Landcare Groups

Landcare is the essential ingredient in the successful management of our natural resource base both now and into the twenty-first century. The first official Landcare group to form in Australia was the Winjallok Landcare group, near St Arnaud in Victoria, on 25 November 1986.

Despite the fact that the first official Landcare group formed in 1986, many coordinators recognise that farmers have been doing Landcare type work for a much longer time. A 1996 survey reveals that 'Landcare-type' groups first appeared in the broad-acre area of the Wimmera and slowly spread eastward across the state.

In 1996, Victoria had 862 Landcare or Landcare-like groups supported by the former Department of Natural Resources and Environment. There were also 268 Coastcare groups, 20 regional Landcare networks, ten farm forestry networks and 20 Salinity Management Plan implementation groups.

The strong Landcare presence in rural and regional Victoria is encouraging diverse community activities addressing environmental, economic and social issues. Victoria now has nearly 1 000 Landcare groups with approximately one coordinator/facilitator for every 10 groups. Fifty-nine Landcare networks and 10 Regional Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) continue to ensure that Landcare remains a regional community-based program.

The strategic direction of Landcare in Victoria continues to be overseen by the Victorian Catchment Management Council (VCMC), the peak advisory body on land and water management issues, and is to be examined and shaped for the future, through the newly appointed Second Generation Landcare Task Force.

Landcare groups and networks continue to provide the cornerstone of the government-community partnership for natural resource management.

Further information can be found on the Landcare Australia website (external link)

Second Generation Landcare Taskforce

The Second Generation Landcare Taskforce was appointed in June 2000 to assist in shaping Landcare to best meet long-term environmental, social and economic needs of rural, regional and urban Victorians.

The Taskforce will undertake consultation with Landcare groups and other stakeholders and report on policy and major directions required to ensure Landcare continues to grow as a movement and remains a fundamental element of natural resource management in Victoria.

Diagram: Average Size of Landcare-type Groups, 1996

Average Size of Landcare-type Groups, 1996

Diagram: Number, & proportion of Victorian total, of Landcare-type Groups, 1996

Number, & proportion of Victorian total,
of Landcare-type Groups, 1996

Diagram: Full Time and Part Time Farmers in Landcare-type Groups, 1996

Full Time and Part Time Farmers in Landcare-type Groups, 1996

International Landcare Conference

The International Landcare 2000 Conference, was held in Melbourne on 3-5 March 2000. Over 1 200 delegates attended the conference from 22 countries - representing government, business and industry, conservation, non-government organisations (NGOs), research institutions and community groups.

Key issues identified at the conference included:

the need to define the roles and responsibilities of government (at all levels) and clarifying the government-community partnership resulting in long term commitment.
the importance of continuing processes that are explicit in building social capital within communities to address the issues of leadership, volunteerism and burnout within community groups.
establishing appropriate mechanisms to value natural capital for more positive investment in natural resource management that is inclusive of biodiversity, ecological, aesthetic and cultural heritage needs.
instituting government support for long-term provision of facilitators, coordinators and technical support at local and regional levels.
growing partnerships between urban and rural communities as well as industry and government to support the process of redefining rural and regional Australia.

Second Generation Landcare Grants Program

In November 1999, the Government launched its Second Generation Landcare Initiative. The Initiative was a response to community concerns of high administrative loads on Landcare groups and the need to address more than single issue natural resource management problems. To enhance integrated outcomes, previous sources of community funding were consolidated.

The Second Generation Landcare Grants program supports an integrated approach to land and water management, including native vegetation retention and revegetation as well as weed and rabbit control. Landcare groups have greater flexibility to seek support for larger, longer-term projects under this program. The grants also support facilitators to provide project management and co-ordination of on-ground works. Regional Assessment Panels gave projects that generate multiple benefits a high priority.

Junior Landcare Grants Initiative

The Victorian Government’s Junior Landcare Initiative ran again in 1999/2000 and more than 200 applications were received with $250 000 to be distributed. Applications were received from primary and secondary schools through to Scout and Junior Landcare groups. Applications covered a broad range of issues, including propagation houses, water monitoring, tree planting, weed eradication and an internet site.

CMA appointments

New appointments to Catchment Management Authority Boards were announced in June 2000. The regional CMAs provide strategic leadership for land and water management. There are 10 CMAs across the State who coordinate all aspects of natural resource management at the catchment level. The CMAs are a vital regional link for Landcare networks and groups.

Source: Adapted from Landcare Australia (2000)

Further information

More information about landcare and other landholder groups in Victoria can be found at Landcare while regional information may be obtained from each Catchment Management Authority.

References:

Landcare Australia (2000). Annual Report, Landcare Australia Ltd.
Minister for Environment and Conservation (2000). Statewide draft media release: Second Generation Landcare Grants, July.

Related Links

Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine
The Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine (external link) online site of DSE provides copies of all these magazines dating back to 1996.

Landcare in Australia - A summary of the development of the landcare movement in Australia
The booklet Landcare in Australia - A summary of the development of the landcare movement in Australia (external link) is available for download from the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

Community landcare, the national landcare program and the landcare movement: the social dimensions of landcare
The report: Community landcare, the national landcare program and the landcare movement: the social dimensions of landcare (October 2000) (external link) is available for download from the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website. This report provides the first real analysis of the social aspects of landcare and the key role it plays in changing attitudes and raising awareness of the importance of managing Australia's natural resources sustainably.

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