What Was it?
The Nature of SA
The Nature of SA was a sector-wide partnership to guide positive change in our approach to nature conservation in response to a changing climate, extensive landscape change and a changing world. The partnership was active 2016 - 2018 and followed an adaptive, inclusive process to develop a strategic approach for conserving nature in the 21st century in South Australia.
This website is a product of that government and NGO partnership. It outlines 9 shifts for nature conservation in South Australia. They explore how nature and our society are changing and chart a course to best respond to these challenges.
We love our nature
Over 90% of South Australians get out into our parks and beaches every year.
Introduction
Nature and South Australians in the 21st century
South Australians value nature in their lives for its inherent beauty and inspiration, the opportunities it offers for fun, wonder and relaxation, and the livelihoods it supports. Collectively, we value nature in its many forms—as part of our heritage, as part of our culture, as part of us.
Ensuring the nature we all value persists is an increasing challenge. Not only does our modern way of life mean we have become more isolated from nature and its benefits, but the legacies of European colonisation such as vegetation clearance and species introductions, the growth and globalisation of the economy, and the impacts of climate change, mean our natural world is also changing rapidly.
It is important we recognise that some of these changes are largely unstoppable. This means in South Australia we can’t solely rely on a purely historical approach to conserving to sustain nature. We need to be more open to exploring new methods that will sustain nature into the future.
Shift: (verb) to cause something to move or change from one position or direction to another.
The big ideas
9 Shifts
The scale and rate of global changes has compelled us to start looking at nature conservation through a number of different lenses. Building on a discussion paper developed for consideration at a statewide forum, nine areas have been identified where a shift in our thinking, approaches, or actions is expected to foster better outcomes.
Many of the conservation activities we have historically undertaken will continue to be important, however, increasing emphasis should be placed on the identified shifts, starting now. Read more about the case for change.
Taken together these shifts represent a new paradigm for nature conservation, one built on the legacy of past efforts, but that prepares us for the future. This ‘future-orientated’ paradigm will form the basis of strong and deliberate conservation planning and action going forward.
1
Understand our landscapes and wildlife co-evolved with Aboriginal people
2
Strengthen our collective narrative around nature
3
Hold onto what’s working
4
Value nature in all its forms
5
From a purely historical focus to future-orientated outcomes
6
Decision making requires consideration of values, rules and knowledge
7
We have to learn to change
8
A resilient conservation sector is critical
9
Remember what we love about nature and start there
Learn more
Prefer to read the shifts in a printed format?
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“Any action is often better than no action! If it is a mistake, at least you learn something, in which case it’s no longer a mistake. If you remain stuck, you learn nothing.
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