Introduction

During preparation of this report, the state of the environment became a major talking point. This growing interest in environmental issues is now also accompanied by the concerns of the Victorian community over quality of life. The Commissioner recognises that it is the natural environment that underpins our society and its economy. For this reason this report presents environmental information in the context of society and the economy.

The introduction describes the structure and content of the report and introduces some key concepts, such as ecosystem services. It describes the report’s purpose, as detailed in the Framework approved by the Minister in 2005. Information is provided on how the environment is forever changing, and about our growing understanding of environmental pressures. Some of the key methods used to manage the environment are explained and an overview of roles and the responsibilities of the various sectors in society is outlined.

Part 1 - Introduction to the SoE Report (PDF - 456 KB)