National estuarine environmental condition assessment framework round table report (2007) 2008-07-17T04:28:14Z 2008-09-04T05:37:22Z National estuarine environmental condition assessment framework round table report (2007) Helen Arundel, Richard Mount Helen Arundel, Richard Mount <p>The round table was an opportunity to explore the potential for developing a national estuarine assessment framework based on existing initiatives.<br /> Specifically the objectives of the NEECAF workshop were to:</p> <ul> <li>Identify the structure and candidate core components for a viable NEECAF</li> <li>Identify what needs to be done to produce and implement a NEECAF</li> </ul> <p>To achieve these objectives, the roundtable was designed to provide a structured opportunity to:</p> <ul> <li>Clarify the need, purpose, scope and audience of a NEECAF</li> <li>Briefly review estuarine assessment frameworks/programs being used or developed at a state or regional level</li> <li>Clarify and seek agreement on definitions and terms used in the framework</li> <li>Assess and modify a proposed outline for a NEECAF that has been synthesised from the existing frameworks. By doing so,</li> <li>Identify core components required for an NEECAF.</li> <li>Identify content and methods of core components</li> <li>Discuss the necessary next steps for developing and implementing a NEECAF</li> </ul> <p>The results of the roundtable will:</p> <ul> <li>Provide input to a scoping report which will recommend to the Audit a suitable assessment framework and mechanisms for conducting the national estuarine (and coast and marine) assessment (Scoping report due April 2008)</li> <li>Provide the foundation for a national workshop on NRM ECM report carding (~ March 2008)</li> </ul> PN21270 PN21270 DUV004733