The value of investing in nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation of climate change is well-understood, and must be a key element of Victoria's adaptation planning and implementation.
Protection, management, and restoration of biodiversity on private, public, and Indigenous lands is a key land management opportunity to sequester carbon at scale, whilst simultaneously delivering climate change adaptation and resilience. These nature-based solutions must be a key element of Victoria’s adaptation planning and its implementation. As such, our key recommendations for the Plan are:
Recommendation 1: The Plan should explicitly recognise the importance of conservation (i.e., environmental protection, management and restoration) in the delivery of climate change adaptation. Further, it should recognise the alignment with targets in the Victorian Government’s Protecting Victoria's Environment – Biodiversity 2037 and its supporting technical supplement document .
Recommendation 2: The inclusion of nature-based solutions (page 15) should be bolstered and expanded, based on the multiple benefits this approach provides. ALCA would be happy to provide further detail on what could be included.
Recommendation 3: Existing entities and programs that are already delivering nature-based solutions for climate adaptation – via protection, management, and restoration of high-value conservation lands – should be supported and expanded as part of the implementation of the Plan.
More details are available in our full submission.
