National Forum

Non-Government Trusts

Workshop notes
Mr Carl Binning
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems

The workshop focused on three questions, the following is an attempt to compile the opinions expressed at the workshop. Three statements were posed to the groups, each group considered all statement in a critical manner;

Statement one: That there should be an independent trust established in each state to deal with issues of nature conservation on private land. Two associated questions were posed to provoke discussion these were. What should these trusts "look like" and what features would ensure their success.

The following issues were indicated as being of importance:

Trusts should be incorporated.

The trusts should be arms length from government while maintaining accountability in the following areas.

• The books must balance and be independently audited
• The must be clear processes to establish priority in relation to nature conservation assessment,

The usual rules associated with incorporation would provide useful indications in relation to the former issue and a recognized process involving a formal scientific process and criteria would provide a resolution of the latter.

Trusts may be regional and of different scales as needs indicate.

There should be an overarching body that co-ordinates the trusts Australia wide

This body would assist with fundraising, co-ordination of criteria and recourses and policy while responding from the bottom up to the need of the community.

Statement 2: Trusts should establish partnerships to support their activities. The associated question was: With whom ?

The response of the groups to this question was simple.

Trusts should form partnerships with anyone who will not compromise the aims of the trusts and whose support will assist with achieving these aims. The following groups were indicated as important:

• Business
• Local government,
• Community groups,
• NGOs,
• Philanthropic trusts
• Academic institutions

Statement 3: Statement 3 took the form of the question: What happens post NHT re: Funds?

The groups concluded that the usual methods of fund raising would be advantageous including, donations and grants but the strongest recommendation was for the establishment of a tax levee to support the Trusts.

A much more detailed analysis of the findings of the workshop will appear on the website by the end of the March.