The ACT has a considerable capacity to halt and reverse threats to its natural resources. It is a compact area with a well-educated, culturally diverse, relatively wealthy and environmentally informed population who have access to quality local scientific advice. The ACT’s leasehold land tenure system, with significant areas in public ownership results in these areas being overseen by a government that combines the functions of state and local government into one governing body.

Weaknesses are the lack of the larger private enterprises that could act as a driver for private sector involvement and the challenge of addressing the requirements of the ACT as a territory community as well as the national capital.

A strong driver for change lies in how much people want to preserve the ‘bush’. Action by individuals, community groups, business and governments working together is needed to achieve lasting improvement in natural assets. Canberra’s population represents capacity that has not yet been fully drawn on.

As well as participating in organised activities and investments as outlined in this plan, individuals can actively help to manage and conserve the ACT’s natural resources by:

• reducing their ecological footprint through reducing their use of energy and material goods in their home or workplace (e.g. using less water and energy in houses, reducing car and fuel use)
• reducing direct damage caused to natural resources by their activities (e.g. reducing stormwater run-off from gardens, ensuring that pets are on leads when exercising in those parts of the Canberra Nature Park where pets are allowed, removing and destroying invasive weeds in gardens)
• joining a group involved in restoring degraded natural resources of the ACT (e.g. ACT Land Keepers is planting trees in bushfire-ravaged areas; Seeds for Survival is collecting and growing locally occurring plants for replanting degraded areas, Working Waterways is developing new wetlands and restoring damaged riparian areas).