NRM knowledge online digital archive collection policy

Preamble

The Australian Government has invested in a wide range of activities under its natural resource management programs and initiatives including the Caring for our Country initiative, the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality, Natural Heritage Trust, National Landcare Program, and Defeating the Weeds Menace. These have variously produced a range of information products - including publications, images, audio-visual products, maps and databases - that are currently stored in a variety of widely dispersed locations.

The Australian Government Land and Coasts team has developed a digital archive to manage these information outputs to ensure that the information produced as a result of Australian Government investments is readily discoverable and publicly accessible over an extended period of time. The initial focus is on publications but the archive has the capability of storing a wide range of digital formats. The content of the repository will be publicly exposed as NRM knowledge online, an integrated knowledge management and discovery tool for information products related to primary production and natural resource management related research and management activities.

Overview

This policy has been created to give direction and focus for the addition of material, the development of which has been funded by the Australian government, into the NRM knowledge online digital archive. It is designed to be of assistance to both case managers and fund recipients (regional organisations, land managers, researchers and other funded persons or organisations). The NRM knowledge online digital archive provides both a reference and an archival service including full text retrieval. It has been developed to be compliant with the Open Archives Initiative interoperability standards (Open Archives Initiative) and to deliver on the Australian Government's commitment to providing open access to publicly funded information.

General Selection Criteria

These general selection criteria are applicable to the publication section of the digital archive. They will be modified as appropriate to apply to audio-visual content when we commence collecting and uploading this material.

Content

Items for inclusion in the NRM knowledge online digital archive are publicly available print and electronic format documents reporting on or derived from biodiversity conservation activities, land management activities, biophysical, social and economic research and policy activities and related initiatives supported by Australian Government natural resource management funding.

The following documents are eligible for inclusion in the NRM knowledge online digital archive:

where the publications have resulted from activities funded by Australian Government natural resource management initiatives.

Authority

Published, issued, or created and maintained by a reputable organisation or individual. Primary sources are organisations, companies and individuals who have received funding from Australian Government natural resource management initiatives and programs.

Geographic coverage

The Australian states and territories and the Australian Fishing Zone (The Australian fishing Zone (AFZ) and Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ)).

Exclusions

Material will not be included unless it has been produced as a result of funding from Australian Government natural resource management initiatives and programs.

Language: English

Date Range: Current and historical

Subject

Australian government investment in natural resource management activities has a strong focus on biodiversity conservation, sustainable landscape management and on biophysical, social and economic research and policy activities related to the ecologically sustainable management and use of natural ecosystems and managed primary production ecosystems in Australia.

Core subjects broadly include agriculture, fisheries and forestry management, horticulture, pastoral industries, conservation and management of native species and ecological communities, pest plant and animal management, land management, water quality management, coastal and estuarine management, inland waters, adaptation and management for climate change, and social and economic research as it relates to these management issues.