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Launch of CMA's Five Year Achievement Report

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, John Robertson recently launched a publication outlining the achievements of the people of NSW at NSW Parliament House recently. “The NSW Government established these regional bodies to empower local communities to address environmental challenges from the ground up,” Mr Robertson said. “Today CMAs in NSW have become integral and trusted partners in regional and rural communities – working with landholders to protect and repair the State’s natural environment,” he said.

Key NSW CMA results over the past five years include:

13,206 voluntary management agreements negotiated with private landholders (equivalent to 10 agreements signed every working day for the past five years).
1 million hectares of weeds controlled.
2.6 million hectares of native vegetation has been enhanced or protected which equates to seven per cent of all the native vegetation on private land in NSW.
9,000 events organised to increase the natural resource management skills of 141,039 participants.
2.2 million hectares of land improved for soil condition.
66,516 hectares of soil erosion has been prevented.
Protected threatened species and ecological communities across the state.
1,064 conservation covenants were negotiated with landholders to protect and conserve native flora and fauna.

The NSW Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) have reported major gains in repairing and improving the health of the natural landscape across the State after only five years of operation. Incumbent Chair of the Catchment Management Authorities, Pam Green, said the 13 CMAs working alongside their local communities have protected and restored 2.6 million hectares of native vegetation and improved the soil condition on 2.2 million hectares of land.

“These are very significant gains in managing our natural resources with the area of native vegetation protected alone equivalent to 10 times the size of the Australian Capital Territory,” said Mrs Green.

“Catchment Management Authorities play a critical role working with private landholders in particular who manage 90% of NSW land and their participation is critical to the state’s long-term environmental health.

“Projects have now been carried out on at least six per cent of the state (five million hectares) to protect, repair and enhance our land, native vegetation, water and coasts and the native species that depend upon them,” said Mrs Green.

Since 2004, NSW CMAs in partnership with individual land managers, community and Landcare groups, Indigenous partners, local government and industry have invested a massive $2.11 billion in natural resource management.

“For every $1 invested by governments the NSW CMAs have attracted a further $2.20 in cash and in kind contributions from partners."

“These successes are a result of careful planning which has been done in consultation with local communities through the development of local Catchment Action Plans.

“CMAs then have robust monitoring and evaluation programs to follow-up and ensure that their investment is effective and targeted to the highest priority issues,” she said.

NSW CMAs have also worked closely with Aboriginal communities caring for their country and have created direct employment opportunities in managing natural resources and ensuring skills are passed onto a younger Aboriginal generation through training opportunities.

Mrs Green said that “By gaining the trust and respect of their communities, NSW CMAs have bought people together to make things happen and have brokered hundreds of effective partnerships to protect and repair our natural resources.

“CMAs provide an important extension role with highly trained and committed staff providing technical advice, coordinating projects and organising field days and education workshops and awareness activities.

“Communities across NSW are now better informed, trained and skilled in natural resources due to increased capacity from CMA activities and support,” she said.

For a full copy of the report see;
NSW CMA's 5 Yr Achievement Report Part 1
NSW CMA's 5 Yr Achievement Report Part 2
NSW CMA's 5 Yr Achievement Report Part 3