Aquatic ecosystems
Australia's rivers, wetlands and estuaries play a critical role in the maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystems, however they are affected by increased river regulation, catchment disturbance and pests. The Australian Government is committed to protecting and enhancing Australia's most important aquatic ecosystems. The National Water Initiative (NWI) requires governments to identify and acknowledge surface and groundwater systems of high conservation value, and manage these systems to protect and enhance those values.
The Aquatic Ecosystems Task Group
The Aquatic Ecosystems Task Group was established by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council to:
- Provide a nationally coordinated approach to policy development for relevant cross-jurisdictional issues within the aquatic ecosystems context; and
- Develop a national policy framework for the identification, classification and management of high conservation value aquatic ecosystems (HCVAE).
Publications
- High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems project - identifying, categorising and managing HCVAE - 2007
- Protecting Australia's rivers, wetlands and estuaries of high conservation value - 2005
- Incentive measures for conserving freshwater ecosystems - 2002
- National principles for the provision of water for ecosystems - 1996
Further Information
News
See also
- Australian Water Resources 2005
- Coasts and oceans
- Lake Eyre Basin Agreement
- Living Murray Initiative
- Meteorological information for primary industry and natural resources management
- National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP)
- National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research
- National Framework for Improved Groundwater Management in Australia
- National Principles for the Provision of Water for Ecosystems
- Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
Key
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