Reflections and Landcare Australia form partnership to work with local communities

December 8, 2023: LEADING nature-based holiday group Reflections has formed a partnership with Landcare Australia with the aim of working alongside communities to nurture and protect the natural environment.

Though in its infancy, the partnership has already launched its first project – improving Scotts Head headland on the Mid North Coast of NSW, with the assistance of local beach volunteer group Scotts Head Dune Care Group.

Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the partnership between Reflections, a Crown Land Manager which cares for more than 24,000 acres of NSW land on behalf of the public, and Landcare Australia, a not-for-profit organisation renowned for its work to support environmental community groups across Australia who volunteer to restore and protect the environment, was one of shared values.

“Reflections is the only holiday park group in Australia that is a social enterprise and all of our 39 parks and camping grounds already play an active role in caring for 47 nature reserves that are located near them,” Mr Baker said.

“Landcare Australia is synonymous for its tireless work to nurture land in tandem with communities across the nation and we’re thrilled to be able to contribute to that team effort at Scotts Head, and on other community projects identified in the future.”

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish welcomed the new partnership with Reflections and the opportunity to work closely with them on an environmental project on a Crown land property that they manage.

“This Coastcare project will provide multiple benefits to the community of Scotts Head, including habitat restoration, regenerating the landscape, improving biodiversity and the opportunity for the local community to come together to protect an important part of Australia’s coastline,” Dr Norrish said.

“For visitors to the area staying at Reflections, getting involved in landcare by volunteering with the project, is a great way to inspire them to go home from their holiday and do more to care for the environment in their local community.”

To launch the partnership, Landcare Australia has identified a project located at Scotts Head in northern NSW. Managed by Scotts Head Dune Care Group, the project will involve bushland regeneration on Crown Land along the Scotts Head headland and the northern end of Little Beach. This area is part of the responsibility of Reflections as a Crown Land Manager.

In the inaugural Scotts Head project, Landcare Australia has connected with the Scotts Head Dune Care Group to assist it with a bush regeneration project at Scotts Head headland and the northern end of Little Beach. Both areas are on Crown Land and a part of the responsibility of Reflections as a Crown Land Manager.

The project is expected to begin in April 2024, and will involve the removal of noxious weeds on the headland, the improvement of public walking tracks, monthly community working bees to improve the site and the planting of seedlings, mature plants and the installation of guards at Little Beach.

Reflections Scotts Head will invite guests and members of the community to get involved get their hands landcare dirty.

Australia’s agriculture sector is helping to solve one of the world’s complex problems: how to safeguard food security and the environment

Innovation, building resilient communities and embracing emerging opportunities are key strategies to tackle the complex challenge of global food demand, population growth and environmental stewardship, a panel of experts hosted by Commonwealth Bank and Landcare Australia has found.

30 November 2023: Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and Landcare Australia today hosted a panel at the National Press Club of Australia, where leaders from across the Australian agriculture industry shared their insights about how the sector is helping to solve one of the world’s most complex problems – how to produce more food for a growing global population while protecting our environment and supporting the transition to a lower carbon future.

The panel was hosted by Natasha Greenwood, CBA General Manager for Agribusiness, and joined by James Walker, Landcare Australia Board Director and Managing Director of Agrihive; Dr Anika Molesworth, author, scientist and farmer from far western NSW; Jess Webb, beef cattle farmer from New England, and Board Member at Beef Australia; and Carmel Onions, CommBank’s Executive Manager, Agribusiness Sustainability.

“Our panellists are leading voices in the ag sector with valuable insights about how ag is leaning into this challenge through innovation, by building resilient communities and through embracing emerging opportunities,” Ms Greenwood said.

“CBA is excited about the many opportunities in the ag sector to grow food efficiently and in a way which prioritises environmental health. Australian farmers are leading the way in implementing practices which have the co-benefits of improving productivity and profitability, while also lowering emissions. This includes activities such as carbon sequestration, using precision agriculture for the application of chemicals and fertiliser, practices which promote soil health renewable energy, rotational grazing for livestock and establishing native revegetation areas.

“There is also tremendous untapped potential right across the industry which important organisations such as Landcare Australia and other industry stakeholders are enthusiastically progressing. We do recognise there are challenges which need to be navigated and that farming businesses will be impacted in different ways. Our goal is to support all ag businesses, no matter where they are on their journey, to transition to a lower carbon future and to remain strong so they can continue to grow the food and fibre we need.”

