Get ready for Landcare Week (August 5 – 11), where this year we are celebrating the diversity of Landcare people and projects across Australia!
Landcare Week is an annual celebration to acknowledge the Australians who are actively restoring, enhancing and protecting the natural environments in their community such as:
- Land
- Soil
- Water
- Native vegetation
- Animals
There are now over 6,000 groups with 140,000+ volunteers across Australia. These groups are made up of farmers, landowners, Landcare groups and networks, Traditional Owners, Bushcare, Coastcare, Dunecare and Rivercare groups all involved in protecting and restoring the local environment. Caring for the environment doesn’t have to be hard, it can be achieved by:
- Sustainable farm practices
- Restoring native habitats and revegetation
- Controlling weeds and pests
What is Landcare?
Landcare Australia is a community not-for-profit organisation which involves local groups of volunteers repairing the natural environment. It was originally projects that focused on agricultural farmland: the idea was that farmers, conservationists and scientists could work together to improve both farm quality and natural ecosystems. Now, it has expanded into a national organisation that cares for the overall wellbeing of the local environment.
What is the aim of Landcare?
Formed in 1989, originating in Victoria, Landcare (or Landcare week) has grown to become one of the largest volunteer movements in Australia. Landcare started as a grass-roots movement to tackle degradation of farmland, public land and waterways.
People from all walks of life are involved and it has grown from groups of sustainable farmers and community volunteers to thousands of people working together to solve local environmental issues.
How do I get involved in Landcare?
Do you ever think about who cares for your local bushland, waterways or coastline in your suburb?
You can be part of a movement that does something every day to make a difference in caring for your local environment.
Did you know research has proven that people who are involved in local groups and volunteer to improve their local environment are happier and healthier?
It doesn’t matter if you have a balcony or a big back yard, rent or own your own home, there are plenty of ways to get involved in Landcare.
- Help your local environment and join your local group, every day they are working on conservation activities. Or lending a hand at the next event will help make an impact if you are time poor.
- Handy with your hands? Many groups need help from people who like woodwork, and can help them make and maintain birdhouses and nesting boxes for different species like birds, possums and bats.
- Go natural and help give bees and local insects a helping hand by avoiding chemical pesticides and herbicides in your garden, consider using natural alternatives.
- Plant native shrubs, trees and flowers to bring bird life and bees into your garden.
- Learn more about your community’s Indigenous heritage. First Australians have been caring for country for tens of thousands of years.
- Reduce – by reducing your plastic footprint, you are helping to protect our rivers and waterways that will keep our beaches and oceans clean and protect marine animals from the impact of rubbish including plastics.
- Reuse – if you need to use plastic products, make sure you reuse items over and over again before disposing of them thoughtfully at the end of their useful life.
- Recycle – if you can’t reuse an item or if it is at the end of its’ useful life, recycle it or compost it.
- Compost your food waste and fertilise your garden, it will help your garden grow and reduce landfill waste.
- Be water-wise and water your gardens early in the morning or late afternoon to reduce water wastage.
- Sustainability at home can start by using products that are good for the environment. Look for ecolabels or environmental star ratings on products.
- Find a transport buddy and carpool to work, or when taking your children to school. Consider taking public transport or riding your bike to work or school.
- The Junior Landcare Learning Centre has many fun, educational activities for children of all ages. A great way to introduce Landcare to the young people in your life so they understand how to care for their local environment.
We know that many of us have been struggling through drought, bushfires and floods, making landcare more important than ever. So this Landcare Week, let’s stand united, support one another and encourage others to join our incredible movement that benefits our environment, the landscape and biodiversity, our communities and our own wellbeing.
