Improving Watershed Management Using an Innovative Integrated Resources Management Approach in Australia

This paper reports the outcomes of a study to review the effectiveness of integrated resource management (IRM) in Australia with specific reference to watershed management. Based on the outcomes of implementation activity and policy reviews, guiding principles were used to develop a set of options for improving watershed management in Australia. These included priority planning and investment framework processes; improving the linkages between regional economic development and integrated resource management; cofinancing watershed management partnerships; and developing a contractual basis for commonwealth cofinanced investments in regional integrated resource management programs. The paper also discusses the use of a best management practice (BMP) approach to watershed management, the use of appropriate multidimensional indicators to measure performance gains in watershed management, and application of the study results as well as the BMP approach to locations beyond Australia.