Authored by NRM South, Cradle Coast NRM and NRM North, 7 July 2025
Tasmania’s natural landscapes are the foundation of our farming, our economy, and our way of life. Healthy soils, clean water, and resilient landscapes are essential for every Tasmanian farmer and rural community. For more 23 years, Tasmania’s three NRM (Natural Resource Management) organisations – NRM South, NRM North, and Cradle Coast NRM – have worked side-by-side with farmers, land managers, and local communities to deliver practical, science-backed projects that keep our land productive and our businesses strong.
Without continued support, Tasmania risks losing the local knowledge, partnerships, and funding leverage that NRM delivers to our regions.
NRM projects directly support agriculture by improving soil health, water quality, and biosecurity, the essentials for productive farming. Farmers, industry, Aboriginal groups, and scientists all work together through NRM to find local solutions that deliver real results on the ground.
Over the past five years the NRM regions have brought in $65 million in direct funding for regional Tasmania. That’s $10 secured for every $1 of core funding from the State Government. This investment has created local jobs, supported hundreds of landholders, and delivered measurable benefits for farms, public assets, and the environment.
As Tasmania heads into an election, we call on all parties and candidates to commit to maintaining State Government investment for regional NRM at a minimum of current levels, with indexation. This is not just an environmental issue; it’s about supporting the backbone of Tasmania’s economy - our farmers, and rural communities.
As climate and biosecurity threats grow, now is the time to strengthen, not weaken, our support for the systems that keep our land productive and our communities safe.
Investing in NRM is investing in food security, disaster resilience, rural jobs, and the long-term health of our land. It’s not a choice between the environment and the economy; a healthy environment is the foundation of strong, profitable farming and thriving regional communities.
We urge all decision-makers to back Tasmania’s farmers and regions by securing strong, stable NRM funding for the future.