Work has commenced on the development of a landmark plan into how Canberra's natural environment will be managed for several decades to come.
Consultation began earlier this month on Landcare ACT's Natural Resource Management Plan, which will shape environmental policies in the territory for the next 20 years.
The latest iteration will be the third resource management plan developed with the help of the organisation, with the last being launched back in 2009.
Landcare ACT chief executive Karissa Preuss said the new plan would examine how Canberra's environment could be best looked after in future years.
"From a Landcare perspective, we have been calling for a plan like this for many years now, so this is a welcome move," she said.
"This will then provide the guidelines for what is invested into environmental management for the next 20 years, which is quite significant."
The new plan will aim to identify key threats to the environment, how the ACT's natural resources could be best protected, as well as how groups such as Landcare volunteers, farmers, researchers and the Indigenous communuity would best be supported.
Consultation is set to be carried out with stakeholders until the end of May.
A draft report is expected to be published in coming weeks, with people then able to comment on it before the development of the final report later in the year.
The ACT Natural Resource Management chief executive Frank Garofalow said although the plan would be in place for the next 20 years, it would be regularly reviewed.
"Our plan will have a 20-year timeframe but we will be looking to update it every five years or so," he said.
"That's because things change quickly, and you need to make sure whether the plan's current content is accurate and whether the situation needs to be changed."
Ms Preuss said several consultation sessions with Landcare volunteers would play a key role in the plan's development.
"Landcare volunteers contribute over $2 million annually towards the ACT's natural environment in volunteer hours, whether it be as urban landscapers, rural land managers, park carers, Aboriginal land managers or citizen scientists," she said.
"Input from these Landcarers with their extensive knowledge of local environmental issues will be invaluable."
