30/04/2021: Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley today announced a landmark $14million for Landcare led bushfire recovery projects in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. The funding will support landcare bushfire recovery projects in seven government designated bushfire regions impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020.

Funded by the Australian Government, the program will provide grants for local and regional activities supporting bushfire recovery for fire-affected plant and animal species, ecological communities, and natural assets – including Ramsar listed wetlands and World Heritage listed sites.

The Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants will provide eligible local Landcare Groups, environment networks, and community groups with access to grant funding up to $50,000, and as larger partnerships, projects of up to $300,000. The funding will also include $4million available for projects that will benefit forests and coastal ecosystems in the East Gippsland bushfire impacted region. 

National Landcare Network Chief Executive Officer Jim Adams said that the $14million bushfire grants program will be delivered by a ground-breaking alliance between the National Landcare Network, the Landcare peak bodies in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia, together with Landcare Australia.

“The Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants program will be co-delivered by all the Landcare organisations who will work together to support project applicants, to drive and coordinate a wide range of high-impact on-ground community and environmental projects over the next 12 months for community landcare.

Dr Shane Norrish, Chief Executive Officer for Landcare Australia said that the Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants will benefit landscape restoration, improve biodiversity and support community resilience.

“The grants program will mobilise, build capacity, increase participation and support for landcare networks and groups, farmers and landowners, Traditional Owners, and other groups involved in community led envionmental activities. The grants program is an opportunity to share knowledge, network and learn together with experts, their peers, industry, and community members.”

Call for submission of grant applications will be announced in May.

For further information about projects and grants, visit www.landcareledbushfiregrants.org.au

Tuesday 27 April 2021: Landcare Australia is inviting nominations for the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards which recognises individuals and community groups across the country for their outstanding contributions to preserving the unique Australian landscape.

Landcare is a grassroots movement of groups and individuals across Australia with a shared vision to protect, enhance or restore the natural environment in their local community through sustainable land management and conservation activities. Landcare enables people to actively care for the natural environment in their community and the Landcare Awards support the sharing of knowledge and achievements while promoting leadership and resilience in communities.

Faced with the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires, the impact of the drought and floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Landcarers across the country have rallied in the wake of unparalleled challenges. Landcarers have been locally active rebuilding communities with on-ground projects including habitat restoration for threatened species, bushland regeneration, wellbeing and mental health activities, as well as engaging volunteers who want to contribute.

The 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards is an opportunity to celebrate and honour Landcare champions from urban and rural communities excelling in sustainable agricultural practices, environmental protection, conservation of land and waterways, coastlines and biodiversity.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Landcare Awards program was an opportunity to recognise the volunteers and groups making a difference.

“Our farmers have such a strong spirit of ingenuity and a commitment to continually adapting and improving their land management practices,” Minister Littleproud.

“Landcare supports the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices that will deliver a more productive and profitable agriculture industry.

“All Landcarers should be incredibly proud of the impact they have made in protecting the natural resources in their communities during these testing times and I look forward to celebrating their inspiring resilience at the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards.”

Landcare Australia CEO Shane Norrish says the Landcare Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those leading the wider community to engage and participate in managing the environment and natural resources in their local area. 

“Volunteers play a vital role in restoring and maintaining our environment at a local level, and the prestigious Landcare Awards are a terrific opportunity to acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their achievements. The Landcare Awards program is an opportunity to recognise not only the volunteers and groups making a real difference, but highlight the crucial role Landcare plays in the Australian community.”

“Recognising and celebrating the farmers, land managers and volunteers at the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards and honouring a united grassroots movement who collectively withstood extremely difficult times, will be all the more special at this year’s events.”

Landcare Australia encourages nominations from groups, networks, organisations and individuals involved in protecting and improving their local environment. They include:

• Sustainable farmers and farming systems groups
• Indigenous land and sea managers
• Landcare networks, groups and individuals, landcare facilitators
• Urban landcare groups including ‘Friends of’ and bushcare groups
• Coastcare, Rivercare, Dunecare groups and individuals
• Environmental community groups
• Natural resource management agencies and local government and research agencies
• Agricultural co-operatives, industry associations, suppliers or individual primary producers
• Junior Landcare (including day care centres, primary and secondary schools), youth groups including Scouts and Girls Guides.

Winners from the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards will go forward to the 2022 National Landcare Awards to be held during the 2022 National Landcare Conference. The National Landcare Awards ceremony also includes the presentation of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award and the General Jeffery Soil Health Award sponsored by the Australian Government.

Eight national award categories are now open for nominations:

• Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award
• Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award
• Australian Government Landcare Farming Award
• Coastcare Award
• Landcare Community Group Award
• Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award
• KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award
• Young Landcare Leadership Award

For more information please visit http://landcareaustralia.org.au/landcare-awards-2021/

A new national award has been launched to recognise the exceptional work of Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd). This prestigious accolade recognises an individual’s work to champion, improve and/or educate others in soil health and is named in his honour.

The General Jeffery Soil Health Award will be presented to an individual farmer, land manager or extension specialist who is making an outstanding contribution improving, championing or educating others about soil health through the integrated management of soil, water, plants and animals, and who are advocating for improved soil management more broadly.

The Honourable Penny Wensley AC, Australia’s new National Soils Advocate said, “As Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, General Jeffery was a tireless champion of soil health and changed attitudes towards soil sustainability. His relentless advocacy of the importance of integrated management of soil, water, animals and plants, to the benefit of all Australians, has energised change across Australia and left an indelible legacy.”

Dr Shane Norrish CEO Landcare Australia said, “When Australians involved in Landcare and agriculture talk about soil health, they invariably think of Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery—a man who has long and passionately advocated for improvements in the health of our agricultural landscape.“

This award will form part of the suite of distinguished awards within the biennial National Landcare Awards administered by Landcare Australia and be presented at the biennial National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 5 August, 2021 held during the National Landcare Conference in Sydney. Nominations close March 31, 2021.

For more information please visit generaljefferyaward.com.au

Celebrating National Agriculture Day on November 20, Landcare Australia, in partnership with the National Landcare Network (NLN), have launched a national Landcare Farming campaign ‘My Landcare Legacy’ to engage primary producers to share their landcare stewardship story.

Landcare means different things to different people. At its very roots, Landcare is about people coming together and caring for the land to preserve our natural resources and biodiversity for generations to come. Over the next year the Landcare network is looking to explore farming stewardship stories and experiences, and are inviting other farmers and their industry to participate.

The ‘My Landcare Legacy’ campaign is the first step in building broader recognition of Landcarers who have been developing and supporting adoption of improved practices in Australian agriculture for over 30 years.

Landcare Farming Program Manager Mick Taylor says that “Landcarers have an opportunity to share what drives their passion for good farming practices and environmental stewardship in their business. By simply recording a video, Australian producers and land managers can share with the community why they are passionate about being good stewards of their land – and their vision for our farming future.”

Standout producers, networks and their Landcare projects will be identified during the campaign with Awards presented for best video, rising star award, best actor, longest distance a kit has travelled.