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

This Report concludes that regulatory frameworks and systems for environmental and natural resource management have continued to improve over the five years since the previous SoE Report. More is now known about environmental conditions and trends, and about threatening processes that may diminish the productivity and diversity of Tasmania's environment and natural resources.

Direct, tangible, and measurable improvements have occurred as a result of investment through the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT). An example is the investment in upgraded sewage treatment facilities in both the Derwent and Tamar rivers. Most chapters in this report have identified better environmental outcomes that can be attributed to NHT. Improvements in understanding have also occurred as a result of the National Land and Water Resources Audit.

However, there is some concern that advantage has yet to be taken from some nationally-resourced programs because of an insufficient capacity at the local, regional and State level. Examples include the following NHT projects.

• Baseline water quality conditions have been established for 22 Tasmanian estuaries, however, there is limited capacity to establish changes to these baseline conditions through systematic long-term monitoring.
   
• Contamination arising from the disturbance of acid-sulphate soils has been identified, however, there is little information about how this information will be applied to respond to the significant problem identified.
   
• Contamination of groundwater from landfill sites has been identified, however, there is limited information about how this understanding will influence management and the remediation of landfill sites.
   

One of the most significant strategic initiatives in Tasmania over the last five years has been the establishment of a 20 year community vision through the Tasmania Together process. However, there is a need for greater capacity to enable this vision to be implemented and monitored. There are not yet any formal mechanisms for implementing Tasmania Together through the RMPS. In general, there is reluctance to view planning as a means to achieve desirable futures, to avoid future problems, and to avoid transferring costs to future governments.

Currently, the planning system is directed almost entirely towards development approvals and limited use is made of strategic planning in order to achieve better social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Enhancing community capacity to deliver improvements in environmental and natural resource management is needed. However, Tasmania faces some significant challenges, such as the task of a relatively small population funding management responses; a diverse natural environment; a high reliance on environmental quality; and a wide range of environmental and natural resource issues. The occurrence of 'surprise events' also presents ongoing challenges for resourcing, especially when that resourcing may be needed on an ongoing basis to achieve desired outcomes. The introduction of the European red fox and the viral condition affecting the Tasmanian devil are two recent examples.

Tasmania retains many of the environmental qualities that contribute to the productivity of its land and water, its biological diversity, the health of the landscape, the sense of place its residents feel, and the quality of the experience enjoyed by visitors to the island. Increased investment in environmental and natural resource management, through the existing regulatory frameworks and structures, will support the maintenance of these values. The NRM Framework for Tasmania will be one of the key mechanisms for achieving improved outcomes over the next five years.