What our park managers are reporting about the system they manage
This information is drawn from the 2007 State of the Parks survey. The survey captured information on almost every park in the NSW system at the time: 759 parks covering over 6.5 million hectares. Park assessments were based on the best information available for each park. Park managers are responsible for completing the surveys and their responses are based on multiple lines of evidence, including local manager experience and expertise, research, monitoring, corporate data and information systems, specialist and community opinion. Extensive training is provided before surveys are commenced and support is available at all times. Park managers are also encouraged to complete assessments with other members of their team to minimise bias.
Many authoritative conservation groups (e.g. Nature Conservancy or the IUCN) recognise the validity of using expert knowledge and a mix of qualitative and quantitative information to support large-scale assessments of management effectiveness. Undertaking such a mix ensures that factors such as staff interaction, cost, purpose, reliability and amount of time required for implementation are all considered (see 'Assessing Protected Area Management Effectiveness: A quick guide for protected area practitioners').
DECCW is using research and consultation with world-leading experts to implement its State of the Parks program. Together with Parks Victoria, the University of Queensland and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, DECCW has been a key partner in an Australian Research Council research project to build capacity for adaptive management in protected areas through improved systems for monitoring and evaluation. The findings from this research are very encouraging and support the validity of the approach used in State of the Parks surveys. For example, research undertaken to ground truth assessments by staff on the presence, severity and extent of weed threats is showing that the assessments made by DECCW staff during the survey were accurate.
State of the Parks assessments are conducted every three years and the 2010 survey is currently underway. Once these assessments have been finalised and the data quality assured, these pages will be updated with the latest information.
The results presented below are grouped to address five core areas:
Results are presented as a proportion of the total park system area unless identified otherwise. The number of parks reporting each result is also provided in brackets. Note that these proportions may appear very different where, for example, a small number of large parks is compared to a large number of smaller parks.
This information is collected to help systematically support processes to improve the management of the park system. Find out more about the Park Management Program and State of the Parks.
Natural values
As a result of ongoing activities, park managers are reporting an improvement in the general condition of natural heritage values within parks. The number of parks where managers are reporting that most important natural heritage values are in excellent condition has almost tripled since 2004. Find out more about natural heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 6: Condition of natural values
Threatened species
Impacts to threatened species are stable or better in the majority of the park system though further information is required in some parks. In some instances, additional information may be required on the nature or distribution of a species, while in others it is a case of waiting for the effects of management to progress before monitoring and evaluation can occur. Find out more about threatened species in the NSW park system.
Figure 7: Managing impacts on threatened species
Aboriginal heritage values
While more park managers are advising that important Aboriginal objects, places and features of cultural heritage value that are in good to excellent condition, many report they require further information. Find out more about Aboriginal cultural heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 8: Condition of Aboriginal heritage values
Historic heritage values
The number of parks reporting their most important historic places, sites and objects of cultural heritage value are in excellent condition has increased by 24 per cent since 2004. However, while park managers report sufficient information about the values of historic heritage and threats to it, many require further information on its current condition. Degradation from natural processes, fire damage, vandalism and inappropriate use also threaten the integrity of their values. Find out more about historic heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 9: Condition of historic heritage values
Weed management
Park managers report they are stopping weed impacts from increasing in almost 90 per cent of the park system. Increasing impacts are often associated with difficult access or parks that have recently been added to the park system. Where parks are new, concerted management efforts are being undertaken to reduce the impacts of weeds on park values. Find out more about weeds in the NSW park system.
Figure 10: Weed management
Pest management
Park managers report they are stopping the increase of pest animal impacts in over 94 per cent of the park system. Planning processes, such as threat abatement plans and regional pest management strategies, are used to identify priorities for managing pest animal threats. Other processes, such as regional operations plans, are in place to support park managers in implementing pest animal management programs. Find out more about pest animals in the NSW park system.
