NRM standard and targets

Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management (September 2005, adopted by Government)
State-wide targets (September 2005, adopted by Government)

One of the specific functions of the Commission is to recommend to the NSW Government state-wide standards and targets for natural resource management.

Standard and targets

The overall goal for natural resource management in NSW is to achieve healthy, productive and resilient landscapes.

To help achieve this goal, the NSW Government has adopted a set of 13 state-wide targets and a Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management (the Standard).

The state-wide targets provide focus, coordination and a means for tracking progress in natural resource management. They cover biodiversity, water, land and community themes.

The Standard describes how good management depends upon the use of best available knowledge, collaboration and community engagement along with a good understanding of scale. It also focuses attention on risk management, monitoring and evaluation, and effective management of information. The requirements of the Standard support high quality decision-making in all four phases of adaptive management: planning, implementation, audit and response.

Commission's advice

In 2005, the Commission recommended the Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management and a set of 13 state-wide targets for natural resource management. The Government has adopted these standard and targets.

In 2012, the Commission reviewed the state-wide standard and targets, including monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements in NSW and provided further advice to Government.

2012 (recommended to Government)
Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management (May 2012)
Recommendations on revised standard and targets (May 2012)

2005 (adopted by Government)
Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management (September 2005)
Consolidated recommendations on standard and targets (September 2005)
Recommendations on standard and targets (May 2005)