Conservation and management in Jervis Bay, Australia

The growth of the human population and the impact of this upon the natural environment is there for all to see. Little wonder that public concern for the environment has increased in recent decades. Such preoccupations have resulted in a corresponding increase in the declaration of new areas as national parks, reserves and other protected areas. In Australia the declaration of such areas meets an important need to preserve both the natural heritage and the human and cultural heritage. This paper describes the processes and policy implications of the declaration of national parks, marine parks, and recreational areas in Australia. Jervis Bay on the New South Wales (NSW) coast is used as a case study to document these processes and to evaluate the policy implications. After an initial discussion on conservation and management a vision statement for the bay is analysed in terms of its various dimensions. In the implementation of the vision, various approaches are canvassed. An integrated, total catchment management system is proposed.