Analysis of policies, institutions and stakeholders as a tool in integrated assessment of wetlands in Northern Australia : a case study of Daly River

P. Shrestha
Wageningen University, April 2005
The present research explores the influence of institutions, particularly the policies, on the functions provided by wetlands by taking examples of the wetlands in Daly River and Mary River Catchments of the Northern Territory of Australia. It was observed that the wetlands in the research areas were subjected to multiple indirect policies and legislations, which varied across the modes of land use. The policies were categorised into primary and secondary policies with former being directly associated with a given function of wetland and the latter indirectly associated. The range of policies applicable to a given function of the wetland affected it in both positive and negative ways. Positive influence was when the policies promoted the use of a function, which could be by different provisions such as issuing of licenses, granting permits and prescribing mechanisms to conduct the activities. The negative influence existed when various rights to different policies were applicable to the same function and the inconsistencies between them suppressed or discouraged to proceed its use, characterised by the need of additional time, additional cost and extra procedures applicable to conduct the activity.