Australian Alps Strategic Plan 2008-11

This Strategic Plan has been guided by this document. The full text of the statement is at APPENDIX 1. The positioning statement includes the following delivery elements: 1. The MOU partners will manage the conservation reserves of the Australian Alps region, as the continuous landscape it is, with complementary legislation and management plans and seamless education, promotion and marketing in order to protect, and develop respect for, the natural and cultural heritage, and facilitate visitor enjoyment of the Alps region. 2. Management arrangements will acknowledge the contribution of, and encourage further leadership by, Indigenous people in the co-operative management of the parks. 3. The Australian Alps national parks partners will seek a nomination by the Australian Government for listing of the Alps national parks as a World Heritage property, possibly in conjunction with other adjacent conservation areas and environments, both public and private. 4. The managers will support increased scientific research on the effects of climate change on the natural values of the Alps, enabling effective adaptive management, and leading to the development of appropriate programs - particularly in regard to impacts on biodiversity, fire management, catchment protection and tourism. 5. Damaged mountain catchments will be restored to ensure long-term security for biodiversity and to maximise the potential for mountain natural systems to store and release water from the vitally important Alps catchments for eastern Australia. 6. Partnerships with neighbouring and local communities will be formalised to enhance the conservation of natural and cultural values recognising that the mountain landscapes exist at a regional scale and extend beyond the parks. 7. The Australian Alps Region will support tourism that conserves and values the natural and cultural heritage of the Alps in recognition of the unique national and international destination it is, and the great contribution tourism makes to the regional economy.

## 3. Mission / Objectives

The purpose of this Strategic Plan is to set out the framework for achieving the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding, which are: 1. To pursue the growth and enhancement of inter-governmental co-operative management to protect the important natural and cultural values of the Australian Alps national parks. 2. To co-operate in the determination and implementation of best-practice management of the areas listed in Schedule 1 of the MOU to achieve the:

(a) protection of the unique mountain landscapes; (b) protection of the natural and cultural values of the Australian Alps; (c) provision of an appropriate range of outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities that encourage the enjoyment, education, understanding and conservation of the natural and cultural values; and (d) protection of mountain catchments.

## 4. Priority Issues for 2008-2011

In the triennium 2008-2011, the Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Management Program will address the following issues as priorities, listed here in alphabetical order. These priorities were developed by the AALC, and its staff and stakeholders, through a variety of consultative processes.

- 1. Aboriginal Peoples’ Involvement. Acknowledge the contribution of, and encourage further leadership by, Indigenous people in the co-operative management of the Alps.
- 2. Climate Change and Adaptation. The managers will support increased scientific research on the effects of climate change on the natural values of the Alps, enabling effective

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