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

The recommendations in detail are available from the index of recommendations. The following provides a brief summary of the principal objectives arising from these recommendations.

Atmosphere

Six recommendations are made to address atmospheric issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To reduce total exposure to air pollution through implementing a comprehensive air quality strategic plan supported by ambient air quality monitoring for priority pollutants; to manage pollution sources through best-practice pollution technology; and to investigate national legislative mechanisms to set standards for indoor air quality.

Land

Ten recommendations are made to address land issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To implement a strategic process for land resource management that addresses priority threatening processes such as salinity, soil erosion and degradation, rural tree decline, acid mine drainage, and disturbance of acid sulphate soils. To undertake appropriate surveys and inventories as necessary to determine the status of Tasmania's land resources, particularly in relation to soil condition, land degradation, scenic landscape values, and geoheritage values. To promote common monitoring priorities between land and water resource management, such as in relation to acid mine drainage, and to encourage sharing and exchange of information.

Inland Waters and Wetlands

Eight recommendations are made to address inland waters and wetlands issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To evaluate the process for setting Water Quality Objectives and investigate the impediments to the completion of Water Management Plans; to ensure that the cumulative impacts of farm dams are considered in approvals processes; to implement mechanisms that recognise the continuity of groundwater and surface water; and to undertake studies to better understand the status of groundwater resources in Tasmania.

Biodiversity

Five recommendations are made to address biodiversity issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To establish an integrated and long-term approach to vegetation management at a landscape scale in Tasmania, and to implement actions proposed in Tasmania's Nature Conservation Strategy 2002-06 in relation to priority biodiversity management issues including threatened species and communities, weeds, pests and diseases, and other threatening processes.

Settlements

Seven recommendations are made to address settlements issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To prepare regional strategies that integrate land use, transport and natural resource management; to implement strategic planning of settlements to achieve improvements in health, social, economic and environmental outcomes; to identify appropriate incentives and protocols for sustainable housing; to improve the management of solid and hazardous waste, both in relation to quantities generated and the impacts of landfill practices on the receiving environment; to provide for the protection and rehabilitation of drinking water catchments; to manage other environmental health and safety issues including the acoustic environment and management of bushfire threats.

Cultural Heritage

Five recommendations are made to address cultural heritage issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To enhance the capacity to identify and conserve heritage values through a systematic and repeatable process for assessing cultural heritage conditions and trends and prioritising cultural heritage management; to provide for a greater recognition of significant cultural landscapes in Tasmania; to promote a culture of care for historic heritage; to support the Aboriginal community in promoting a culture of care and appreciation for Aboriginal heritage values; and to encourage a culture of care in cultural heritage management through education, training, and public awareness.

Coastal, Estuarine and Marine

Six recommendations are made to address coastal, estuarine and marine issues. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To provide for the integrated management of catchments, coasts, and estuaries through Water Management Plans taking into consideration environmental flow requirements for estuaries; to implement agreed national responses to marine pests and diseases in Tasmania; to provide for improved conservation of coastal, estuarine and marine biodiversity; to manage wild fisheries and marine farms in accordance with ESD principles; and to consider and plan for the vulnerability of coastal settlements and infrastructure to climate change.

Toward Sustainability

Three recommendations are made in relation to the final chapter 'Toward Sustainability'. The recommendations may be summarised as follows:

To advance sustainability processes and outcomes in Tasmania and to provide mechanisms to assist with the delivery of Tasmania Together goals and benchmarks through applying the strategic policy and planning instruments available in the Resource Management Planning System. To improve coordination in monitoring and data sharing in environmental and natural resources issues between all spheres of government and to identify opportunities to improve reporting mechanisms.To support investment in environmental and natural resource management in Tasmania, and to enhance human resource capacity in responding to environmental, planning and natural resource management within government, environmental care groups, and the wider community.