General News
27 November, 2022
Landcare launches review
THE voice of local farmers would be important to a state-wide review of Landcare. Loddon Plains Landcare Network facilitator Will Sanson said the strategic review would shape the future of Landcare.“It’s really important that our local farmers...
THE voice of local farmers would be important to a state-wide review of Landcare.
Loddon Plains Landcare Network facilitator Will Sanson said the strategic review would shape the future of Landcare.
“It’s really important that our local farmers and people in agriculture get on board and have their say,” Will said.
“That’s how Landcare started and I hope our local groups will contribute to the review. The future of will have a series of online workshops but Will said he hoped in-person meetings could also be included.
“If they are, we would certainly like to have a meeting as part of the Victorian review here in Loddon.”
The reviews, a community-driven planning process, was announced on Monday to deliver a new Landcare plan that will establish directions for the Landcare movement over the next decade and beyond.
Landcare Victoria has engaged consultancy firm Projectura to develop the Plan, with a series of community engagement workshops being held in early December.
Now a global movement, Landcare emerged in Victoria in the mid-1980s and provided community-led responses to urgent issues of agricultural and environmental sustainability.
Landcare Victoria CEO Andrew Maclean said that the aspirations and ideas of the Landcare community were vital to the development of the plan.
“This is the first time a movement–wide strategic plan for Landcare has been attempted, using a community–driven consultative approach. Essentially, this process will allow the Landcare community to design its own future,” Mr Maclean said.
“We want to engage with as many people involved in the Landcare movement that we can so that this plan best reflects the needs of our community.
“If you are a member of a Landcare group or work in the Landcare space and want to have a say in the future of the movement, we would encourage you to attend one of our workshops.”
The workshops will focus on opportunities and challenges facing Landcare, including united action on climate change and biodiversity decline, the delivery of community education, and opportunities to improve existing and new partnerships, difficulties growing local membership bases and attracting sustainable funding, as well as ensuring a clear brand and shared purpose for Landcare.
“We want the plan to document the most important shared priorities of Landcare groups, networks, and leaders across Victoria and consider how we can organise ourselves, adapt to changes, keep improving and balance grassroots leadership with a unified state-wide movement,” Mr Maclean said.
This current round of engagement builds on initial consultation earlier this year.
Mr Maclean said the final plan was expected to be completed by next June.