NRM South is highlighting a national call for urgent recognition and greater funding of the critical work being done to restore the health of Australia’s landscapes, seas and waterways.
This national call was launched last month by a group of First Nations and Natural Resource Management leaders, alongside the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. It highlights the critical role of Indigenous rangers, farmers, natural resource managers and volunteers in delivering the work required to restore Country, and outlines the need for a significant escalation in funding.
Nepelle Crane, CEO of NRM South, said that the challenges facing Tasmania’s environment are intensifying, with extreme weather events, declining biodiversity, and increased pressures on our natural resources.
“In Southern Tasmania, NRM South has worked closely with communities, farmers, and traditional owners for over 20 years to protect threatened species, restore critical ecosystems, and support the Tasmanian Aboriginal community’s leadership in restoring Country,” Ms. Crane said. “While we’ve made significant progress, we need greater investment to expand these efforts and improve resilience for the future of our landscapes and seascapes.”
Ms Crane added that NRM South fully supports the national call to:
- Recognise that the work done in this region to heal Country, and that this is essential to the wellbeing of Tasmania’s people, environment and economy.
- Support Tasmania’s existing regional natural resource management framework as the most effective mechanism to plan, implement and scale nature repair.
- Invest in Aboriginal-led initiatives that empower place-based action and decision making.
- Establish stronger partnerships with government and private sector leaders to unlock new funding opportunities that will scale up local efforts to restore the unique environment of southern Tasmania.
The call is in response to a major report by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, which outlines a thirty-year investment plan to reverse Australia’s environmental decline.
CEO of NRM Regions Australia, Dr Kate Andrews, one of the joint statement’s co-authors, said ‘The Wentworth Group’s Blueprint reaffirms that we not only need to restore Country, we need to do it now. Our economic prosperity and wellbeing are at serious risk from the declining health of our land, seas and waters.’
‘The repair work is already underway so we absolutely know how to do it, and we know Australia can afford it. We cannot afford to do nothing.’
Local Project Success Story: Restoring Wetlands and Strengthening Partnerships
One of NRM South’s flagship projects involves the restoration of vital wetland ecosystems across southern Tasmania. These wetlands provide essential habitat for threatened species and recreationally important fish species, improve water quality, and act as natural buffers against extreme weather. With ongoing support from government and private sector partners, and through actions including hydrological restoration, weed control, fencing and revegetation, these projects have brought benefits to around 660 hectares of wetland habitat over the past five years. They have also strengthened landholder engagement and supported employment opportunities for local contractors and businesses.
Nepelle Crane noted, “This is just one example of the transformative impact we can achieve when we have the resources and partnerships to support regional-scale restoration projects. We know how to heal our landscapes, but we need the government and private sector to step up and help us scale this work.”
NRM South invites government bodies, local businesses, and all industry sectors to join the effort to protect Tasmania’s natural resources and invest in the region’s environmental future.