As a cattle farmer, veterinary practice owner from Longreach, and Board Director at Landcare Australia, James Walker embodies the essence of sustainable agriculture.

A previous recipient of Australian Farmer of The Year for Excellence in Diversification, Mr Walker actively embraces innovation on his farm, setting an inspiring example for the industry. In sharing his insights, Mr Walker emphasised the critical role of Landcare Australia in supporting Australian farmers to become more sustainable, resilient in the face of challenging climatic conditions, and adept in navigating the Carbon Market and emerging nature repair markets.

“The robust core of sustainable agriculture lies in balancing global food demand, population growth, and environmental stewardship,” Mr Walker said. “Agriculture, standing at the forefront of responsibility and care, reflects the broader commitment of Landcare Australia to guide farmers toward a future of agricultural excellence, environmental stewardship, and global leadership.”

Jess Webb, along with her partner Hamish, have just embarked on a soil carbon project on their farm. She says the program was driven first and foremost by a desire to improve production outcomes, but they are always looking at ways profitability and sustainability can go hand in hand.

“We were already thinking about soil improvement before the thought of a carbon project ever crossed our minds,” Ms Webb said. “We have a neutral approach that is first and foremost about our livestock and we are always looking at the co-benefits of what we are doing and this project has been a great complement to the way we operate our business.”

Resilience was also a key theme throughout the discussion, and Dr Anika Molesworth is a passionate advocate for driving the conversation on how we can create a sustainable and vibrant farming landscapes now and for the future.

“Our natural world is remarkable in its beauty and complexity,” Ms Molesworth said. “It is also incredibly vulnerable and fragile when taken advantage of. For those of us working in agriculture, we have a responsibility to look after the environment – the land, water, climate, biodiversity – and we know when we do, there are a flow of positive outcomes.

“To make a real contribution to global food security and addressing climate change, we need to champion agricultural practices that take care of and regenerate land, water, climate and biodiversity systems.”

Carmel Onions, CBA Executive Manager Agribusiness Sustainability, said sustainable farming is essential for delivering food security, because it rebuilds natural capital which is the foundation and enabler for more productive, resilient and lower cost agriculture.

“We are seeing enormous efforts across all areas of agriculture, and services to agriculture, to help farmers undertake and monetise the private benefits from ongoing adoption of further sustainable practices,” Ms Onions said. “Farmers are already doing so much, and there is so much more opportunity that can be leveraged.

Ms Onions expressed her great optimism at the exponential increase in knowledge and appetite to explore new practices on-farm that simultaneously rebuild nature and biodiversity, while lowering net emissions and addressing the climate risk facing all farmers.

“Commonwealth Bank is proud to support farmers through our suite of sustainable financing solutions. These include our Australian first agri green loan which provides discounted pricing to implement those activities which enhance natural capital as well as green asset finance and carbon prefinancing.”

Landcare Australia Leads New National First Nations Initiative

Monday 27 March 2023: Today in Canberra, Landcare Australia brought Members of Parliament, corporate Australia and landcare volunteers together with First Nations organisations to launch the inaugural National Custodians of Country Gathering as well as the new national First Nations Landcare Working Group.

Speaking at the event were The Hon. Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians; Senator the Hon. Murray Watt MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management; Suzanne Thompson, Managing Director at Yambangku Aboriginal Culture Heritage & Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation; Victor Steffensen, Co-founder of Firesticks Alliance and Costa Georgiadis, ABC presenter and Junior Landcare Ambassador.

Firesticks Alliance, supported by Landcare Australia and the First Nations Landcare Working Group, will host the National Custodians of Country Gathering (the Gathering) between Monday 21 and Friday 25 August 2023 at Tjapukai (Djabugay) Cultural Park Cairns, Far North Queensland. Indigenous led and co-designed, the Gathering will bring together Traditional Owners, First Nations organisations including First Nations Ranger groups, and landcare from across Australia.

The Gathering will provide a unique opportunity for farmers, landholders, landcare volunteers, researchers, academics, and environmental NGOs to learn practical ways they can integrate Traditional knowledge for land and sea management, improvements for biodiversity, threatened species management and sustainable agriculture into their conservation work.

Victor Steffensen, co-founder of Firesticks Alliance, said the Gathering will be hosted by First Nations people from across Australia to celebrate the diversity and richness of Aboriginal culture and knowledge, and how this benefits community through environmental wellbeing and revitalisation.

“We intend to bring greater awareness and opportunity to broader Australia about the contribution of Indigenous knowledge. An important outcome of the Gathering is for people to learn firsthand how Traditional ecological knowledge and governance can contribute solutions to today’s social and environmental concerns.”

