Natural Resource Management (NRM)

​​​​​​​​​​What is Natural Resource Management (NRM)?

Natural resource management seeks to manage our natural resources in a sustainable manner for the long term, achieving a balance between economic and social development and the need to protect the environment. The success of natural resource management is ultimately determined by the level of community involvement and the adoption of ecologically sustainable practices across the community.​

The term ‘natural resources’ refers to a broad spectrum of environmental assets including:

  • air

  • water

  • land

  • plants

  • animals

  • micro-organisms 

Individual asset​s are not isolated but are linked together to form natural systems of varying scale including:

  • rivers

  • lakes

  • wetlands

  • estuaries 

  • coasts

  • forests

  • fields

  • geological systems

Natural resource management reflects these linkages within and between natural systems. It integrates the management of social, economic and environmental values by involving the community and industry in planning and decision making.​

Natural Resource Management in Australia

Natural Resource Management has been fostered and developed in Australia over the past two decades by a number of Government programs, both Commonwealth and State, and through regional and local initiatives.

Funding assistance and support has been directed to hundreds of natural resource management projects and has encouraged broad community involvement: marshalling the commitment of community groups, land holders and land managers, all three tiers of government, and bodies dedicated to NRM program delivery. 

More information can be found at the NRM Regions Australia website.​

Tasmanian NRM Framework and Legislation

Tasmania has adopted an approach to natural resource management that aims at bringing together 

  • industry

  • resource users​

  • land managers

  • conservation interests 

The Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Framework 2002 and the Natural Resource Management Act 2002, provide a structure and mechanisms for delivering effective management of natural resources in the State. 

Regional NRM organisations in Tasmania

​There are three regional NRM organisations in Tasmania. More information including the 2030 NRM Strategy and regional boundaries can be found on the websites below:

2015 NRM Review

In 2015 the Tasmanian Government reviewed the effectiveness of Tasmania's ​two principal instruments for natural resource management:

 Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Framework (PDF 135Kb)

The review's findings and recommendations are outlined in the 2015 NRM Review Final Report. Changes to the Act pursuant to the Final Report were implemented in 2018. 


Contact

Environment Policy and Projects

Environment, Heritage and Lands Division