Partnerships
Photo: S. Cohen, DECC |
The success of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative will depend on partners and the voluntary involvement of landholders and the community.
Partners could include:
- sponsors and donors
- landholders and land managers
- scientific research and academic institutions
- government agencies including catchment management authorities and local councils
- industry
- community and environmental groups
- community champions and leaders.
Each collaboration will involve the development of local or regional strategies to maintain and improve the conservation management and connectivity of ecosystems and habitats along the great eastern ranges. The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative will integrate and complement a wide range of existing land management programs, including voluntary conservation activities. It will encourage partners to conserve lands that extend over local, bioregional, catchment and state boundaries.
Much of the great eastern ranges is well protected in national parks, particularly in southern NSW and Victoria. However, there are areas which can be reconnected, and conservation on public and private land can be improved through the combined efforts of partners.
Five regional partnerships
On-ground voluntary connectivity activities are being implemented in five areas:
The five regional partnerships are:
- Border Ranges
- Hunter Valley
- Southern Highlands
- Slopes to Summit
- Kosciuszko to Coast
In each regional partnership, the position of facilitator is jointly funded by an established conservation organisation and the Greater Eastern Ranges Initiative. The conservation organisations are:
The process of forging links and building relationships with a range of different organisations, and landholders, in each region is one that will take time.
New partners
We are inviting new partners to help us achieve the vision.
Key means of achieving conservation partnerships are through:
- voluntary co-investment in conservation programs on the ground
- building support through increasing awareness and capacity and sharing knowledge
- co-investment in research into plants, animals, ecosystems and cultural heritage
- developing shared priorities for targeting investment and activities
- combining resources to find the most efficient ways of conserving public and private lands along the great eastern ranges.
As these partnerships become more established and active, it is expected that more individuals and organisations will become involved and further achieve the objectives of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative.
Regional partnerships will prioritise conservation actions for each area and develop plans for achieving the actions. Long-term alliances between governments, industry, landowners, leading research organisations and the community may also be formed to achieve lasting conservation goals on public and private lands.
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
