Landcare Australia’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015. This agenda provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

Through supporting communities, helping build resilience in food and farming systems, managing major ecological restoration projects and educating about environmental values, Landcare Australia’s work contributes towards many of the SDGs.

Likewise, the more than 6,000 community groups and organisations that make up the landcare community contribute to the SDGs in their everyday work. Activities including educational workshops, revegetation and weed control, sustainable agriculture projects, and marine debris collection, tie in with this global call-to-action which includes targets related to tackling climate change, responsible consumption and production, and preserving our oceans and forests.

In 2020/2021, Landcare Australia’s work contributed to 11 of the 17 SDGs, as outlined below. Activities undertaken across Junior Landcare, corporate partner-funded Landcare projects, the Landcare Farming Program, and all other projects and programs, respond to these global targets and indicators for each overarching goal.

ZERO HUNGER

• A national benchmark program was undertaken as part of the Landcare Farming Program, a joint program with the National Landcare Network. This will assist in a better understanding of the environmental footprint of the Australian primary producers.
• 505,590 hectares of farmland was enhanced and 24 sustainable agriculture projects funded.

Contributed to target 2.4

QUALITY EDUCATION

• 229,935 students were involved in Junior Landcare projects, increasing environmental awareness and knowledge through immersive outdoor education experiences.
• There were 3,760 views of 13 webinars on the Landcarer platform, providing access to exerts on a variety of topic areas, including sustainable agriculture, community-based conservation, primary production and volunteer recruitment.

Contributed to targets 6.3 and 6.6

CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

• 12,906 plants were established in riparian areas and 2,748kg of litter removed from in or around water bodies, improving water quality, freshwater ecosystem health, and providing critical habitat.
• 6,100 seedlings have been planted on 6.5km of river frontage, and 241,000 square metres of weed control has been undertaken as part of The Biodiversity Project. Funded through the Country Road and Landcare Australia partnership, this project will improve water quality and enhance biodiversity on the Kahl and Watson family farms in the Namoi Valley in NSW.

Contributed to targets 6.3 and 6.6

AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

• The partnership between a2 Milk™ and Landcare Australia provides funding for sustainability initiatives for a2 Milk™ farms, with reducing energy consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy a focus for three of these projects.

Contributes to targets 7.2 and 7.3

DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

• 24 sustainable agriculture projects were funded through Landcare Australia’s partnerships, providing $246,836 in grants to help farming businesses improve the sustainability of their operations.
• The Landcare Farming Program – run jointly with the National Landcare Network – has undertaken 59 carbon footprint and natural capital accounting workshops with more than 580 producers. These will help establish a national benchmark for carbon footprinting and natural capital value on farm, and on-farm demonstration sites will showcase the practices required to build natural capital.

SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

• 50 projects were undertaken that included activities to promote and conserve traditional knowledge, including schools working with local Indigenous groups to plan bush tucker garden projects, and on-ground projects protecting and safeguarding cultural values.
• 364 hectares of public green spaces were restored through Landcare Australia funded projects, including land affected by the 2019/20 bushfires through the WIRES Landcare Wildlife Relief & Recovery Grants.

Contributed to targets 11.4, 11.7 and 11.a

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION

• 99 Junior Landcare projects focused on waste management initiatives, including composting, recycling, awareness raising, worm farms and upcycling initiatives.
• 5,654kg of waste was diverted from landfill through Landcare Australia corporate-funded programs, including the Lendlease Junior Landcare Grants Program and the Coca-Cola Foundation Coastcare Grants.

Contributed to targets 12.2.2, 12.5 and 12.6

CLIMATE ACTION

• 2,540 projects were funded, focusing on a range of areas to help combat climate change and its impacts, including bushfire recovery, habitat protection and restoration, weed control and revegetation.
• 10,355 volunteers dedicated 47,124 hours to improve the ecological health and biodiversity of their local areas. 462 volunteers assisted local Landcare groups and community organisations through Corporate Environmental Volunteering events.

Contributed to target 13.3

LIFE BELOW WATER

• 18 Coastcare projects were funded to protect or manage coastal or marine environments, including nine Coca-Cola and Landcare Australia partnership funded projects which reduced marine litter, protected and enhanced coastal zones, and increased community awareness of the adverse effects of pollution and litter on the marine environment.
• 25,790kg of debris and litter was collected from coastal areas, through community clean-up days and working bees undertaken by local groups in partnership with schools and community members.

Contributed to target 14.2

LIFE ON LAND

• 3,676 nest boxes were installed, providing habitat for wildlife, including threatened species adversely affected by a loss of habitat due to bushfires.
• $360,101 was distributed to 112 projects focusing on community-led bushfire and disaster recovery efforts, including habitat rehabilitation, and wildlife protection.
• 3,664 hectares of weed control was undertaken, and 193,576 plants established across 2,086 Landcare Australia funded projects.

Contributed to targets 15.3, 15.5, 15.8 and 15.a

PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

• Landcare Australia worked in partnership with the Australian government, the Victorian Government and 33 corporate partners.
• Partnerships were facilitated between 15 businesses and 16 Landcare or community groups which engaged 462 employees in environmental volunteering events.
• Data was captured across all grants programs to determine how they contributed to the SDGs, providing an ability to report back to partners and demonstrate the impact of their partnerships.

Contributed to target 17.16