About the Southern Region
The Southern Tasmanian NRM Region covers 2.5 million hectares, including Hobart, its urban fringes and numerous towns and hamlets, and supports almost half of Tasmania’s population of 500,000. It spans the twelve urban and rural municipalities of Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Tasman and the state and federal electoral divisions of Franklin, Denison and roughly one third of Lyons.
Its people are diverse, covering a broad social and demographic spectrum, and employed in a wide variety of industries from aquaculture to government administration, renewable energy to specialist manufacturing. Industries such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism all rely on the region’s natural resources for current and future success, and contribute strongly to the region’s economy and identity.
Southern Tasmanians are energetic volunteers and there are over one hundred local community groups caring for bushland, coastal areas and cultural heritage in the region. There are also many active landholder groups working together to improve the management of natural resources.
Southern Tasmania is one of the most environmentally diverse areas anywhere in Australia and has an abundance of natural resources.
It features river systems and lakes in near pristine condition, rich flora and fauna, including many species endemic to Tasmania, a range of complex landscapes, internationally recognised natural icons and a long and intricate coastline looking out to countless offshore islands and stacks.
Encompassing the World Heritage Areas of the South-West Wilderness and Macquarie Island, four internationally recognised Ramsar-listed wetlands, seven national parks and twenty-two marine reserves, it includes a wide array of varying ecosystems with high terrestrial, estuarine and marine biodiversity.
Southern Tasmania’s wealth of natural resources underpins its economic, social and environmental well-being. Its richness of natural assets and diversity presents both opportunities and challenges.
NRM South is responsible for identifying the region’s priorities for natural resource management, preparing a regional strategy and facilitating its implementation.
