Landcare

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Landcare began in Victoria Australia in 1986 with a group of farmers near St Arnaud in central Victoria forming the first Landcare group. Since then, the Landcare concept has developed into a movement, across Australia and now around the world. There are approximately 4000 Landcare groups in Australia, and the model is being used in about 15 other countries.

Landcare brings together groups of people who share a common problem and usually live in the same catchment. A catchment is an area that collects and directs water to a common point. By working together in a catchment, land degradation problems can be tackled successfully.

The initial focus of Landcare Groups was to address specific farm land degradation issues, but the Landcare concept has now extended well beyond this, to include rural farming, lifestyle or hobby farmers, urban groups and community development.

In the twenty years since the first group formed, Landcare has become an ethic, related to the Stewardship principles where land managers work to protect or improve the land for the future.

Landcare groups in Australia are supported by Landcare_Australia as a national body, and also by the relevant State.

Landcare groups in Victoria are supported by DSE and their regional Catchment Management Authority. There is a Victorian Landcare Gateway website with more information on regions, groups and networks in Victoria.