As part of the recent development of the Landcare Communities – Australia’s Future Policy Statement the National Landcare Network commissioned an independent review of the large and diverse body of literature which has examined Landcare since its genesis.
View the Community Landcare Literature Review
From the Chair of the National Landcare Network : Professor Peter Bridgewater PhD DResMgt (h.c.) FLS MAICD
National Landcare Network (NLN) is the peak body for State and Territory Landcare organisations. In this 30th Anniversary year of the declaration of the first ‘Decade of Landcare’ the NLN commissioned an independent review of the large and diverse body of literature which has examined Landcare since its genesis. I am pleased to provide you with that review, as well as a recently developed Policy Statement for Landcare.
The initial impetus for the formation of Landcare networks was land degradation, specifically in relation to agricultural lands, and this remains a central driver. The movement has spread to address urban and coastal environments, and interconnected issues of nature conservation, climate, resilience and sustainable agriculture. An important element of Landcare is the multiplier effect of Government investment, generating further investment from industry, partner organisations and public and private stakeholders.
While Landcare is a community movement, it is also fundamentally driven from Government programs. Australia’s recent NRM history and history of Landcare has been divided into distinct phases, distinguished by different funding regimes. The shifts in focus and delivery models between the various phases offer valuable lessons for Landcare into the future.
The early phases of Landcare were characterised by great momentum and a high level of participation (including by farming households) but it also demonstrated that local groups with limited resources were unlikely to produce landscape level change. Subsequent phases were intended to better deliver nationally coordinated programs, but to the extent that significant control and power was transferred to regional bodies or central and state government, many community Landcare groups suffered disempowerment and decline.
An important finding from the review is that these approaches all have their strengths but need to be concurrent. As the review concludes: “When balancing other concerns such as financial prudence and accountability, community and volunteer-based organisations must be treated and dealt with in a way that empowers while providing direction, and that supports initiative and independence while coordinating and encouraging greater efficiency”.
I am happy to provide this review that draws on the work of many of the scholars, consultants, practitioners and evaluators. The review gives the context for the Policy Statement, and we hope both will be of value to Government. In the end, though, the non-partisan political support for Landcare has been a defining feature, and one we hope the Government and the Parliament will continue to support into the future. To that end I hope, after the elections, to test the appetite in Parliament for a “Friends of Landcare” across the aisles to encourage information sharing and understanding from the community to the Parliament, and vice-versa.
‘When the earth is spoiled, humanity and all living things are diminished. We have taken
too much from the earth and given back too little. It’s time to say enough is enough.
Today’s announcements won’t solve everything. But with the right mix of political
commitment and community support we can ensure that our country is simply the best in the
world. This is our country, our future.’
– Bob Hawke launching the ‘Decade of Landcare’, 20 July 1989
