Landcare:a community-based approach to

sustainable development

Bruce LloydChairman

Australian Landcare Council

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Overview - Australia• the driest populated continent - ~75%

rangelands - “The Outback”

• ancient landscapes, harsh climate, low nutrient soils

• flora and fauna adapted to these conditions over millennia

• in 2001, supporting 20 million people

• enjoying a high standard of living

• with serious land and water degradation

Overview - Agriculture

•widespread land clearing since settlement

• broadacre grazing and cropping industries

• increased production - introduced crops and pastures - irrigation horticulture / dairy

• agriculture 24% of total export

• plus value-added processed food / beverages

exports - 10%

• 60% of private land farmed / grazed

• 70% of water diverted for agricultural use

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Irrigated cropping

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Overview - Biophysical

• great biodiversity - particularly birds

• ecosystem - still time to save many ecosystems as distinct from single species

• saline geology

• contradiction - dry continent, but land threatened by rising saline water tables

• caused by replacing deep-rooted native perennial trees and grasses with annual crops and pastures

• salinity 5.7m ha - could grow to 17m ha by 2050

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Dryland Salinity

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Overview - Government• Federal system of government for 100 years• State Governments - constitutional

responsibility for land, water and environmental management

• technical advice for farming and grazing industries

• States emphasised engineering and regulatory solutions to land and water problems

• State Governments reduced these services in 1970’s and 1980’s

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Background to Landcare• ‘community landcare’ movement emerged

in the 1980s - a response to reduction of State interest and concern at local level

• some State Governments responded positively

• 1989 - joint conservation and farmers’ proposal to Federal Government

• National Landcare Program began 1989• The 1990’s became the Decade of Landcare

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Key National Organisations• Federal Government established:

– Australian Landcare Council - policy advice to Ministers - majority community landcare

– Landcare Australia Limited - corporate sponsorship, marketing and publicity

– National Landcare Facilitator - linkage between landcare groups and Government

• States have similar structure

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Landcare in Australia:• boost for community landcare - catalyst for

change in awareness and action

• 4,500 voluntary groups

• rural and urban

• working on environmental problems

• restoring and enhancing natural resources

• community groups working in partnership with government

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Features of Landcare• supported by

– Federal and State governments

– bipartisan - major political parties

– farmers and conservationists

– NGO’s, corporate sector and the community

• based on formal partnerships

• role for schools

• State and regional support structures

• government agencies - Agriculture and Environment

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Farmers’ support• 38% are members of landcare groups

• 60% learned about causes of land degradation from landcare

• 70% learned how to treat or avoid degradation from landcare

• 64% learned benefits of good management of natural resources

• landcare members higher uptake of sustainable practices

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Natural Heritage Trust• Federal Government dramatically increased

and broadened program• 6 year commitment 1997-2002 - $1.5 b over

6 years in 20 programs• a further commitment 2002-2007 - $1 b over

5 years • previously separate programs - now more

integrated program• formal partnership between Federal

Government and each State Government • additional National Action Plan for Salinity

and Water Quality 2001 $1.4b over 7 years

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Field day

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Process - Projects• some groups apply for project assistance

• about one third successful

• selected by panels dominated by community landcare

• States and landcare groups - each match Federal dollars

• financial accountability

• accountability for physical outcomes - more difficult

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Additional landcare features• to sustain volunteers - communications and

recognition and awards system

• coordinator and facilitator positions - critical role

• integrated larger catchment management /regional framework

• social benefits in rural areas with declining population

• recently networks of landcare groups to match catchment scale

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Landcare planting

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Related Programs 1• Property Management Planning - training

for farmers in financial and environment management for farms

• tax incentives to encourage on-farm conservation practices and philanthropy

• Indigenous Lands Corporation - purchase of properties for Indigenous communities

• special team of Indigenous Land Management Facilitators

• capacity building / training programs

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Related Programs 2• implementing / developing Environment

Management Systems (EMS)

• climate change - Greenhouse Challenge to encourage agricultural sector to reduce emissions positively and voluntarily

• National Land and Water Resources Audit - first comprehensive study of the nations soils and water - benchmark for future

• “Watch” programs, involving community and schools - Waterwatch and Saltwatch

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International Interest• the landcare model has attracted

international recognition

• New Zealand, South Africa, Philippines

• many other countries visiting and looking

• International Landcare Clearinghouse– newsletter, website, links

• Australian agencies starting to use landcare approach in international aid

• potential to ‘export’ the landcare ethic but implementation will vary

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Problems• long-term problem / short term programs

• underpinning science still evolving

• maintaining farmer & volunteer commitment

• role and scale of support positions

• genuine partnership - top down will reduce community support

• financial viability problems for many farmers - restricts improved on-farm practices

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Lessons from the Decade of Landcare

• growth in public awareness (82% of Australians are aware of and support landcare)

• information exchange and mutual learning• empowering local communities to identify

problems, opportunities and undertake activities• changed attitudes and practice of farmers• still-evolving recognition of importance of

biodiversity • need for more private sector investment• importance of communications with and

between governments and groups