The Policy and Strategic Direction for the Friends of the Wetlands
The Policy and Strategic direction for the Friends of the Wetlands is to facilitate the environmental stewardship of the Redland Shire City Council by ensuring the structure and actions of the Friends of the Wetlands are with an aim to protect, preserve and conserve the Wetlands habitats. The Friends of the Wetlands will demonstrate strength and strategic direction through sound policy, guidelines and ethical standards to underpin leadership, good governance and fiscal management.
Strategic direction is underpinned by tenets that recognise through maintenance and enhancement, ecosystems can sustain healthy habitats in order to, maximise regeneration, minimise adverse impacts and promote the importance and value of the Wetlands to the people. That in doing so, the group will structure development from consultation and legislative requirements that determine actions, attitudes and behaviours for all stakeholders. Particularly in regard to Australia being a signatory to the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of Wetlands (RAMSAR, Convention, 1975) and the identification of Wetlands in the Moreton Bay area being designated as having International importance (2001).
Due to the biodiversity of the Wetlands areas, policy is attributed to separate management strategies to address the uniqueness and importance of the Wetlands ecosystems. That in doing so Friends of the Wetlands will adhere to aims of the RAMSAR “…to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognising the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value” (1975).
Aquatic Ecosystems:
To identify issues, manage and rehabilitate the Wetlands area to maintain or improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems so they are able to support and sustain plant and wildlife and the viability of native fish, invertebrates and bug populations.
To utilise best practice standards to apply appropriate processes as outlined by DERM-EPA to facilitate outcomes. For Friends of the Wetlands to build collaborative partnerships with appropriate bodies, in order for these processes to be exercised with due diligence and expertise. To educate on the environment to make people aware of practices that pollute waterways and adversely impact on aquatic ecosystems and what this means to communities.
Rehabilitation, enhancement and maintenance of the Wetlands:
To identify areas for restoration and factors that may undermine or promote the health of the Wetlands habitats. Establish processes that are systematic in identifying soil seed banks, successional weed infestation and opportunistic weed species so natural regeneration rather than revegetation is the underpinning philosophy to Wetland rehabilitation, enhancement and maintenance. That restoration and maintenance is to reflect natural communities so that it is not done with detriment to the fauna. That work will be systematically monitored so that data management is relevant and timely for identifying the needs and outcomes of projects involved in the rehabilitation, enhancement and maintenance.
Public access and education:
To develop and educate on the Wetlands area to promote engagement and access of the environments through safe and tactile experiences that will promote public knowledge and appreciation of the ecosystems and the qualities they bring to enhance environmental and community health. That in developing the Wetlands for public access it will be managed in a way that is consistent will the appropriate principles of conservation reserves and with the cooperation of partners, in particular, the Stewards, designated as protectors of endangered ecosystems. To create entrepreneurial pathways that will promote awareness and serve to develop the locality and sustain ongoing care and conservation of the Wetlands.
Research and intellectual property
All research undertaken will be with an aim to gain knowledge and skills that will improve all actions and functions of Friends of the Wetlands. In doing so, outcomes will demonstrate legislative requirements and reflect the group’s purpose. That research is recognised as Intellectual Property and ownership is recognised, utilised and referenced according to the conditions of the copyright.
Development of the Wetlands
Friends of the Wetlands group recognises that the overarching concept of the Melbourne Principles encapsulates the strategic directions of the Groups aims and values. With this representation the Principles provide guidance in public education and connection to Wetland experiences. That is to say:
“It is through people’s direct experience with nature that they understand its value and gain a better appreciation of the importance of healthy habitats and ecosystems. This connection provides them with an appreciation of the need to manage our interactions with nature empathically.
Just as humans have the ability to alter the habitat and even to extinguish other species, we can also protect and restore biodiversity. Therefore, we have a responsibility to act as custodians for nature”.
Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities (2002).
Friends of the Wetlands recognise that by following the intent of the Melbourne Principles (2002) that a duty of care has to be exercised when building the community’s relationship to the environment. A duty of care functions as a guiding framework to impel stakeholders to be rigorous in operational procedures to ensure practices minimise harm and maximise beneficial outcomes for the preservation of Wetlands habitats. In doing so, the group is obligated to consult with relevant stakeholders and follow the Australian Standards and Legislative guidelines with due regard to ecological sustainability, especially, in consideration of protecting the interface between the terrestrial and marine environment and public access for recreation.
Volunteers
In adhering to the Group’s purpose all volunteers will be trained to the standard outlined in the Redland Shire Council’s Bushcare Program. In order to do so, Friends of the Wetlands will form partnerships with the Bushcare Program representatives to put in place a pathway for volunteer training. As volunteer work is to facilitate the intentions of Friends of the Wetlands other avenues of training may be sought to enhance these outcomes.
Traditional owners:
Friends of the Wetlands recognise the traditional ownership and cultural heritage of the Quandamooka people and other traditional groups in the historical use of the Wetlands.
In conserving and protection of the Wetlands areas, traditional concerns are assured from building relationships with the Quandamooka peoples. Friends of the Wetlands will, where appropriate, consult with Elders and other Indigenous peoples connected with the Wetlands environments. That these processes acknowledge the value of consultation and the insight and skills Indigenous people can have to guide Wetland development.
Data Collection:
Friends of the Wetlands Group will utilise the Redland Shire City Councils Management Strategy to establish data management and collation processes to adhere to the aims indicated in the Action Plan and intentions shown in the 6 principles outlined in the Queensland Biosecurity Strategy 2009-14. It is envisaged that by utilising the Council’s database methodologies will help to streamline the process for efficacy in data management. That this is not viewed as static and other avenues will be sought to improve these processes.
References:
Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) The Ramsar List of
Wetlands of International Importance. March 26 2010: accessed
April 12, 2010: http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-
documents-list/main/ramsar/1-31-218_4000_0
International Charette (2002). The Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities. Melbourne.
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/EE4E29F83C93A8E
6CA256FE80027D069/$File/Melb-Sus-Cities.pdf
Queensland Biosecurity strategy 2009-14 (2008)
www.dpi.qld.gov.au. /4790_12541.htm: Accessed April 14, 2010
Redland City Council. (2009). The Redland City Council’s Conservation
Land Management Strategy: A plan for the next ten years:
http://www.redland.qld.gov.au/Environment/ManagementPlans/Pages/CLMS2009.aspx
The Queensland Government (The Department of Environment and
Resource Management, 2009). Wetlands Info.
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/index.html
Acknowledgement: The author recognises the contribution and intellectual property of the Redland City Council’s Management Plan (2010), The RAMSAR Convention (2001) Department of Environment and Resource Management (2010). Due to the scientific language contained within these bodies of works, wording in The Policy and Strategic Direction for Friends of the Wetlands Group in some areas, reflect the constraints placed on constructing the text
