| National Landcare Program | | Print | |
|
$28 million for landcare and sustainable farming projects 21 July 2008 The three-year package will fund 140 landcare projects as part of the Government’s new $2.25 billion Caring for our Country initiative – a key election commitment. Funding will be provided to a range of landcare groups, Catchment Management Authorities, research centres, industry groups and natural resource management bodies. Since the early 1990s, the landcare program has funded projects focused on improving the management of soils, water and vegetation at a farm and community level. In addition to today’s funding, landcare groups can apply under another Caring for our Country program - the $25 million Open Grants 2008 fund, which is open for applications until Friday 1 August. Projects to be funded as part of today’s $28 million funding package include: · $297,000 to Richmond Landcare in northern NSW to educate landholders about the storage of carbon in soil to boost productivity and sustainability; · $300,500 to the Torres Strait Regional Authority in Queensland to promote sustainable horticultural practices in local communities; · $128,000 to the Ord Irrigation Cooperative in the Kimberley, Western Australia to encourage the uptake of precision agriculture, through the use of soil and yield data and satellite images; · $52,000 to the South Australian No-Till Farmers Association to build knowledge in sustainable grain farming practices, including stubble retention; · $56,659 to Rainbow & District Landcare in Victoria to research efficient cropping and grazing strategies; · $80,000 to upper Goulburn Landcare in Victoria to look at grazing strategies in the region; and · Up to $114,800 for the Northern Territory Seafood Council to draw on the knowledge of Indigenous marine rangers and others to research juvenile mud crabs. It is estimated that around three-quarters of Australian farmers are either involved in landcare activities or benefit from knowledge acquired through the landcare movement. “The Rudd Government recognises that farmers are on the front line when it comes to the future impact of climate change,” Mr Burke said. “It is vital that we continue to invest in landcare projects which will lead to more sustainable farming and more resilient rural and regional communities in the future. “Practical projects at a farm level will underpin a globally competitive agriculture industry.” For the full list of projects go to www.daff.gov.au/natural-resources/landcare
At this meeting Condamine Alliance CEO Phil McCullough also outlined the potential benefits for Landcare groups and their members of a revised partnership model for the Alliance and Landcare, to better address the emerging challenges and needs in local communities. Minimum delivery arrangements for 2007-08 Landcare network contracts will be four "core" outcome areas that provide for support of the Landcare network and the establishment of appropriate measurement frameworks to inform local delivery priorities. The fifth outcome area is an opportunity for Landcare groups to deliver in relevant areas of the Regional Investment Strategy. Landcare Council of Chairs / Condamine Alliance - Landcare partnership model The seven main Landcare groups cover sub-catchment areas. Each of these “umbrella” groups is made up of a number of local groups spread throughout sub-catchment areas. These groups and their networks provide the human infrastructure necessary for implementing on-ground actions to improve resource conditions in the catchment. The Alliance provides funding to each of the umbrella Landcare groups to support these groups in their efforts to improve their local areas and the catchment as a whole. Landcare coordinators work with the community to achieve NRM outcomes that contribute to the Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Plan. These coordinators are an integral part of land-care infrastructure in local communities. They play a significant role in capacity building, resource condition monitoring, and management of project-based investment. The Condamine catchment’s land-care infrastructure is supported by a regional Landcare coordinator position, which is responsible for managing the partnership between the Alliance and individual Landcare groups.
Landcare is a uniquely Australian partnership between the community, government and business to "do something practical" about protecting and repairing our environment. More than 4000 volunteer community landcare groups - including bushcare and urban landcare, rivercare, coastcare and sustainable agriculture groups - are tackling land degradation in every corner of Australia. The National Landcare Program (NLP) is a long-standing program within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, which supports the Landcare movement and the sustainable use and management of natural resources. The Australian Government has demonstrated its commitment to NLP by ensuring continuity of funding until 2007-08. The partnership between government and the community is critical to encouraging on-ground action to improve natural resource management at the farm, catchment and regional level. The Alliance urges those who are interested in joining or participating in land-care activities to contact your local Landcare group. Go to Useful links on this web site. More information: |
|||||||||
| Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 November 2008 ) | |||||||||
LANDCARE in the Condamine River catchment has a unique structure that is based on a strong partnership between Landcare groups and the Alliance. 