Issues

• Values: what do we need to sustain?
• Constraints
• SoE and Limits to Knowledge

• Atmosphere
• Land
• Inland Waters and Wetlands
• Biodiversity
• Settlements
• Cultural Heritage
• Coastal, Estuarine and Marine

• Response Instruments
• Summary of Report Recommendations
• Strategic Recommendations
• Conclusion

Introduction

This 'Toward Sustainability' Chapter consolidates the Report's assessment of the State's progress towards its sustainable development objectives by identifying guiding principles, unifying themes, key findings, and mutually supporting actions. A summary of the findings of the seven other chapters of the 2003 SoE Report is presented in the Sustainability Review section.

Each chapter is summarised, based on a consistent set of headings. This includes, for example, reporting on integrating concepts or measures and reporting on capacity to assess conditions and trends for any chapter theme. This helps to 'draw the threads together' in the conculding chapter to provide a more integrated perspective on Tasmania's environment.

Higher-level recommendations, which reflect some key mutually supporting actions, are also presented within this chapter. The three higher-level recommendations for this chapter are listed in the index of 2003 recommendations.

The preparation of this SoE Report is one of the features of Tasmania's Resource Management and Planning System (RMPS). The State Policies and Projects Act 1993 s29 1 (c) requires the Commission to include an assessment of the achievement of sustainable development objectives as defined under the RMPS. The SoE reporting process provides a key means to assess the State's progress towards these objectives.

The SoE Report provides an overview of the current level of understanding of Tasmania's environment, the pressures affecting it, and the responses of government, management and the community to these pressures. It identifies trends and changes within the State, documents how we are meeting our resource management objectives and, crucially, provides recommendations for action.

Details of the legislative requirement for SoE Reporting under the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 (and how this requirement is addressed in this report) are provided on the linked page.

Contributors

Many people and organisations have assisted greatly in compiling the State of the Environment Report. For this chapter, the Commission would like to acknowledge the kind assistance of the following:

Kate Crowley, Tony Davidson, Tony Ferrier, Dallas Hanson, John Hayes, Helen Locher, John Vandenberg, Stephen Waight, Fiona Wells.