2012 Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework.

The 2012 Australian Native Vegetation Framework is a strategic document, not prescriptive or binding, that promotes better management of Australia’s native vegetation while acknowledging differences in approach and activity between jurisdictions.
Framework’s vision is that native vegetation in Australia is managed in an ecologically sustainable way that promotes its enduring environmental, economic, social, cultural, and spiritual values. This framework sets out five goals to meet its vision: Goal 1 Increase the national extent and connectivity of native vegetation; Goal 2 Maintain and improve the condition and function of native vegetation; Goal 3 Maximise the native vegetation benefits of ecosystem service markets; Goal 4 Build capacity to understand, value and manage native vegetation; Goal 5 Advance the engagement and inclusion of Indigenous peoples in management of native vegetation. These goals are designed to build ecosystem resilience and to improve the productive capacity of the landscape. Each of these goals is supported by desired outcomes and targets, so that governments, community organisations and interest groups have a clear focus for progress and implementation. The targets are measurable and strategic, designed to provide a way to measure our progress towards each of the goals. Under the Framework, government at all levels, businesses, communities, individuals, Indigenous peoples, researchers, private landholders and non government organisations all have a part to play in the conservation of native vegetation.
The Framework recognises the key role that sustainable agriculture and forestry play in conserving and enhancing native vegetation in Australia. Throughout the document landholders, farmers and pastoralists are supported through training, funding, and incentives opportunities to develop and implement best practice land management. Land managed for agriculture includes a significant component of Australia’s biodiversity assets and environmental protection, farm productivity and farm sustainability are all linked together under the Framework.
The Framework, under Goal 4 (Build capacity to understand, value and manage native vegetation) indirectly enables more inclusive and efficient agricultural systems. Following again the rationale that the agricultural sector has a key role in native vegetation conservation, the document encourages active participation of farmers, pastoralists and landholders to information and educational programs, and highlights the importance of a more partnership-based approach, with shared and allocated responsibilities, between sectors and organisations (governments, landholders, industry and environmental groups) for managing native vegetation.