About Us
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists is an independent group of Australian scientists concerned with advancing solutions to secure the long term health of Australia’s land, water and biodiversity.
Coming together in November 2002, the Wentworth Group is committed to using our combined experience, scientific expertise and shared values to work with others to improve the long term management and conservation of the Australian landscape.
Our Role
The Wentworth Group has three core tasks:
- Driving innovation in the management of Australia’s land, water and marine resources;
- Engage business, community and political leaders in a dialogue to find and implement solutions to the challenge of environmental stewardship facing the future of Australian society.
- Building capacity by mentoring and supporting young natural scientists and resource economists to develop their skills and understanding of public policy;
Our achievements
In November 2002, we released a statement, Blueprint for a Living Continent, which sets out what we believe are the key changes that need to be made now, to deliver a sustainable future for our continent and its people. To live in harmony with the environment, there is a need to:
- Clarify water property rights and the obligations associated with those rights to give farmers some certainty and to enable water to be recovered for the environment.
- Restore environmental flows to stressed rivers, such as the River Murray and its tributaries.
- Immediately end broadscale landclearing of remnant native vegetation and assist rural communities with adjustment. This provides fundamental benefits to water quality, prevention of salinity, prevention of soil loss and conservation of biodiversity.
- Pay farmers for environmental services (clean water, fresh air, healthy soils). Where we expect farmers to maintain land in a certain way that is above their duty of care, we should pay them to provide those services on behalf of the rest of Australia.
- Incorporate into the cost of food, fibre and water the hidden subsidies currently borne by the environment, to assist farmers to farm sustainably and profitably in this country.
The Wentworth Group’s A New Model for Landscape Conservation provided a management model for native vegetation in NSW, which was adopted by the Carr Government as policy in 2003.
In 2004, the Wentworth Group released its third blueprint, Blueprint for a National Water Plan. It outlines solutions for the protection and restoration of fresh water ecosystems, water conservation and the restoration of environmental flows to catchments such as the Murray Darling Basin. The Blueprint contributed to the National Water Initiative; a historic agreement by the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers, resulting in the establishment of the National Water Commission and a $2 billion commitment from the Australian Government.
Principal Sponsor
The Wentworth Group’s principal sponsor is the Purves Environmental Fund. To enquire about opportunities to sponsor the Wentworth Group, please contact Fiona McKenzie (02) 8667 3036.