Looking ahead to an eventful year in Landcare
By Tessa Jakszewicz, CEO Landcare Australia
After a busy and productive 2016, I hope everyone had a nice break for the holidays and a happy new year. It’s important to recharge before getting back into the swing of things, which Landcare Australia is doing with some funding opportunities this month, including the Momentum Energy Junior Landcare Grants; applications are open from mid-February.
The grants are open to those involved in educating young people in Victoria about our Australian environment (including at schools, childcare centres or youth groups). There are 200 $1,000 grants for projects that will help youth actively take a role in caring for the future of our environment. For updates on these grants and more, subscribe to our Landlink and Junior Landcarer e-newsletters here: www.landcareaustralia.org.au/news_subscribe.
Landcare Australia chief executive, Tessa Jakszewicz.
For a look back on what Landcare Australia accomplished in 2015/16, check out our first-ever digital annual report here: landcareaustralia.org.au/AnnualReport2016. You can read about some of the projects we funded, and other great fundraising and awareness raising initiatives undertaken throughout the year.
This month’s Landcare in Focus theme, “Biosecurity Management: Invasive Species, Pests, and Disease”, is an important one to highlight. Due to Australia’s relative isolation in the world and strict laws, we’ve been able to remain free of many of the most devastating pests and diseases, but it’s more important than ever to maintain that status.
According to the Australian Department of Agriculture, our agriculture export industry is valued at $32 billion, and would be in jeopardy should we not take biosecurity seriously. The Australian Government has allocated $85 million between 2015–16 and 2018–19 for national
programs to eradicate exotic pests and diseases, and there are many Landcare groups working on interesting biosecurity projects, as you’ll see in this edition.
