The Conservation Council of South Australia along with eight other state-based environmental NGOs (e-NGOs) and all eight Natural Resource Management Boards signed a landmark Mutual Agreement in December 2010 that sets out a framework for a collaborative approach to Natural Resource Management.
"South Australia aims to lead the way in natural resources management with a suite of ambitious targets, and the only way to achieve this is by working together" said Tim Kelly, Chief Executive, Conservation SA.
The Agreement recognises the important role of environmental NGOs and NRM Boards and what can be 
achieved by working together.
The other e-NGO signatories (to date) are Conservation Ark, Zoos SA, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Friends of Parks Inc, Greening Australia SA, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, Nature Foundation SA Inc, The Wilderness Society (South Australia) Inc and Trees For Life.
All groups have worked hard over the past two years developing this Agreement, and they were well supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.The Mutual Agreement is based on 11 agreed values, the foremost being a respect for the South Australian environment and concern for its future. In committing to the Mutual Agreement, Tim Kelly, Chief Executive, Conservation SA, recognises that the NRM Boards and NGOs will share knowledge and collaborate on funding opportunities to seek cross-regional outcomes.
The Agreement is open to all NGOs to sign and become a partner. The intention is for The Mutual Agreement and its associated templates to serve as a starting point for relationship building with other NRM stakeholders and other sectors beyond NRM in order to solve the environmental issues ahead of us.
The process of developing the Agreement has already resulted in deeper relationships and understanding between the participating parties and the intention is that it will offer similar benefits and real value to other community groups and NRM stakeholders in the State.
Bill Paterson (SAMDB NRM Board), Tim Kelly (CE) & Paul Leadbeter (EC)
For more information please contact Jill Woodlands, NRM Facilitator at Conservation SA on 08-8223-5155
