Environmental Management in a New Zealand Assignment

Environmental Management in a New Zealand - Assignment Example Similarly the global concerns found expression in the various discussions held on the international platform that have led to the creation of many treaties and agreements that have significantly altered and in a way improved our laws and policies regarding the environment. The combined efforts of the environmental agencies, the native inhabitants, the business houses and the government have been instrumental in bringing about the positive changes that one can see today in New Zealand’s natural environment. The well-thought-out plan of action and systematic procedure followed by the country to improve its environment has set an ideal example for the rest of the world. The environmental management system in New Zealand underwent extensive reformation during the period from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. New Zealand’s approach to handling the environmental issues, prior to the 1990s, was highly fragmented and disorganized. It was only in the 1940s that the awareness of environmental issues began to be a part of the country’s national consciousness, leading to passing of legislations, setting up of advisory bodies, and allocation of management duties to the government, local agencies, committees and councils. The nation’s first specimen of a systematic environment management measure was the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act passed in the year 1941. The act laid down the specifications for setting up of local catchment boards to regulate the conservation of water and soil across various towns and villages. This stance of using topographical boundaries as a tool for conserving water was something totally novel and unhea rd of at that point of time. But soon it became very popular with other nations who looked forward to execute it as an inexpensive yet effective method. To supervise the water conservation activities under this program, a national