Natural Resources in the ACT 

The ACT is not a natural catchment, rather a territory set up to service the needs of Australia’s capital. The ACT sits within the Murrumbidgee River catchment, in the Murray-Darling Basin. Natural resources in the ACT are at risk. Despite the fact that more than half the ACT is protected in national parks (Namadgi National Park, Canberra Nature Park), some 39 plant and animal species and two habitats are either vulnerable or endangered. At the same time, the number of people living in the ACT is growing which is increasing pressure on our natural resources.

Natural Resource Management Council 

The Natural Resource Management Council is one of 56 natural resource management regional bodies across Australia. The Council is a non-statutory body established by the ACT Government to work with the Government and the community to achieve tangible, measurable, positive changes in the condition of natural resources and to enhance the capacity of the ACT community to address natural resource issues. The operation of the Council is supported by the Australian Government's Caring for our Country initiative and complementary ACT Government funding. The Council provides leadership and guidance in natural resource management in the ACT by:

• proposing targets for improving our natural resources (our soils, water, biodiversity and land)
• building partnerships with community, governments, landholders, industry, the local Indigenous community, scientific and research organsiations and our regional neighbours
• generating and guiding investment in ACT natural resource management directed at achieving the targets in the Council's natural resource management plan, and
• monitoring progress.