Users’ guide for estuarine, coastal and marine indicators for regional NRM monitoring

The ‘Users’ Guide for Estuarine, Coastal and Marine Indicators for Regional NRM Monitoring’ provides a comprehensive set of indicators related to estuarine, coastal and marine issues.

This report is the product of a project undertaken for the national Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (established by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in 2001) and Intergovernmental Coastal Advisory Group through the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage.

The indicators contained in the Users Guide are still subject to final approval and agreement by the Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group. The agreed set of estuarine, coastal and marine indicators will be placed on the Australian Government’s ‘Natural Resource Management Monitoring and Evaluation and Standards and Targets’ website ( http://www.nrm.gov.au/me/index.html). This website also contains other relevant information about indicators.

When the indicators have been endorsed by the Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group, Regional NRM bodies can select those that are relevant to their investment activities. These indicators can be used for reporting on progress towards the achievement of resource condition targets set out in regional plans. Reporting on progress towards resource condition targets will be an important part of the reporting process for the Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

The User’s Guide provides flexibility in monitoring NRM outcomes by allowing Regional NRM bodies to select indicators that are relevant to their regional ecosystems and NRM issues, while using consistent monitoring approaches. The User’s Guide also provides guidelines for using these indicators.

Download Executive Summary ( PDF file, 273KB)
Download full report ( PDF file, 1.2MB)