A healthy environment for healthy Victorians (Chapter 5) by DELWP Biodiversity

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALTHY VICTORIANS

Victorians connect with nature in a myriad of ways. This section discusses the links between a healthy environment and a healthy society, and the importance of ensuring that all Victorians have opportunities to connect with nature.

RELEVANT GOAL

To encourage more Victorians to value nature. Victoria’s natural environment is deeply valued and enjoyed by many people. Use and appreciation of our splendid natural assets takes many forms: from quiet contemplation in open spaces to walking, camping, hiking, surfing, diving, bird watching – and a multitude of other outdoor sport and leisure activities too numerous to list here. Being connected with nature is beneficial not just for individuals, but ultimately for society and the environment itself. This is because people who spend time with nature are more likely to recognise its importance to their own wellbeing and to society, and therefore to behave in ways that help to protect and sustain the environment. Of course there is nothing remotely new about Victorians connecting with – and caring for – the environment. For thousands of years, Victoria’s Traditional Owner communities have relied on nature for their survival, prosperity and culture. They expertly managed their natural resources to ensure livelihoods were sustainable, and have retained important knowledge about how Victorian landscapes function under a range of conditions and pressures. As native title and traditional owner settlements are resolved and negotiated, the involvement of Traditional Owners in the management of the public land estate in particular is being restored to the benefit of all Victorians.

Why nature is good for us While many Victorians may not be connected to special or cultural landscapes in the way that Traditional Owners are, there is at least a growing community-wide appreciation of how important nature is for our health and wellbeing. The evidence is clear: nature is good for us. Just being outdoors enriches our minds and bodies, making us feel energised and alive. The Healthy Parks Healthy People approach, created by Parks Victoria more than 15 years ago, reflects this philosophy. Park experiences can be inspirational, relaxing, physically rewarding – or simply fun. Technology is also helping to connect people to nature through tools like interactive websites that cultivate curiosity about the natural world and GPS enabled devices that can help families explore new landscapes.

The Victorian Government recognises evidence of the correlation between Aboriginal health and access to Country. The Government has committed to the national Closing the Gap agenda (which seeks to address the disadvantages faced by Aboriginal Australians in life expectancy, health and education) and to recognise Traditional Owners’ rights on public land and waters. It is working to establish Traditional Owner Land Management Boards and joint management arrangements for a growing number of National Parks and Reserves. Aboriginal ranger teams are being created, giving young people the opportunity to implement joint management plans and work on Country.

The Victorian Government’s recent Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019 highlights the importance of creating liveable neighbourhoods to improve health and wellbeing, and recognises that interacting with nature contributes to a reduction in chronic disease risk factors, increases social inclusion and builds strong communities. Reported health outcomes include physiological benefits from improved fitness and psychological benefits from improved attentional capacity and stress reduction. The health benefits experienced from contact with nature have been linked to increased work productivity and faster recovery rates from surgery, fewer medications, and a strengthened immune system. In Victoria, The Royal Children’s Hospital meerkat enclosure and aquarium were established to deliver such benefits, creating happy experiences for recovering kids in a hospital environment that is otherwise devoid of nature. Additionally, there have been local trials in which GPs have prescribed “green scripts’’, which provide a weekly program of exercise in local parks for suitable candidates with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart conditions. These are just a couple of examples of how protecting and developing natural landscapes can be a powerful form of preventive medicine. In recent years, we have seen the emergence of concepts such as environmental equity and environmental justice. These concepts hold that all people should have equitable access to nature for sustainable enjoyment, recreation, cultural and spiritual reasons, and as a way to enhance their mental and physical health. The concepts have emerged against the background of research showing that the prevalence of ill health and mental disorders is lower among households that are closer to green spaces, especially among children and those with lower socioeconomic status. The Victorian Government has committed to refreshing and updating Plan Melbourne to reflect a long term vision for housing, increasing jobs and liveability, integrating public transport and infrastructure and addressing climate change. The Plan Melbourne Refresh report, released by the Victorian Government in October 2015, recognises that protection of our natural assets and open space networks will help connect people with nature and lead to a healthier community. It seeks to develop a network of accessible high-quality local open spaces, including through a metropolitan open space strategy. The current public open space planning provision for growth areas and urban infill sites aims to locate local parks within safe walking distance (400 metres) of at least 95 per cent of all dwellings. In assessing long term infrastructure needs, this standard could be broadened to support creation of additional “greening” in established urban areas.

