The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport has been created in recognition of the important link between the Territory's greatest assets - intact natural environment and authentic cultural traditions.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is an independent body that advises the Northern Territory Government, business and the community on matters of ecological sustainable development. The Authority's primary focus is the investigation of issues within the Northern Territory environmental legislative and policy environment in order to provide public recommendations to the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage. The EPA is currently reviewing the Northern Territory's environmental impact assessment procedures. The EPA can also accept third party referrals to provide policy level advice on environmental matters.
All the latest in Greenhouse news. The State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Emissions report provides an overview of the Northern Territory greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the year 2002. The Northern Territory Strategy for Greenhouse Action addresses greenhouse issues in the Northern Territory and was developed in accordance with the Northern Territory Greenhouse Policy Framework.
Groundwater is the life blood of the Northern Territory. Both human activity and natural ecosystems are dependant on and interact with groundwater. Browse through these pages which include information on the great artesian basin and inland salinity.
Since 1981 when the first jointly managed park, Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, was established the Parks and Wildlife Service has entered into joint management arrangements with indigenous Territorians in several parks and reserves. The aim being to protect the biological diversity of the parks whilst still serving visitor and community needs for education and enjoyment.
Native vegetation clearing has been controlled on pastoral land and within the Litchfield Shire for many years. To ensure the sustainable management of the Territory's natural resources, the NT Government introduced native vegetation clearing controls. From here you can access a copy of the Clearing Controls, a register of approved land clearing and electronic copies of current land clearing applications.
Managing Parks and Reserves is a complicated balancing act of maintaining a comprehensive and representative system of Parks, protecting biodiversity, cultural and heritage values and serving visitor and community needs for education and enjoyment. The Parks and Wildlife Service manages more than 4.7 million hectares, approximately 3.5 per cent (%) of Northern Territory's land area.
The management of soil is an important consideration, particularly in urban areas and on rural properties where the risk of significant off-site impacts must be managed. Soil is made up of air, water, minerals and organic material and is one of the most important natural resources on earth. Most life on earth depends on soil as a direct or indirect source of food. Plants and animals source their nutrients from the soil and it is home to many different forms of life. Soil comes in a variety of forms and takes many years to develop, however it can be destroyed very easily.