FUTURE CONCERNS FOR LANDCARE
October 26, 2009
Earlier this year, Australia commemorated ‘National Landcare Week’ – recognising 20 years of outstanding practical environmental service across our nation.
Landcare was formed by the Hawke Government with bipartisan support and there are more than 4500 community Landcare groups in operation today.
To mark Landcare Week, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry distributed a media release to recognise the fact that more than 100,000 volunteers roll up their sleeves in communities each year to replant vegetation, repair erosion and improve agricultural production.
There is no doubt that the Minister knows in theory what Landcare does, but there’s a great deal of concern throughout regional communities about whether the Minister actually understands how Landcare facilitates this great work; the importance of Landcare groups to the fabric of regional communities; and whether Landcare will continue to prosper in the future.
This week in Federal Parliament I forced a debate on the future of Landcare to highlight the government’s cuts to the professional staff who coordinate the volunteer effort.
In recent months, my office has been contacted by dozens of Landcare volunteers who believe the Labor Government has failed to understand the need to fund the employment of facilitators and coordinators. The professional staff play a pivotal role in managing the volunteer programs; assisting community groups; providing professional advice and mobilising volunteer effort.
During the debate, I raised the concerns that the Victorian Landcare Network (VLN) has with the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country business plan.
The VLN wrote to the Minister in August this year and highlighted the fact that there were 142 Landcare support staff working on ground to support Landcare grups in Victoria during 2007-08 and the number is likely to fall to less than 35 before the end of this year.
In its letter, the VLN wrote:
The VLN considers that a loss of Landcare support staff will have a critical effect on maintaining the long-term participation and engagement of the community in natural resource management.
Our concerns are mirrored by the Landcare community who question the rationale and economics of dissolving the goodwill, trust and experience built up over many years – knowledge and networks will inevitably erode.
Without coordinators and faciltiators providing that level of support and communication, many Landcare groups would lose initiative, greatly reducing their capacity to participate effectively in natural resource management.
It is a worrying trend and I fear that this important practical environmental work in our region will suffer as a result.
On November 15, there will be an East Gippsland Community Rally in protest of the cuts to Landcare funding. I urge everyone who cares about the future of Landcare to attend the rally.
Landcare is a remarkable organisation that must never be taken for granted. Without ongoing funding to support the role played by facilitators and coordinators, Landcare will become a shadow of its former self.