Strategic Plan Summary 2008-2011
for the Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Managment Program
Australian Alps Liaison Committee, February 2008
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About this Plan
This Strategic Plan 2008 - 2011 for the Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Management Program has been prepared by the Australian Alps Liaison Committee in accordance with the requirements of section 6.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the Co-operative Management of the Australian Alps national parks.
The Plan will run until the end of June 2011 or until it is replaced by the subsequent plan.
A Vision for the Australian Alps
Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Management Program Vision Statement
Agencies working in partnership to achieve excellence in conservation management of the Australian Alps national parks' natural and cultural values and sustainable use through an active program of cross border co-operation.
A positioning statement for the Australian Alps was developed at the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Alps MOU at Thredbo in June 2007, the essence of which is that people envisaged:
A healthy alpine landscape that inspires the human spirit and protects natural and cultural values.
The positioning statement includes the following delivery elements:
- The MOU partners will manage the conservation reserves of the Australian Alps region, as the continuous landscape it is, with complementary legislation and management plans and seamless education, promotion and marketing in order to protect, and develop respect for, the natural and cultural heritage, and facilitate visitor enjoyment of the Alps region.
- Management arrangements will acknowledge the contribution of, and encourage further leadership by, Indigenous people in the co-operative management of the parks.
- The Australian Alps national parks partners will seek a nomination by the Australian Government for listing of the Alps national parks as a World Heritage property, possibly in conjunction with other adjacent conservation areas and environments, both public and private.
- The managers will support increased scientific research on the effects of climate change on the natural values of the Alps, enabling effective adaptive management, and leading to the development of appropriate programs - particularly in regard to impacts on biodiversity, fire management, catchment protection and tourism.
- Damaged mountain catchments will be restored to ensure long-term security for biodiversity and to maximise the potential for mountain natural systems to store and release water from the vitally important Alps catchments for eastern Australia.
- Partnerships with neighbouring and local communities will be formalised to enhance the conservation of natural and cultural values recognising that the mountain landscapes exist at a regional scale and extend beyond the parks.
- The Australian Alps Region will support tourism that conserves and values the natural and cultural heritage of the Alps in recognition of the unique national and international destination it is, and the great contribution tourism makes to the regional economy.
Mission/Objectives
The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to set out the framework for achieving the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding, which are:
- To pursue the growth and enhancement of inter-governmental co-operative management to protect the important natural and cultural values of the Australian Alps national parks.
- To co-operate in the determination and implementation of best-practice management of the areas listed
in Schedule 1 of the MOU to achieve the:
- protection of the unique mountain landscapes
- protection of the natural and cultural values of the Australian Alps
- provision of an appropriate range of outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities that encourage the enjoyment, education, understanding and conservation of the natural and cultural values, and
- protection of mountain catchments.
Timetable
| Implementation timetable | |
|---|---|
| Commencement of Plan | July 2008 |
| Set up new special task groups including Reference Groups | July 2008 |
| Annual Report Year 1 of triennium | After June 2009 |
| Annual Report Year 2 of triennium | After June 2010 |
| Report on this plan to Heads of Agencies (triennial Alps Report) | End 2010 |
| Developement of new plan | Early 2011 |
| Replacement of this Plan with next Strategic Plan | End of June 2011 |
| Annual Report Year 3 of triennium | After June 2011 |
Strategic Plan Summary 2008-2011 For the Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Management Program - Priority Issues
In the triennium 2008-2011, the Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Management Program will address the following issues as priorities, listed here in alphabetical order. These priorities were developed by the AALC, and its staff and stakeholders, through a variety of consultative processes.
- Aboriginal Peoples' Involvement. Acknowledge the contribution of, and encourage further leadership by, Indigenous people in the co-operative management of the Alps.
- Climate Change and Adaptation. The managers will support increased scientific research on the effects of climate change on the natural values of the Alps, enabling effective adaptive management, and leading to the development of appropriate programs - particularly in regard to impacts on biodiversity, fire management, catchment protection and tourism.
- Community Awareness. Enhanced community awareness of the Alps' significant values and the advantages of co-operative management, with expanded communication to a wider external audience.
- Fire. Developing improved approaches to understanding fire regimes and their management and particularly under the influence of climate change.
- Invasive Species. Diminishing the impact of invasive species on natural systems, including consideration of climate change effects.
- National Tourism issues and National Landscapes. The tourism values of the mountain landscapes will be managed to recognise it as the unique national and international destination it is, that is of great importance to the regional economy. The Commonwealth's initiative recognising and defining National Landscapes will be incorporated into the program.
- One Alps Landscape: one park in name, not law. This recognises that the three States will manage the conservation reserves of the Australian Alps as though they were a single national park with complementary legislation, complementary management plans, seamless promotion and marketing and respect for the cultural heritage of the Alps.
- Recreational Patterns. Develop a better understanding of trends in recreational patterns and use including how climate change will affect this.
- Science / Management linkage. Promulgation of the results of scientific research to assist managers to make evidence-based decisions.
- Stakeholder and Community Engagement and Partnerships. Partnerships with neighbouring and local communities will be formalised to enhance the conservation of natural and cultural values recognising that the mountain landscapes exist at a regional scale and extend beyond the park.
