Nature NSW Autumn 2026

Gary Dunnett, Chief Executive Officer, National Parks Association of NSW

The 12 months leading up to the March 2027 state election is that critical part of the political cycle- the year when politicians and political parties have no option but to listen to community expectations of the next government.  It is an exciting time for conservation, the chance to push forward our proposals for the next generation of National Parks, Nature Reserves and Marine Protected Areas.  A fast-disappearing chance to permanently protect the landscapes and seascapes that support our fauna, flora and ecosystems.  

A bit of a busy time.  One during which many of the conversations across NPA will focus on conservation issues. 

All of which is incredibly important, it just isn’t the only arena where our needs for the coming year are pressing.  This is also the year when NPA really needs to come to grips with a simple question, how can we become the organisation of choice for the next generations of nature lovers and advocates?  What can we do to ensure that the passion our future members feel for parks and nature will find a welcome home in NPA?  

It is a question that drives the work of the NPA ‘Future Directions’ team.  They began by asking what motivates people to join NPA, what experiences, services and opportunities do we expect to gain from membership, and how can we reverse the long-term decline in membership?  In other words, what changes might help secure the future of an organisation that has been so important to so many, and played such an important role in shaping the NSW network of protected areas.  

The moment I found most enlightening amongst all the Future Directions deliberations was when people shared their earliest experiences in nature.  In just about every case those experiences involved playing in the bush at the edge of a city or town.  It wasn’t about travelling to somewhere special, but rather the fact that a wonderland of bushland, creeks, rock shelves or coastline was within easy walking distance of home.  Memories built on the interface between suburb and scrub.  

It really brought to mind my own family’s experience, with the first homes of each generation tracking the edge of urban sprawl, from Annandale to Peakhurst, Jannali then Loftus.  Generations of kids with their own world just past the front door.  

The question we need to ask is whether that experience of living at the interface with nature will even be an option for the coming generations.  Can we rely upon connection and appreciation of nature drawing from such childhood experiences, and what is our role in safeguarding those opportunities.  In short, what can NPA do to ensure that the next generations enjoy the experiences that shaped our commitment to nature?  

It’s no small challenge.  Part of the answer is to continue to do what we do, to drive the public debate about permanently protecting natural places large and small.  But it is also about getting serious about renewing what NPA offers to our members.  That means making sure our current activities program offers the bushwalking and nature based experiences that members want, and thinking about how they might be tweaked or supplemented to appeal to a broader audience.  It means making sure that those with a passion for the citizen science space find a place to contribute to conservation outcomes.  It means ensuring that NPA’s conservation committees and campaigns are welcoming, and offer the chance to make a genuine difference.  And most importantly, it means building an NPA that continues to be a proud part of our members’ lives not just for a year or two, but for decades.

Yep, a year with a bit to do!

In this edition