For 34 years, Landcare Australia has been at the forefront of working directly with farmers, landholders, landcare volunteers and groups – as well as in partnership with environmental conservation groups, governments, business and industry, researchers and academics – to support landcare activities that restore, enhance and protect Australia’s natural environment.

Landcare Australia Chair Doug Humann AM acknowledged that while many landcare groups have long worked hand-in-hand with Traditional Owners and First Nations organisations, Landcare Australia is looking forward to strengthening connections between First Nations people and landcare through its new First Nations Landcare Working Group.

“Australia’s First Nations people hold the key to healing our landscape and unlocking agricultural and environmental benefits for future generations across Australia,” he said.

“What makes the First Nations Landcare Working Group significant for all Australians will be its guidance and input for Landcare Australia to support farmers, young people, women, landcare groups and conservation community groups across Australia to make connections with Cultural land and sea management practices. Together, we will build partnerships that will enable landcare to set the benchmark on how we can all come together, work together and stay together to build respectful, effective relationships with First Nations peoples – and strengthen our commitment to integrate cultural land and sea management into landcare practices.”

The program and ticket sales for the Gathering will be announced in April 2023. For more information, please go to landcareaustralia.org.au.

First Nations Landcare Working Group Members

Doug Humann AM – Chair, Landcare Australia
Ricky Archer – Board Director, Landcare Australia and CEO, North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA)
Victor Steffensen – Co-Founder of Firesticks Alliance
Suzanne Thompson – Managing Director at Yambangku Aboriginal Culture Heritage & Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation and Chair, Australian Native Foods and Botanicals
Barry Hunter – Chair, Aboriginal Carbon Foundation
Dhani Gilbert – Young Landcare Leadership Award recipient
Rene Woods – Board Member, Murray Darling Basin Authority, Board Member Landcare NSW and Project Officer, The Nature Conservancy
Natalie Sommerville – President, Australian Women in Agriculture and Board Director, National Farmers Federation, member of Yacka Moorundie Landcare group
Gail Reynolds-Adamson – Chair, Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation.

Calling All Landcare Champions for the 2023/2024 State and Territory Landcare Awards

In a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges, the 2023/2024 State and Territory Landcare Awards serve as a beacon of hope and recognition for those dedicated to safeguarding our precious landscapes. The Landcare Awards are now open for nominations and aim to recognise the outstanding contributions made by individuals, groups and organisations involved in landcare.

Landcare continues to bring thousands of people together in communities across Australia, to unite for a common purpose – preserving, protecting, collaborating and innovating to restore and protect our natural assets. In the wake of global climate challenges and natural disasters like drought, bushfires and floods, Landcare has never been so important.

Each state and territory has multiple Landcare Award categories, recognising Australians who actively engage in climate action and work to create healthier, more resilient and productive landscapes and resilient communities. From volunteers and farmers, to landholders, landcare groups, First Nations people, the next generation of landcarers, and environmental community groups, the Landcare Awards program acknowledges the diverse range of individuals and organisations committed to addressing local environmental issues.

Quote attributed to Co-Chief Author ‘State of the Environment Report 2021’, Dr Ian Cresswell:

“Many parts of the Australian environment are under pressure from the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and resource extraction. Landcare plays a key role in promoting environmental conservation and sustainable land management and helping repair and restore our natural environment.

Not only is that good for the environment but it’s good for us too – regenerative land management and Landcare volunteering have been shown to have human health and wellbeing benefits supporting improvements in mental and physical wellbeing, belonging and community resilience. Let’s celebrate all who participate and help to raise their profile in the community.

I urge us all to take this opportunity to celebrate the great work of Landcare and to nominate your local champion for the work they do for all of us.”

Quote attributed to environmentalist and former senator, Bob Brown:

“Landcare exemplifies the resilience of individuals coming together from all walks of life to safeguard and nurture our agricultural lands and natural environment. The Landcare movement is built on collective spirit and environmental stewardship: it is an inspiration on our planet where environmental loss is so prevalent.

It’s great to see the Landcare Awards program honouring the wonderful diversity of people involved in preserving our natural landscapes, strengthening communities and leading innovations in agriculture and conservation right across Australia. So, I encourage everyone to join us in acknowledging the extraordinary achievements of the Landcare community by submitting nominations for the Landcare Awards.”

Quote attributed to Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish:

“Landcare represents the strength of people from all walks of life working together for a common purpose — to protect and manage our vital agricultural lands and natural environment.

