NRM Regions Australia is the peak body representing the 54 regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations that cover Australia’s land, estuarine and coastal areas. Serving as a national voice for our member organisations, NRM Regions Australia works to promote the importance and value of regional natural resource management at a national level.
Our work includes undertaking actions to:
- Enhance the opportunities and impact of our member organisations.
- Build key relationships to promote and enhance the work of regional NRM organisations.
- Influence and inform industry and government policy, programs and investment.
- Demonstrate the benefits, impact and opportunities of investment in NRM.
- Build and share the knowledge base of the NRM sector, including working with research organisations and others to explore and develop science.
- Champion the importance of undertaking integrated land management at a landscape scale to get the best outcomes for the environment and regional economies and communities.
Australia's comprehensive NRM infrastructure, championed by NRM Regions Australia, is admired globally for its effectiveness in promoting sustainable practices and preserving natural resources. Our regional NRM plans - which are integrated landscape-scale strategic plans- have been developed over years of concerted effort and demonstrate capability, technical knowledge, and a commitment to community supported NRM outcomes.
NRM Regions Australia was formally established in 2020, but regional NRM organisations have a much longer history, with many of our member organisations starting up in the mid-1990s.
All regional NRM organisations are recognised by the Federal Government as regional delivery partners under the Natural Heritage Trust.
WHAT WE DO
Partnerships
The regional NRM model is about NRM regions working and partnering with a remarkable range of people across the country, from the local scale to the national level. We are community-based, and work with producers, community groups, landcarers, industry, and NGOs – amongst others – to help build capacity, strengthen networks and help partners along when needed. This is a fundamental role in rural, regional and outback Australia.
That’s how we work. And because we operate at the regional scale, we have the relationships built up over decades needed to accomplish this.
Accountability
Regions have systems in place to meet their State or Territory jurisdictional requirements alongside Australian Government requirements.
Regional NRM bodies have established systems to provide accountability for:
- Financials
- Governance
- Project management
- Monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
NRM regions and the Australian Government have also established accountability and improvement mechanisms via the NRM Regions’ Organisational Performance Excellence Program and the Australian Government’s MERIT reporting system and Performance expectation framework. The Organisational Performance Excellence Program was initiated at the 2011 National NRM Chairs’ Forum, where a target of 85% of all regional NRM bodies undertaking a performance excellence review by 2013 was set.
This target was met with the financial support of Australian Government and supported some 22 regional bodies to undertake performance excellence reviews during this period. At the 2013 National NRM Chairs Forum, Chairs reinforced the importance of this project and asked the National NRM Regions’ Working Group to ensure sufficient resources for its ongoing implementation.
National coverage
Australia is the only country where natural resource management organisations, and strategic plans, cover the entirety of the nation – something that is looked upon with envy from many other countries. This national infrastructure, developed over many years, constitutes organisational capacity and systems; knowledge and skills; networks and relationships; strategic plans, and committed people. This enables the Commonwealth government to deliver its objectives and legislative responsibilities across the country, even where there is less capacity.
Strategic investment
Working with regional bodies and through regional NRM strategies helps to prioritise actions and investment at a local level. NRM regions and strategies align priorities both vertically (national, State to local level) and horizontally (across tenures, land-types and land-uses).
This targets investment and delivers outcomes from a paddock to regional to national scale; enabling the best return on investment and an impact that adds up over time and across the country. It adds up to making a difference. It also allows investment where they may otherwise be no capacity.
There is an opportunity for the Australian Government to deliver additional Commonwealth objectives through the regional NRMs just as State governments do.
Appropriate delivery mechanisms
Over time, our natural resource management systems have improved. Our methods and tools have become more diverse and sophisticated, and we can adapt our delivery method to whatever will be the most appropriate, efficient and effective.
We can work with the diversity found across our country, people and industries. This may be working with individuals or groups, businesses or government; using grants or capacity building, market-based instruments or practice change. Our approach is not ‘one size fits all’.
NRM organisations reflect regional differences, regional needs and landscape diversity. Australia’s diverse landscapes and natural resource uses present a range of challenges. NRM regional planning ensures on-ground works don’t happen in isolation and instead help local communities find local solutions that meet their needs and suit the local environment.
Extending investment
An important function of regions is to encourage contributions from a variety of investors, and to ensure investments will yield the maximum benefits.
Regional NRMs leverage investment from a range of sources, at least matching every $ of Australian Government funds. Furthermore, with support from regional NRMs, local communities contribute at least $5 for every $1 of Government investment – what other local community model achieves this?