The Royal Society of Queensland and partner organisations AgForce and NRM Regions QLD have released a Declaration (20.8.19) regarding rural policy in Queensland, and committing to collaboratively supporting responsible management of the rangelands areas in transitioning to an economically and environmentally sustainable future.
‘Arising from the deliberations at the Rangelands Policy Dialogue on 1-2 July 2019 and from the Rangelands Briefs submitted by more than 25 participants, a one-page Queensland Rangelands Declaration is now released.
‘The Declaration has been endorsed by The Royal Society of Queensland as the state’s oldest scientific society, AgForce representing broadacre rural industry and NRM Regions Queensland representing the 12 regional NRM bodies.
‘“The Rangelands Declaration is not an action plan”, explained the three organisations in releasing the text. “It is a statement of principles, emphasising the lack of widely supported policy solutions to a range of economic and environmental pressures and the absence of satisfactory forums to resolve differences of opinion. It is more than just a resolution to write an action plan in the future. It is a commitment to embark on a journey of discovery together.
‘“The Declaration commits the three parties to maintaining the partnership and to establishing forums that will access all available knowledge affecting the Rangelands, with the common purpose of transitioning management of these landscapes into a more optimistic and sustainable future.
‘“The collaboration is a milestone in Queensland’s policy development and has allowed analysis of the challenges to rise above media polarisation and sectoral interests”, the parties agreed.’