Landcare lobbies for ‘Strong Future’

Landcare Victoria has set out a range of policy recommendations ahead of November’s state election, with four key principles being advocated for to support the landcare movement.

During Landcare Week in the first week of August, Landcare Victoria released ‘Building a Strong Future for Victorian Landcare’, an eight-page document asking for all of Victoria’s politicians and political parties to consider ‘recognising’, ‘respecting’, ‘supporting’, and ‘engaging’ Landcare.

“Faced as we are with declining biodiversity, a climate emergency and growing demands for sustainable agricultural practices, landcare is as relevant today as it has ever been,” Landcare Victoria CEO Andrew Maclean said.

“Public investment in landcare makes good economic sense.”

Landcare Victoria represents over 600 members groups and 60,000 individuals, and is asking for an investment of $82.8 million over four years to support its recommendations.

Of this, $40 million would go towards supporting and expanding the landcare facilitator program to better support the landcare community, with $30 million to back landcare volunteers with the grant funding they need to achieve government and community goals.

A further $9.2 million will fund sustainable land management and resilient community goals, with the final $3.6 million allocated to unlocking community resources to achieve biodiversity goals.

Landcare Victoria predicts that the $40 million investment in expanding the landcare facilitator system, plus program administration costs, “could be expected to generate a return on public investment of $280 million”.

“Successive Victorian governments have been strong supporters of landcare over many years and we are optimistic about a positive response. Our recommendations provide clear guidance to our political leaders about how they can best sustain this iconic community movement,” Mr Maclean said.

According to Landcare, government-funded landcare facilitators generate a return on investment of seven to one, by motivating and mobilising community volunteer action.