Policies, Strategies and Investigations

policies | strategies | investigations

A framework has been established for the sustainable management of the Murray-Darling Basin's water, land and other environmental resources. The framework includes Basin-wide policies and strategies, and is underpinned by investigations which provide the knowledge base for policies, strategies and on-ground management actions. The framework has been developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council.

Policies

Integrated Catchment Management Policy (2001). The Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council and its Community Advisory Committee jointly released this policy in June 2001. The policy provides the framework for natural resource management in the Basin over the decade 2001 until 2010, and is a commitment by the community and governments of the Murray-Darling Basin to do all that needs to be done to manage and use the resources of the Basin in a way that is ecologically sustainable.(see ICM Policy)

Strategies

The Natural Resources Management Strategies are the foundations of the Ministerial Council's Basin-wide planning processes for natural resources management. The Natural Resources Management Strategy is supported by issue-specific strategies which provide a Basin-wide focus for responding to key natural resource management issues, through knowledge generation requirements to address the issues and the necessary policy and on-ground responses. These strategies are listed below.

Across the Initiative

Human Dimension Strategy (1999). This guides the Commission's investigations into the social, institutional and cultural factors impacting upon the sustainable management of the Basin's natural resources, and aims to build policies and implementation processes that support more effective partnerships within and between Basin communities and governments.

Monitoring and evaluation strategy (in preparation). This is being developed to allow the monitoring and reporting of the condition of the Basin's natural resources and pressures associated with their use. It will also provide a framework for evaluating and reporting on government and community investment in natural resources management and the effectiveness of these activities in improving the natural resource condition.

Dryland regions

Basin Salinity Management Strategy. Increasing salinity is one of the primary concerns across the Basin. The threat to the Basin's catchments from dryland salinity is documented in The Salinity Audit: a 100 year perspective 1999. The Commission has agreed a strategy to manage the implications of dryland salinity.

Rivers and wetlands

Floodplain Wetlands Management Strategy (2004). This aims to guide the identification of significant wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin and the preparation of appropriate management plans. It also provides a framework for interstate coordination of policy and management, and for monitoring and reporting on the success of floodplain wetland management activity. Implementation of the Strategy is proceeding under State-based programs

Algal Management Strategy (1994). This was developed to help reduce the frequency and intensity of algal blooms and other water quality problems associated with nutrient pollution of the Murray-Darling Basin. It aims to reduce nutrient concentrations in streams and improve in-stream flows.

Native Fish Strategy (2003-2013). This provides a framework for remedial action designed to reverse the decline in the native fish populations of the Murray-Darling river system and to help increase native fish populations in the Basin, reduce the impacts of carp and improve ways for fish to move through dams, locks and weirs on the river systems.

Irrigated regions

Salinity and Drainage Strategy (1988).
This has been incorporated into the Basin Salinity Management Strategy to ensure that salinity in dryland and irrigated areas of the Basin are addressed in an integrated way.

Investigations

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission funds research and investigations relevant to the sustainable management of the Basin's natural resources through its Strategic Investigations and Education program. Priorities for investigations are determined through the Commission's Basin-wide planning processes.

Projects carried out under the program cover biophysical aspects of the riverine environment, irrigated regions, dryland regions, and associated social and institutional matters related to the human dimension of the Initiative. The knowledge generated through these projects is used to help review or develop Commission policies and help determine best management practices for sustainable resource use.

For a summary of current Strategic Investigations and Education projects see current projects

A full set of reports of completed projects are located in the library at the Office of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. Partner Governments also hold copies of all reports; details of how to access them can be obtained from

Last updated on: 25/ 6/ 2004