Figure 11: Pest management
Natural heritage information
Information on natural heritage values is sufficient to support planning and inform decision-making across 93 per cent of the NSW park system, but there are still gaps. Collecting information and supporting research into the state's natural heritage is an ongoing and collaborative process in NSW parks. Find out more about natural heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 12: Natural heritage information
Although DECCW's knowledge of Aboriginal cultural heritage is improving, significant information gaps remain. This partly reflects DECCW's growing engagement with Aboriginal communities, growing awareness of issues of importance and need for further information on Aboriginal cultural heritage management. Over time, these gaps will reduce as DECCW continues to gather and disseminate information to support planning and decision-making. Find out more about Aboriginal cultural heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 13: Aboriginal cultural heritage information
Historic heritage information
Park managers report sufficient information to support planning and inform decision-making for historic heritage management across 84 per cent of the NSW park system, a 20 per cent increase since 2004. This is based on a range of sources, including the centralised Historic Heritage Information Management System. Find out more about historic heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 14: Historic heritage information
Visitation information
DECCW is continuing to undertake research to improve the information available about park visitation. While a strong focus is maintained on gaining reliable information on the number and frequency of visitors to parks, additional visitor research also gathers information on demographics, activities and satisfaction levels. Additional research has explored visitor preferences, motivations and barriers to participation in outdoor recreation activities in natural areas. Find out more about planning for visitation in the NSW park system.
Figure 15: Visitation information
Planning for Aboriginal cultural heritage
More parks are adopting a planned approach to management of Aboriginal cultural heritage than every before, but there are still gaps in our information. Find out more about Aboriginal cultural heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 16: Approaches to Aboriginal cultural heritage management
Aboriginal cultural heritage management
Aboriginal cultural heritage is reported as being managed effectively in almost 80 per cent of the NSW park system. Where negative impacts are occurring, it is often the result of vandalism, inappropriate behaviours or fire. Planning processes, such as regional operations plans, are in place to support park managers to systematically identify where impacts are increasing so that action can be taken. Find out more about Aboriginal cultural heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 17: Effect of Aboriginal cultural heritage management
Planning for historic heritage
More parks are adopting a planned approach to managing historic heritage than ever before. Of the declared historic sites, all but one has a planned management approach and the remaining site has a responsive management approach as little intervention is required. Find out more about historic heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 18: Approaches to historic heritage management
Historic heritage management
The number of parks reporting increasing impacts on historic heritage has reduced by three-quarters (82 parks reported that impacts were increasing in 2004 despite management efforts). Where negative impacts are persisting, impacts are often caused by natural processes, such as in coastal areas where heritage values are exposed to constant erosion from the elements. In other instances vandalism in a problem. Find out more about historic heritage in the NSW park system.
Figure 19: Effect of historic heritage management
Planning for visitation
DECCW undertakes extensive planning across the NSW park system to support sustainable visitation. Responsive management occurs in many parks where visitation is typically lower. Planning for high-visitation parks particularly focuses on providing facilities to support sustainable use of the park and maximise the experience of visitors. Find out more about planning for visitation in the NSW park system.
Figure 20: Approaches to planning for visitation
Sustainable visitation
DECCW is supporting sustainable park visitation. Fewer park managers report visitor impacts are increasing compared to 2004. Visitor impacts are being addressed through the implementation of actions from the Living Parks strategy and branch visitation management plans; direct improvements to visitor infrastructure; and identifying opportunities to increase management resources and conservation benefits from partnerships with the tourism industry. Find out more about sustainable visitation in the NSW park system.
Figure 21: Effect of visitor management
Visitor facilities
Park managers report that a small number of parks require improvements to available visitor facilities or services. Many of these parks have only recently come under DECCW management and facility development is occurring as planning and demand studies are completed. In other cases, the need for improvements reflects the ongoing nature of the provision of appropriate visitor facilities. Where facilities may have once been appropriate, increasing use or changes to the type of visitation may require alterations. Find out more about maintaining visitor and park infrastructure in the NSW park system.
Figure 22: Provision of visitor facilities
Approaches to Aboriginal community consultation and involvement
Park managers report a range of different approaches to Aboriginal community consultation and involvement are in place. It is important to note that each consultation on the management of each park requires a unique approach and should not be limited to one type. The number of park managers reporting an established, regular process of consultation with Aboriginal communities to support park management, however, has more than tripled since 2004. Results are presented as proportion of total parks. Find out more about working with and engaging the community for the NSW park system.
Figure 23: Approaches to Aboriginal community consultation and involvement
Approaches to community consultation and involvement
Park managers report a range of different approaches to community consultation and involvement are in place. It is important to note that each consultation on the management of each park requires a unique approach and should not be limited to one type. The number of park managers reporting an established and regular process for community consultation however, has more than doubled since 2004. Results are presented as proportion of total parks. Find out more about working with and engaging the community for the NSW park system.
Figure 24: Approaches to community consultation and involvement
Page last updated: 03 March 2011
