We need a new paradigm for national parks

The present concept of national parks is well supported, but is likely to further decline with growing community conflict and the increasing difficulty of reserving more land for the protection of biodiversity without significant economic impact on all taxpayers.

The “one size fits all” model of park management from high country, to coastal and rainforest to highly modified red gum forests is flawed. The concept of active management of red gum forests, as recommended by the Natural Resources Commissioner in his report and the need for the same in the Pilliga-Goonoo, is not something that park services are skilled at or interested in.

Biodiversity protection requires good management, not reliance on land tenure classification noted on the sign at the entrance gate. Australia needs to include a new paradigm of park management similar to the “wise use” principles of the internationally accepted Ramsar Convention, to which we are already a signatory. Comprehensively involve local communities in the management and use of national parks instead of locking them out.

This is not to imply that national park management is all bad or that parks have not been of tremendous value to Australia, but that we need to revisit the model we are using to best accommodate the needs and concerns of all the community, not just the politically active.

The model currently used and funding allocated to management are the weakest links that diminish the latent potential of a national park system that might otherwise have broader community support.

If we are to continue to afford more national parks, both socially and economically, we need to do it with a few more strings to our bow than the “one size fits all” model that has failed in many parks.