State of the Parks 2007

A brief overview of the State of the Parks report for 2007.

The 2007 State of the Parks survey captured information on 759 parks covering over 6.5 million hectares.

Results for the 2007 survey were grouped into 5 core areas and presented as the number of parks that reported each result.

Natural values

Improvements in the general condition of natural heritage values within parks was reported. The number of parks where managers reported that most important natural heritage values were in excellent condition tripled since 2004.

Condition of natural values:

  • excellent, 112 parks
  • good, 275 parks
  • fair, 181 parks
  • poor, 24 parks
  • not a principal value, 29
  • insufficient information available at the time, 138 parks.

Threatened species

Impacts to threatened species were stable or had improved in most of the park system, although further information was needed for some parks.

Managing impacts on threatened species:

  • negligible impacts, 52 parks
  • diminishing impacts, 92 parks
  • stable impacts, 352 parks
  • increasing impacts, 46 parks
  • none present, no management program, 48 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 169 parks.

Aboriginal heritage values

Condition of Aboriginal heritage values:

  • excellent, 111 parks
  • good, 109 parks
  • fair, 29 parks
  • poor, 3 parks
  • not a principal value, 297
  • insufficient information available at the time, 210 parks.

Historic heritage values

Condition of historic heritage values:

  • excellent, 59 parks
  • good, 85 parks
  • fair, 55 parks
  • poor, 10 parks
  • not a principal value, 425
  • insufficient information available at the time, 125 parks.

Weed management

Park managers reported they had stopped weed impacts from increasing in almost 90% of the park system.

Managing impacts of weeds:

  • negligible impacts, 95 parks
  • diminishing impacts, 225 parks
  • stable impacts, 236 parks
  • increasing impacts, 95 parks
  • not a threat and no management program, 50 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 58 parks.

Pest management

Park managers reported they had stopped pest animals from increasing in over 94% of the park system. 

Managing impacts of pests:

  • negligible impacts, 79 parks
  • diminishing impacts, 124 parks
  • stable impacts, 346 parks
  • increasing impacts, 43 parks
  • not a threat and no management program, 66 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 100 parks.

Natural heritage information

Information on natural heritage values supported planning and informed decision-making across 93% of the park system:

  • sufficient information, 176 parks
  • sufficient information in key areas, 442 parks
  • sufficient information in some cases, 89 parks
  • little or no information available, 30 parks
  • not an issue, 22 parks.

Aboriginal cultural heritage information

Information on Aboriginal cultural heritage values improved, but information gaps remained:

  • sufficient information, 116 parks
  • sufficient information in key areas, 238 parks
  • sufficient information in some cases, 101 parks
  • little or no information available, 63 parks
  • no places, sites or objects recorded, 241 parks.

Historic heritage information

Information about historic heritage management supported planning and informed decision-making across 84% of the  park system, a 20% increase since 2004:

  • sufficient information, 157 parks
  • sufficient information in key areas, 174 parks
  • sufficient information in some cases, 52 parks
  • little or no information available, 48 parks
  • no sites recorded, 328 parks.

Visitation information

Information about park visitation included:

  • ongoing program for collecting information, 35 parks
  • sufficient information, 167 parks
  • sufficient information in most cases, 93 parks
  • little or no information available, 63 parks
  • minimal visitation, 401 parks.

Planning for Aboriginal cultural heritage

Approaches to Aboriginal cultural heritage management:

  • implementing comprehensive plans, 51 parks
  • implementing plans, 165 parks
  • responsive management, 127 parks
  • minimal management undertaken, 60 parks
  • not an issue and no program, 142 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 214 parks.

Aboriginal cultural heritage management

Effect of Aboriginal cultural heritage management:

  • negligible impacts, 138 parks
  • diminishing impacts, 60 parks
  • stable impacts, 193 parks
  • increasing impacts, 12 parks
  • not an issue and no program, 142 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 214 parks.

Planning for historic heritage

Approaches to historic heritage management:

  • implementing comprehensive plans, 54 parks
  • implementing plans, 125 parks
  • responsive management, 73 parks
  • minimal management undertaken, 57 parks
  • not an issue and no program, 294 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 156 parks.

Historic heritage management

Effect of historic heritage management:

  • negligible impacts, 79 parks
  • diminishing impacts, 65 parks
  • stable impacts, 137 parks
  • increasing impacts, 28 parks
  • not an issue and no program, 294 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 156 parks.

Planning for visitation

Approaches to planning for visitation:

  • implementing comprehensive plans, 58 parks
  • implementing plans, 181 parks
  • responsive management, 105 parks
  • minimal management undertaken, 32 parks
  • not an issue and no management program, 311 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 72 parks.

Sustainable visitation

Effect of visitor management:

  • negligible impacts, 68 parks
  • diminishing impacts, 94 parks
  • stable impacts, 152 parks
  • increasing impacts, 34 parks
  • not an issue and no program, 311 parks
  • insufficient information available at the time, 100 parks.

Visitor facilities

Provision of visitor facilities:

  • appropriate to reserve category and adequate for current visitation, 156 parks
  • appropriate to reserve category but inappropriate for current visitation, 100 parks
  • existing facilities inappropriate for reserve category, 20 parks
  • none present despite identified need, 14 parks
  • none present and none needed, 469 parks.

Aboriginal community consultation and involvement

Approaches to Aboriginal community consultation and involvement:

  • recent plan of management developed has adequately addressed needs, 97 parks
  • established process of consultation and input covering all major aspects, 111 parks
  • established process of consultation appropriate for those involved, 147 parks
  • specific efforts as part of broader community consultation, 163 parks
  • none apart from formal management planning and statutory process, 147 parks
  • unaware of community with interest in reserve, 94 parks.

Community consultation and involvement

Approaches to community consultation and involvement:

  • recent plan of management developed has adequately addressed needs, 129 parks
  • established process of consultation and input covering all major aspects, 92 parks
  • consultation and input at initiation of park managers, 243 parks
  • consultation limited to responding to issues of public concern, 126 parks
  • none apart from statutory management planning, 73 parks
  • insufficient public interest, 96 parks.