.

Diagram showing the relationships between the relevant coordinating groups