The Alps to Atherton (A2A) initiative is a bold step in strengthening the resilience of Australia's natural assets to climate change and threatening processes in a mega-region encompassing globally significant biodiversity and catchments critical to eastern Australia's water supplies. It provides a vision for people, communities, agencies and governments using the best available science, practical community knowledge and stewardship to conserve and resolve connections between landscapes, ecosystems and people for more than 2,800 km along Australia's Great Eastern Ranges.

These lands include many unfragmented and interconnected habitats that provide clean water and fresh air derived from intact natural ecosystems, vital for the well being of all Australians. A2A also contains spirtual places and "Country" that include song lines, ancient traditional pathways, trade routes, resources and relics that are highly significant for many Aboriginal people. A2A also contains rich tapestry of post-settlement cultural heritage values and sites and landscapes that are significant to all Australians and are an important part of the "Australian story".

Government cannot achieve the A2A vision alone. Considerable enthusiasm, expertise and action are available in a wide range of organisations, including agencies, catchment management authories, local government, community and private organisations. There are many synergies between the objectives and operations of these organisations and the A2A Initiative.

This Initiative seeks to acknowledge and engage these organisations in partnerships for the delivery of the program and to allow these organisations to retain ownership. In doing so, it is recognised that the activities of these organisations are apart of other programs and partnerships that have already been established and are already protecting, covenanting, restopring, studying, facilitating, planning and educating. The A2A initiative provides a significant new opportunity for local and regional programs to retain their integrity and gain additional benefit in being identified as contributing to achieving a conservation corridor outcomes at the continental scale. It will also allow these programs in future to better argue for funds and particpants if they are linked to this visionary project.