Criteria and methods for evaluating regional plans in the tropical savannas

Stage one of a project to develop and implement a plan evaluation framework to assess the extent to which existing regional plans in Australia's tropical savannas could contribute to sustainable use and healthy savanna landscapes identified a range of criteria that define the scope and substantive content of plans. In particular, stage one reviewed threatening processes and core issues influencing savanna landscape health including socio-economic, institutional and biophysical factors to develop regional plan evaluation criteria. Evaluation protocols and methods for applying the criteria were also developed. Twenty four draft criteria were pilot tested on regional plans in the Fitzroy, Cape York and Northern Gulf regions of Queensland. Stage two will apply the evaluation framework to the Fitzroy, Burdekin, Desert Upland, Cape York, Northern Gulf, Southern Gulf and Lake Eyre Basin Qld, Darwin, Kakadu, Victoria River and Sturt Plateau NT, and the Kimberley WA.