What is 'natural resource management'?
Have you heard of natural resource management (NRM)?
Natural resource management is the taking care of natural resources such as land, water, marine and biological systems, with a particular focus on how the management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations. It’s about the long-term implications of actions - thinking about the future and not just about now.
For primary producers, natural resource management means taking into account the climate, soils, water, vegetation and organisms when making decisions about the land they manage. The goal is sustainability - balancing social (people and communities), economic (money and jobs) and environmental (land, water, air and living things) factors to make sure that our children and grandchildren can equally benefit from our natural resources.
Our social, economic and environmental wellbeing depends on the sustainable management of natural resources. In fact, in many instances, the goal is to leave a better natural environment for people in the future than what we have today! It’s possible to see this happen, with modern science and research and adopting new primary production techniques.
Natural resource management - the big picture
Adapted from text by Rebecca Lines-Kelly, I&I NSW
Every moment of our lives we use the resources that nature provides. We breathe the air that encircles our earth. We eat plants grown in the soil and other living species. We use vegetation for food, pasture and shelter. We live in houses made from wood that was once trees, brick that was once clay, steel that was once minerals in the earth. We drink water that falls from the heavens and use it to irrigate the land. We use energy provided by coal and oil or the sun.
We depend on nature to supply all our basic needs - air, food, water, shelter, warmth, energy - yet few of us consciously acknowledge these gifts or think about the price nature pays for such generosity.
If we are to be a truly sustainable society we need to understand the impacts our lives have on nature and the resources it provides. We need to make decisions that minimise our impact so that the natural systems we are part of can continue and in turn our own lives. Scientists and primary producers are working together to better manage our soil, water, vegetation and biodiversity so that we have food to eat, fibre to use and a natural world to live in.
One way to achieve this is to recognise that as consumers we have enormous power in deciding how nature is treated. Rather than buy something for its image or price, we can ask ourselves, ‘Was this item produced with respect for the environment, or with minimal impact on the environment?’ To be able to answer this question we need to know more about the production method, we need more information so that we can make informed consumption choices that benefit, not destroy, the resources nature provides.
Buying direct from producers is another way consumers can make informed choices about their food. Local food systems such as farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture and farm retail outlets bring consumers in direct contact with producers. Farmers can explain how the food is grown, and consumers can provide feedback about what they do or don’t like. From producers to consumers, natural resource management is everyone’s business.
Case study: Soils, soils soils
Sourced from an article by Abigail Jenkins, I&I NSW
Boring, boring, boring I hear you say but no, wait, you may have been missing something. Soil is so important because we use it to produce food, build houses, grow trees, improve water quality, regulate water flow, filter out harmful substances and maintain ecosystem stability. Here is some interesting info about soil. Read on ...