Land and water management

Our climate is changing faster than nature can adapt. Damage has already occurred, with many ecosystems and species impacted by warmer temperatures, heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, storms and floods. 

The Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 recognises climate change as a serious threat to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of New South Wales and establishes the critical need for action. 

At the same time, the NSW Plan for Nature makes clear that nature is already in decline and must be put on a path to recovery by protecting what remains, restoring degraded environments and improving biodiversity outcomes.

Human wellbeing, culture and prosperity depend on healthy ecosystems and the natural systems that sustain life, communities and economies. In a changing climate, adapting how we manage land and water is essential to protect and restore NSW’s natural environment for future generations.

Effective environmental adaptation begins with recognising this dependence and that humans are part of nature, not separate from it.

This relationship also brings responsibility. Aboriginal peoples have long practised caring for Country, grounded in the understanding that caring for Country enables Country to care for people. Embracing this approach means recognising that humans are part of nature, and that our collective future depends on protecting and restoring the ecosystems we rely on.

Climate-adapted environmental management 

Effective climate-adapted land and water management requires a culturally informed, values-based approach. The 6As of Adaptation for environmental management has been developed to guide this work and is underpinned by two interconnected principles.

1. We are part of Country, not separate from it: taking a Country‑centred approach to land and water management supports more sustainable, culturally grounded and ecologically effective practices for climate adaptation

A Country‑centred approach is grounded in an Aboriginal worldview in which people are inseparable from Country, and land, waters, seas and skies are living systems with their own agency, relationships and responsibilities. Wherever possible, partnering with local knowledge holders to take a Country-centred approach and integrate Aboriginal knowledge into environmental management strengthens the cultural inclusivity, effectiveness and long‑term resilience of climate adaptation efforts. 

2. NSW environments provide diverse values: all of these values should be recognised and considered in decision‑making

To effectively manage and restore natural environments, it is important to recognise the full range of values they provide, including social, cultural, ecological and economic values. Understanding how climate change affects these values helps guide adaptation and restoration efforts towards protecting what matters most, rather than focusing solely on maintaining current conditions. Moving beyond a narrow focus on financial value supports healthier, more resilient environments for future generations. 

The 6As of Adaptation for environmental management brings these two principles together to provide guidance for different types of environments. It is a flexible risk management framework, tailored to the practical, on-ground settings where most land and water managers work. It can be applied across different contexts and organisations, from Crown land management to community-led projects such as dune restoration.  

The above pages are designed to be used as a set and can be explored in any order. Together, these elements support adaptation that is effective, inclusive and responsive to place, supporting the prioritisation of management and restoration efforts under a changing climate, helping protect what matters most for current and future generations.