The 2023 State and Territory Landcare Awards shine a light on Landcare’s greatest asset – the diverse range of people involved in landcare activities responding to local issues. Whether it’s their dedication to preserving the natural landscape, their commitment to their communities, or their leadership in the agricultural sector, these accomplishments remind us that the spirit of hands-on environmental stewardship that underpins the landcare movement is stronger than ever before.”

For over 30 years, the distinguished Landcare Awards program has honoured the unwavering dedication and efforts made by individuals and groups from rural and urban communities. Landcare is a grassroots movement with over 6000 groups and 140,000 volunteers that deliver a range of positive environmental and community outcomes.

Biodiversity The Big Winner In Three-Year Project in Cotton Country

Country Road, Landcare Australia and cotton farmers are marking Biodiversity month by celebrating a landmark achievement in their New South Wales Namoi Valley project.

It’s been three years since ‘The Biodiversity Project’ kicked off in the Namoi Valley and since the first tree was planted, about 60 hectares of cotton farming land has been revegetated.

Cotton farmers in the Namoi Valley have worked with Landcare Australia to plant 11,800 seedlings along 11.6 kilometres of riverbank with long-term aims to improve waterways on their farms, and benefit nature as well as their agricultural production.

Landcare Australia has supported communities dedicated to restoring and preserving the natural environment for decades. In partnering with Landcare Australia, Country Road committed $600,000 in the first three years of the project and has since raised $790,000 for the project through sales of the iconic Verified Australia Cotton Heritage Sweat and brand contributions.

As part of the project, over 9 kilometres of fencing around water courses has been established to exclude livestock, with alternative drinking points installed – this will increase habitat and shelter for native animals, as well as help improve water quality.

Cotton Australia’s Cotton to Market Lead Brooke Summers has been involved with The Biodiversity Project since its inception. “This project not only provides much needed funding and support for implementing biodiversity projects at farm level it also showcases what can be achieved when we work together on issues of mutual importance,” Brooke said.

“We know biodiversity is critical for sustainable cotton production and the planet as a whole and that we need to act fast to stop rates of extinction globally. We need to work together through projects like this to find the balance between clothing the world in sustainable natural fibres, and protecting the natural resources we rely on.

“It’s been a true collaboration between Landcare Australia, Country Road, Cotton Australia, our biodiversity specialists and our farmers and everyone has brought something different to the table which has created a great opportunity for achieving a lot and learning along the way,” she said.

The partnership with Country Road and our work with the cotton industry is supporting biodiversity and landscape restoration benefits for cotton farms in northern NSW said Dr Shane Norrish, CEO Landcare Australia.

“Over the last three years, the projects have been impacted by various external influences including covid and flooding, however Country Road are committed more than ever to supporting Australian cotton farmers improve the ecological and habitat restoration on the farming properties. Landcare Australia’s relationship with the cotton industry is vital to the work we are doing with the growers, their support and promotion of the famers to be involved in The Biodiversity Project has led to the success of the project. With the support from Country Road’s iconic brand position in the Australian fashion industry, together we can create greater awareness of landcare and the environmental stewardship of famers.

“Having the cotton industry as a part in this project is important as it helps us build trusting relationships with the growers. In addition, the research and biodiversity mapping from Cotton Research and Development Corporation has been important to ensure we are choosing sites that are in need of biodiversity enhancement as identified by the cotton industry.”

Country Road Brand Sustainability Manager Erika Martin said Country Road was proud to partner with Landcare Australia and the Australian cotton industry on The Biodiversity project to restore native habitats on cotton farms in the Namoi Valley.

“This partnership has shown how brands and industry can work together towards a shared vision,” Erika said.

“As we celebrate three years and reflect on what we have achieved, one of the highlights has been building relationships with the farming families. We are inspired by their commitment to ‘the long game’, by investment in building biodiversity now for the benefit of future generations.”

Cotton Farmer Daniel Kahl has been part of the project since it began but he sees the work as a continuation of work they’ve done in the past on his farm and others. “We’ve fenced and protected riparian zones on other farms to conserve natural landscapes; we utilise nature corridors and the benefits of natural predators to reduce pesticide use; we conduct carbon audits of our farm to ensure we’re doing our part to not just counteract our own emissions but do more than that. This project ties in with all of those endeavours.”

The partnership draws on a Cotton Research and Development (CRDC) report that mapped biodiversity in Australian cotton landscapes, identified threatened and endangered species and recommended ways to protect them.