These planning objectives, while influenced by a range of drivers for open space, will nonetheless contribute to more liveable communities and improved access to nature for many people. Another important aspect of environmental justice is the notion that people with disabilities should have easy access to the benefits of nature. Almost 1 in 5 Australians has a disability of some type (ABS Survey of Disability, Aging & Carers 2009), and their numbers are expected to increase considerably in the next 10-20 years due to the ageing population. Parks Victoria is undertaking work to overcome barriers to park access and participation for visitors with disabilities by: • The acquisition of all-terrain wheelchairs that could be used free of charge at selected parks by people with mobility limitations; • Working in partnership with Blind Sports Victoria to recruit and train community volunteers as park ‘companions’ for blind or vision-impaired visitors; and • Improving access information for 24 parks in and around Melbourne to assist visitors with disabilities to plan their visits. The initiatives undertaken by Parks Victoria and its partners has increased park visitation by people with disabilities and, by inference, significantly contributed to their health and wellbeing. Despite the known positive health effects of connecting with nature, there is strong evidence that increasing urbanisation is leading to a decrease in people accessing nature, which in turn has been linked to more ill health, obesity and mental illness. Urbanisation and cultural changes in life pursuits (particularly through advancements in technology for entertainment and transport purposes) also appear to have resulted in a breakdown of the human-nature link. Many of us are leading increasingly busy lives, resulting in less physical contact with nature than ever before. In addition, with over one-quarter of Victorians born overseas, our vast array of natural environmental experiences will be unfamiliar to many. By providing the right natural spaces and facilities in the right places, we can encourage all Victorians to spend time in nature. This, in turn, could bring people from multiple cultures into shared spaces.

Sometimes there is a need to bring elements of nature closer to where people are, and not just rely on good quality parks. There is potential to enrich the places where Victorians live, work and travel with natural features and native plants. We can also consider how to connect people better with nature through their current recreational pursuits and leisure time activities such as fishing, walking or four wheel driving. There are so many reasons, beyond those described above, why people cannot or choose not to, have daily contact with nature. To overcome this problem, we must be innovative and considered in our approaches to providing all Victorians with access to nature. It is not just about providing green spaces, but ensuring that these spaces are in the right places and that they cater for a range of uses and needs, including cultural and social needs. We need to tailor our approaches based on a better understanding of barriers, such as those faced by people of different socio-economic backgrounds and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities. An example of an improved approach is the Aboriginal Inclusion Framework, which aspires to actively strengthen the inclusion of Aboriginal culture in the workplace and support Aboriginal participation in the design and implementation of policies and programs which directly or indirectly affect people. Acknowledgment and respect of Aboriginal culture, values and practices is at the heart of successful engagement with Aboriginal people. The need to connect Victorians to nature has never been greater. The message is clear – connecting with nature enriches our lives, improves our health and wellbeing, and drives positive environmental attitudes and vales that promote a lifelong positive relationship with nature.

PRIORITY 1 Encourage all Victorians to connect with nature on a daily basis.

RELEVANT OBJECTIVE Increase the number of Victorians spending time enjoying nature.

CONSULTATION QUESTIONS 8, 9 & 10 What do ‘nature’ and ‘biodiversity’ mean to you? Are these important to you? Why? What does a ‘healthy’ environment look like for you? What do you think the barriers are that prevent some people experiencing nature and utilising parks and open spaces? What could you, your community or the government do to encourage and provide more opportunities for all Victorians to spend more time in nature, including disadvantaged parts of the community?

Making education a key to change An important way to connect people with nature and to increase their awareness of Victoria’s biodiversity is through education. Informal settings like zoos and natural conservation areas provide information on native species and how the actions of people can help to support (or destroy) habitats. This in turn can often lead to positive shifts in people’s behaviour as it affects the environment. ResourceSmart Schools is a Victorian Government initiative that is helping schools to embed sustainability in everything they do. This includes minimising waste, saving energy and water, promoting biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The biodiversity module helps schools to incorporate biodiversity, land management and ecology into the curriculum. It also encourages schools to use school land to develop habitat (for example frog bogs), establish food gardens and green spaces, and to work on community projects. By doing so, schools are helping students to learn about sustainability and climate change and take practical action to live more sustainably. This knowledge and expertise can then be shared with the broader school community. Schools with a strong emphasis on sustainability programs report that students have a heightened sense of belonging and greater understanding of how people can affect environmental change. Many schools also partner with local organisations to participate in practical projects such as tree planting, weed removal and wildlife conservation. Spending time playing and learning in nature provides children with developmental benefits including reduced stress and mental calming, and contributes to engagement and enthusiasm in all areas of study. Playing in nature – particularly unstructured, imaginative, exploratory play – is increasingly recognised as an essential component of child development. Bush Kinders are becoming increasingly popular, allowing children to play outdoors without classroom tools or props to develop their imagination and appreciate what nature has provided. There are currently 16 Bush Kinders operating in Victorian parks.

Engaging children with nature increases the likelihood that as adults they will be more actively concerned about biodiversity conservation for future generations. Conversely, a lack of connection and/or appreciation for nature can contribute to the destruction and vandalism of natural environments by children and teenagers.

Formal and informal education opportunities provide important platforms to foster connections with nature that can lead to actions that support biodiversity. Developments in interactive technology have opened up the possibility of new and innovative ways of connecting people with nature.