- Water and Catchments. Damaged mountain catchments will be restored, and managed to maximise the potential for natural mountain systems to store and release water from the vitally important Alps catchments, with consideration of the effects of climate change.
Key Result Area (KRA) Reference Groups and Special Task Groups for this plan
For the life of this plan the following groups will be formed:
| KRA Reference Group | KRA Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Climate Change | Climate Change and Adaptation |
| Cultural Heritage | Cultural Heritage Indigenous People's Engagement |
| Natural Resource Management | Fire Management Invasive Species Management |
| Stakeholder Engagement and Communication | Stakeholder Engagement and Communication |
| Visitor Experience and Marketing | Visitor Experience and Marketing |
| Water and Catchments | Water and Catchments |
Other Roles for Implementing the KRAs
| Other Roles | KRA Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Alps Operational Group (AOG) | As per terms of reference |
| Indigenous Reference Group | As per terms of reference, to be finalised in 2008 |
| Program Manager | Program Management Program Promotion and Information |
Structure Chart
Australian Alps National Parks Co-operative Program Functional Relationships
KRA Objectives and Outcomes
KRA Objectives
The following objectives and outcomes have been developed for the key result areas. The Annual Works Program for each KRA will be closely tied to its outcomes.
KRA 1 Climate Change and Adaptation
Objective: Implementation of contemporary approaches to planning, responding and adapting to climate change in the mountain protected areas and determining needs and mechanisms for further research, particularly related to the impact of climate change on natural heritage conservation.
Outcome: The level of knowledge amongst agency staff and other stakeholders is increased regarding climate change impacts on the natural values of the Alps and the measures required to address them, with a number of activities implemented that are designed to adapt management to those changes.
KRA 2 Water and Catchments
Objective: Implementation of contemporary approaches to management and restoration of catchments in mountain protected areas, through supporting good practice philosophy and principles for sustainable use and minimal catchment impact, to yield sustained supplies of high quality water for uses external to the protected areas such as irrigation and domestic consumption, and flow regimes to sustain ecosystems dependent on the natural water regime both within the Alps and downstream.
Outcome: Management and rehabilitation activities are implemented according to best practice guidelines with demonstrated improved water quality and water retention reflecting a natural state.
KRA 3 Invasive Species Management
Objective: Implementation of contemporary approaches to management of pest plant and animal species in mountain protected areas, through supporting best-practice principles for research, identification and control and, where possible, eradication, of new outbreaks and species, and appropriate responses to pest species problems exacerbated by climate change.
Outcome: Support co-operation and collaboration on identifying and managing emerging and known invasive species to reduce their impact on the natural and cultural values of the Alps.
KRA 4 Fire Management
Objective: Implementation of contemporary approaches to management of fire compatible with the conservation of mountain protected areas, through supporting best-practice principles for research, planning and control, and appropriate responses to fire problems exacerbated by climate change.
Outcome: Increased co-operation in research, planning and control of fire in the Alps.
KRA 5 Visitor Experiences and Marketing
Objective: Presentation of the superlative and unique Australian Alps visitor experiences identified through the Brand Australia National Landscapes Initiative, and implementation of contemporary approaches to sustainable visitor management in mountain protected areas.
Outcome: The National Landscapes Australian Alps Brand is implemented and supported by stakeholders and progress is made towards sustainability of use by visitors.
KRA 6 Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
Objective: Stakeholders from all relevant groups and interests are aware of, and have access to, information about, the unique mountain landscapes and catchments, and natural and cultural values of the Australian Alps national parks, the actions and behaviour needed to protect these values, and the objectives and achievements of the co-operative management program, and are appropriately involved in achieving the objectives of the program.
Outcome: Stakeholders are more actively engaged in, and are aware of, Alps programs and activities.
KRA 7 Indigenous People's Engagement
Objective: Identification and promotion of opportunities for the involvement of Indigenous people in the management of the Australian Alps national parks.
Outcome: The Australian Alps Indigenous Reference Group is established, meets regularly, and contributes effectively to a range of Alps projects and initiatives.
KRA 8 Cultural Heritage
Objective: Improved understanding of and respect for the Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage values of the Australian Alps national parks, including sites, places and landscapes, and incorporation of these values into effective conservation and management programs.
Outcome: The cultural heritage of the Alps is better understood, valued and protected by the community.
KRA 9 Program Management
Objective: The Australian Alps national parks co-operative program will be well managed, maintain its effectiveness to achieve the vision and objectives of the MOU and operate within the relevant policy context of each participating agency.
Outcome: The Program is managed efficiently and effectively and the Heads of Agencies and other stakeholders are satisfied with the Program's performance.
KRA 10 Program Promotion and Information
Objective: Program agency personnel and other stakeholders will increase and share their knowledge and understanding of the values of the Australian Alps national parks and co-operative program benefits, and acquire best-practice skills for managing and communicating these values, and improved cross-agency links.
Outcome: Agency staff and other stakeholders are aware of the benefits of the Program and support its objectives.
More Information
Enquiries about the Plan and the Co-operative Management Program can be made to the Program Manager:
Rod Atkins
Email: rodney.atkins@act.gov.au
Phone: 02 6205 2487
Web: www.australianalps.environment.gov.au
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