Executive Summary:This report summarises knowledge of sustainability, indicators, and particularly sustainability indicator frameworks.This knowledge delivers awareness of the tools available for the development of the Northern Australia Irrigation Futures (NAIF) Sustainability Framework.A possible structure for the NAIF Sustainability Framework is proposed and outline.It is based on three major parts:1.Sustainability indicators; 2. Knowledge of function of irrigation systems; and 3. Management and planning guidelines.Sustainability and sustainability indicators are introduced and discussed.To assess the sustainability of an irrigation system, sustainability indicators (Sls) must have the following desirable functions:Gauge sustainabiltiy of system elements (social, cultural, economic, environmental, institutional); Gauge sustainbility of system attributes (e.g. groundwater, crops) and processes (e.g. deep drainabe, cultivation ) that make system elements; and Gauge sustainability at a range of spatial scales (field, farm, district, scheme, and catchment).How sustainability indicators are structured and related in a framework determines the possible uses of a sustainability indicator framework.We propose criteria to analyse sustainability indicator frameworks:Indentifies system attributes and distinguishes theme from sustainability indicators; Indentifies system processes and distinguishes them from sustainability indicators; Identifies sustainability indicators that gauge system processes and different aspects of each attribute; Structures sustainability indicators according to spatial scales; Identifies system capcity by proposing threshold values for system attribute and process sustainbility indicators; and Illustrates balance between states of sustainbility indicators.Nine natural resource sustainability indicator frameworks are analysed.Each sustainability indicator framework is described, its use explained, and tested againast the criteria listed above.Benefits and shortcomings of sustainability indicator frameworks are presented.Eight key criteria for assessing the usefulness of sustainability indicators frameworks are developed:1.Incorporates or allows the incorporation of threshold values; 2.Illustrates balance between states of sustainability indicators; 3.Identifies specific relationships between sustainability indicators; 4.Uses hierarchy to promote systemic thinking and assist in sustainability indicator selection; 5.Can be used to review systems at a range of spatial scales; 6.Facilitates participatory research; 7.Integrates scientific and experiential knowledge; and 8.Simulates and tests planning and management scenarios.Beyesian Belief Networks satisfy seven of the eight assessment criteria.A Bayesian Belief Network is a coneptual representation of a system that links indicators with arrows that represent the flow of cause and effect.The AMOEBA satisfies six of the eight assessment criteria.The AMOEBA is a sustainability presentation tool that displays sustainability indicators around a sustainbility zone 'ring.'We recommend adoption of the AMOEBA SI Framework and Bayesian Belief Networks to help pregress development of the NAIF Sustainaiblity Framework.The AMOEBA SI Framework to accomplish the follwing:facilitation of sustainaiblity indicator development; facility of threshold setting; presentation of sustainabiltiy assessments; and faciltation of stakeholders' understandings of sustainability.The Bayesian Belief Networks for simulating and testing planning and management scenarios.
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