UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Ad-Hoc Intersessional Working Group
Integrated Planning and Management of Land Resources
Statement by the Australian Delegation
29 February 2000
Australia congratulates the Secretary-General for assembling an excellent report and providing detailed background material on the crucial sectoral theme of integrated planning and management of land resources for discussion at CSD8.
This subject matter is of particular interest to Australia, and of particular relevance to the Australian experience in the sustainable management of its unique natural resources for production, conservation, biodiversity and recreational benefits. While protected areas in Australia play an important part in achieving our national conservation objectives, the protection of Australia's native flora and fauna depends heavily on lands that are either privately owned or managed. The maintenance of the natural resource base is also crucial to the continued productivity and viability of our agricultural industries, which are important to the health of the Australian economy.
Australia welcomes the opportunity CSD provides to pursue sustainable development at the international, regional, national and local levels. At CSD8 we are examining issues which go to the heart of the complex task of achieving sustainable development. The CSD should focus its deliberations on the achievement of action-oriented outcomes, giving support to positive developments in other fora while avoiding duplication of efforts. We hope that our deliberations here will help to identify further opportunities to augment and integrate work programs being pursued in these fora.
Australia supports approaches to land use planning and land management that incorporate the environmental costs of development, and include no trade distorting effects. This ensures that appropriate valuing of resources occurs, and the real costs of production are reflected in market prices. A full pricing mechanism can only exist in a market free of distortion from subsidies and other protectionist instruments.
Australia recognises the need for further study of the impacts of trade liberalisation on land use and sustainability. We note the research currently being conducted by existing organisations, such as the OECD, and urge the CSD to further encourage these efforts, ensure coordination between them, and avoid duplication.
Mr Co-Chairman, Australia has its share of problematic land and water degradation issues that it is actively seeking to address. Indeed, many of the issues raised in the Secretary-General's report, which refers to obstacles to implementing Agenda 21, ring true in the Australian context.
As a complement to ongoing institutional, planning and regulatory reform, Australia supports the promotion of community-based approaches to the planning and management of land resources. In our experience, achieving improvements in the sustainable management of natural resources is most effective in an environment in which land managers and local communities are empowered, educated and properly resourced. We have found that a 'bottom-up', inclusive and consultative approach, supported by the technical resources of government and the private sector, best ensures the relevance and implementation of strategies. Land management planning should take into account technological advances and be appropriate to the needs of all stakeholders.
Australia has enjoyed success with this approach, particularly through the Landcare movement and the formation of partnerships between governments, farmers, the private sector and indigenous communities. Landcare provides a broad-based platform to engage the community at all levels and has become an integral part of managing complex resource issues in rural Australia. By involving the people who naturally link social, economic and environmental aspects of their lives, and who have the greatest vested interest in the long term viability of the land, an integrated and sustainable approach to natural resource management and rural development has emerged.
Australia is seeking to assist others to learn from its experiences in community and partnership based approaches to natural resource management. Representatives from all continents are attending the International Landcare 2000 Conference being held later this week in Melbourne. As many delegates here would know, the conference is a CSD8 preparatory event. Mr Co-Chairman, we look forward to presenting the findings of this conference at the CSD meeting in April.
Australia supports the recommendation in the Secretary-General's report for greater international cooperation amongst existing UN agencies and other organisations to ensure we take stock of existing knowledge and experiences relating to integrated land use planning and management.
Within our own national context, Australia is developing and implementing policy frameworks to guide action in sustainable land management that build on past achievements and incorporate latest thinking on institutional and incentive frameworks. For example, Australia has recently developed:
• National Principles and Guidelines for Rangelands Management to achieve economic, social and environmental objectives in our vast rangelands, which have been degraded by unsustainable grazing practices; and
• a National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation which sets out best practice regulatory, planning and incentives arrangements across all tiers of Australia's federal system of government.
In the international context, the Secretary-General's report notes the contribution the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol can make towards improving land use and land management and the multiple benefits implementation of these instruments may have with respect to desertification and biodiversity objectives. In particular, the report highlights the potential to enhance sustainable forest management and attract private sector investment through the Clean Development Mechanism, once the Kyoto Protocol is fully implemented.
Australia agrees with these observations and recognises in its National Greenhouse Strategy the strong interconnection between actions designed to increase the sustainability of land resources and actions that can be taken to address climate change by enhancing greenhouse sinks. As one of a range of tools and initiatives, we believe the Kyoto Protocol has the potential to become a powerful driver for sustainable land management. Australia believes it is important that the synergies between protecting and enhancing greenhouse sinks and sustainable development are recognised by the CSD.
With respect to forests, Australia supports the text recently agreed at the International Forum on Forests (IFF) on future international arrangements on forests and encourages CSD to endorse the Forum's report.
Mr Co-Chairman, in conclusion, Australia is supportive of the broad thrust of the Secretary-General's paper and agrees on the desirability of further international cooperation on integrated planning and management of land resources. We are concerned to ensure policies for sustainable development are pursued in a manner that is transparent and does not distort trade. Australia is keen to promote community-based partnership approaches to natural resource management and is pleased to share its knowledge and experience with others. Australia also recognises the potential synergies between greenhouse sinks and efforts to promote sustainable land management as part of an integrated holistic approach.