As an important way to help strengthen peoples’ connection to and understanding of Country, Victoria’s Traditional Owner groups regularly perform ‘welcomes to Country’ and provide cultural awareness training to a broad cross-section of the community. These groups, along with a range of other Aboriginal organisations, also regularly share their traditional knowledge of our living cultural land and seascapes through school programs, cultural centres, festivals and performances such as Tanderrum.

PRIORITY 2 Raise the awareness of all Victorians about our State’s natural environment and its cultural and economic importance.

RELEVANT OBJECTIVE Increase the number of Victorians spending time enjoying nature. Increase the number of Victorians acting to protect nature (e.g. volunteering, making everyday choices).

CONSULTATION QUESTION 11 How can we raise awareness of biodiversity across the community?

Victorians acting for nature Getting involved in protecting our natural heritage is easy, and many Victorians already do so. State and local governments invest in environmental programs, such as the research work of the Arthur Rylah Institute, Zoos Victoria’s “Fighting Extinction” program, and local government revegetation and bushland restoration projects. Private landowners set aside land for conservation, via conservation covenants or management agreements, and manage it to enhance biodiversity values. Others contribute as members of Committees of Management or Conservation Management Networks. Members of the wider community contributes through making simple pro-environment decisions in their daily lives, supporting government policies for a better environment, and by volunteering for local environmental groups. Making simple decisions in our daily lives can have lasting positive outcomes for the environment. Responsible disposal of litter, as encouraged by Zoos Victoria’s Seal the Loop campaign, protects wildlife from being harmed by plastic waste, with the additional benefits of making our beaches and waterways cleaner and more attractive and increasing plastic recycling. Responsible pet ownership – such as registering, de-sexing and keeping them indoors at night – also makes an important contribution, helping to reduce the number of attacks on native animals. In addition to making simple pro-environment decisions, many Victorians contribute time and energy to the cause by participating in local volunteer organisations such as ‘Friends of’, Coastcare or Landcare groups or participating in Land for Wildlife. These volunteer groups possess valuable local knowledge, and deliver on-the-ground projects that address local and state conservation priorities. In doing so, they make a significant contribution to the protection of Victoria’s environment and, of course, to their own mental and physical wellbeing by being actively engaged with the environment and their local communities. These networks also build resilience among communities during times of crisis such as droughts, bushfires and floods.

Some Victorians contribute in another way by adding to society’s accumulation of scientific knowledge – a practice sometimes referred to as citizen science. The ever-growing use of technology, such as mobile phone applications that facilitate the collection of environmental observations by individuals, is helping to facilitate this phenomenon. Victorians participating in citizen science are not only helping to improve outcomes for our natural environment, but are spending priceless time engaging with nature while doing so. The role of citizen science is further explored in Chapter 8, Better, smarter management of our biodiversity. Participation of Traditional Owners in natural resource management is not only important to enable connection to Country, but also provides an opportunity for Traditional Owners to apply their knowledge and skills in managing and conserving Victoria’s natural environment, and enables others to learn from them. Encouraging and empowering more Victorians to act in ways that benefit our natural environment will require more than just showing people where and how they can participate. It will involve developing a better understanding of what Victorians value, why they value it, and the barriers that prevent them from taking action. This will assist greatly in the development of a dedicated campaign that inspires practical action by a large number and cross-section of Victorians.

PRIORITY 3 Encourage all Victorians to take positive personal action to protect and preserve our natural environment.

RELEVANT OBJECTIVE Increase the number of Victorians acting to protect nature (e.g. volunteering, making everyday choices).

CASE STUDY

Friends of Fabbro Fields Our initial motivation for convening a ‘Friends of’ group was to get involved in the local community and do our bit for the environment. When we discovered a new environmental reserve was planned for our local area, we knew the time was upon us and we were excited to get involved. Commencing work in 2012, the Friends of Fabbro Fields started with the humble (yet considerable) task of removing rubbish from the five hectare parcel of land. Now, having removed countless bags of weeds and installed thousands of local native plants, we’ve made immense improvements to ecological values throughout the reserve. Dozens of passionate people have attended our working bees and we’ve made lasting connections with like-minded people in our neighbourhood. With assistance from Nillumbik Shire Council, grant funding from DELWP and Melbourne Water, and hundreds of volunteer hours, we are making great progress with our restoration efforts.

We have enhanced vegetation values on the reserve and have improved connectivity of habitat along the Diamond Creek corridor. In so doing, we hope the aesthetic improvement to the site will inspire others to admire local plants and actively engage in environmental volunteering. With continued regard for state priorities and guidance from the local council, we hope to restore the best example of riparian forest on the Diamond Creek and foster community admiration for our local environment. Jeremy Neal and Poppy Lukav Friends of Fabbro Fields Eltham