People-Nature Relations in the ACT: A report on the present and future of monitoring and management.

People–nature relations (hereafter PNRs) describe the diverse ways individuals and communities imagine, value and interact with the rest of the natural world. In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), these relationships are shaped by the specifics of place: Canberra, the ‘Bush Capital’, reflects a unique blend of urban design and living, deep cultural connections to Ngunnawal Country stretch back thousands of years, and a diverse set of geological and ecological features have evolved over millions of years. The ACT is an exceptional setting for exploring and strengthening PNRs, with over half of the Territory’s land designated as reserves and national parks, and nature integrated into the city’s fabric and imagination. This report reflects on the present and future of monitoring and management to enhance PNRs in the ACT. It highlights the importance of understanding PNRs not only for biodiversity and climate resilience but also for community wellbeing and inclusive governance. There is great potential to extend understandings of how people engage with nature in the ACT - through recreation, cultural practices, volunteering, and everyday experiences – and therefore a need for more attention to administrative and research data about PNRs and its use to inform planning instruments, such as the ACT Urban Design Guide, further iterations of the Territory Plan and the ACT Wellbeing Framework.