Abstract

This paper draws on action research and insights captured from undertaking capacity evaluations of the South Australian Arid Lands (SAAL) Natural Resource Management Board (NRM Board) and regional communities throughout South Australia’s Arid Lands. The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board (The Board) is the peak strategic body with the duty of providing leadership and direction in the sustainable management of issues relating to soil, water, pest plants and animals in the Arid Lands region within South Australia. The Board contracted Rural Solutions SA ( a commercial arm of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia) to assess and report on the capacity of the various sub-regional groups to undertake natural resource management (NRM) projects and to make recommendations around appropriate capacity building activities required for the delivery of NRM programs in the SAAL region. Government bodies and leading institutions for natural resource management often fail to recognize the importance of engagement, governance and the knowledge and expertise of communities which if not considered can set the scene for failure. It is the purpose of this paper to provide an insight into the often-difficult interplay between institutions and community groups as they attempt to address natural resource management at the local and regional level.