Section 7 - Landcare's partners

Landcare has forged many partnerships. They include all levels of government; the corporate sector; science; primary and secondary schools; and tertiary institutions.

These partnerships have contributed significantly to landcare’s success and strength and are a defining feature of the movement.

Landcare’s government partners

Australian governments at the federal, state, territory and local government levels have been strong supporters of landcare over the past 20 years.

This support goes beyond the obvious government programs that have funded thousands of landcare projects. Its key influences include partnerships with communities, entrusted responsibility, and a stronger focus on dealing with the causes and effects of natural resource degradation.

Together, these influences have represented a fundamental change in the way governments have approached the management of natural resources.

As strong supporters of landcare, successive Australian governments have committed almost $1 billion in project funding in the past 18 years through the National Landcare Program, which is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to help landholders and communities manage their natural resource problems.

In seeking to balance environmental and production values, the Australian Government’s aim has been to obtain greatly improved community benefits, including economic viability of agriculture and water-use efficiency, while maintaining and enhancing Australia’s resource base and ecosystems.

Through programs, such as the National Soil Conservation Program, the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, and now the Caring for our Country initiative, successive governments have supported and had a significant influence on land managers.

Caring for our Country will continue to support landcare and community groups in addressing the challenges ahead by building on their knowledge and past successes and through investigating and encouraging the adoption of sustainable systems for the benefit of all Australians and our unique environment.

Rising to the challenge

Group: Northern Agricultural Catchments Council
Location: Northern Agricultural Region, WA
Formed: 2007
Focus: Rising groundwater and salinity

Without immediate action, rising groundwater and salinity will make large tracts of Western Australia’s best agricultural land useless.

As a result of earlier land clearing and past and present land-management practices, groundwater in parts of the Northern Agricultural Region has been rising 50 centimetres a year on average since measurements began in the 1960s. The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council has targeted this area as a priority for incentive funding.

Funded by the Australian and West Australian governments, the council is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation and the peak body in the Northern Agricultural Region for the environment, sustainability, natural resource management and climate change adaptation.

The council works with land managers to develop practices to keep their farms, communities and the environment healthy and viable.

One of its key roles has been to prepare the region’s NRM management strategy and investment plan - of which the Targeted Investment Program (TIP), launched by the WA Agriculture and Food Minister in June 2007, is one part.

‘With about $2 million from the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, the council has already developed management agreements with landholders in the TIP area for approximately $1 million,’ said the council’s Incentives Program Manager, Jane Bradley.

‘Farmers involved in the project have committed to establishing approximately 2500 hectares of perennial pastures and 52 hectares of farm forestry, and to better managing 6000 hectares of remnant vegetation and 212 hectares of salt-affected land.’

^{Rising groundwater and salinity is a threat to the Northern Agricultural Region.}

Groundwater in parts of the northern agricultural region has been rising 50 centimetres a year.

Working with government agencies and local producer groups, the council is helping provide technical advice to landholders as part of its incentive programs.

‘Our focus has been strongly on cost-sharing with landholders, taking into account the public versus private benefits derived from the public monies spent,’ said Jane.

‘The TIP, however, is about more than just handing out incentives to farmers. It’s also about capacity building and education opportunities—for example, the council has organised perennial pasture-seeding workshops for farmers to talk about their experiences and discuss the technical side of pasture establishment.

‘We’ve also run a Prograze course to help landholders establish perennial pastures to maximise their potential through grazing management.'

^{Farmers discuss the technical side of pasture establishment.}

Power partnership

Group: Townsville City Council
Location: Northern Queensland
Formed: New Townsville City Council 2008
Focus: Wildlife habitat improvement and creating recreational areas

A partnership between local government, business and the community has had a positive environmental impact on the Townsville - Thuringowa region.

The Community Environment Fund is a three-year partnership program funded by $500 000 from Powerlink Queensland and a matching $500 000 from Townsville City Council and Thuringowa City Council, before their amalgamation into the new Townsville City Council in 2008.

Initiated in 2004 by Powerlink, the fund has brought together business, local government and the community to work on 27 environmental projects.

The projects are already improving wildlife habitats, creating recreational areas with strong links to eco-tourism, providing job-training opportunities and minimising the visual impact of Powerlink’s electricity infrastructure.

‘The program provided opportunities to form close partnerships with local community and environmental bodies, including landcare and Coastcare groups, Conservation Volunteers Australia, service clubs and schools,’ said project officer Libby Guest.

‘Most of the projects have implemented landcare principles and worked towards spreading the landcare ethic across the region.’

^{Landcare’s next generation.}

By reducing duplication in management, the fund’s governance arrangements make more money available for on-ground projects.

The figures speak for themselves: over three years, as a result of Community Environment Fund projects, 18 500 seedlings were planted, more than 60 hectares of native ecosystems restored and eight kilometres of wildlife corridors established.

Some 1400 volunteers committed 18 300 hours to projects, and 250 people were trained and employed through Green Corps, Community Jobs Program and Work-for-the-Dole teams, which contributed 22 000 hours. In-kind contributions amounted to more than $1.2 million.

One project enabled a small beach community to establish a group, Toomulla Coastcare.

‘Over a year members restored 13 hectares of front dunal beach scrub, planted and cared for 1300 local native beach species, attended training workshops and dedicated more than 3200 hours to projects,’ said Libby.

‘The group built its capacity to achieve positive environmental results and has maintained and extended the site with support from the local council and other regional bodies.’

^{More than 18 500 seedlings planted over three years.}

^{Seeing the results.}

Landcare’s corporate partners

The corporate sector - including some of Australia’s biggest companies - has been a strong and generous supporter of landcare, contributing millions of dollars in cash and in-kind sponsorship and the equivalent advertising value of media coverage.

An early success was the relationship between Landcare Australia and Uncle Toby’s. The company made over 50 short advertorials for television to promote the achievements of Landcare groups, and the Landcare logo.

Other sponsors followed, including BP, which also produced television community service announcements and the first national Landcare magazine, and BHP.

Major sponsor Alcoa began its relationship with the movement independently of Landcare Australia and set a new standard for corporate - Landcare partnerships.

Landcare has made it to the front cover of Australian telephone books and on to roadside billboards and products, ranging from cough lozenges to recycled paper.

The following stories show how Australian companies are working with the community on landcare initiatives, including by providing management and technical advice, as well as labour.

Alcoa of Australia

Landcare’s strongest corporate partner, Alcoa of Australia, has provided more than $20 million to landcare projects since 1989.

Alcoa’s support extends across the continent to programs such as Landcare Vision in the West Australian wheatbelt; the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project and other projects in western Victoria, and, also in Western Australia; the Tammin Alcoa Landcare Education Centre; the Warrambeen Landcare Education Centre; the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program; and the Rivers, Wetlands and Habitats Program.

The collaboration between Alcoa and landcare involves technical and management advice, networking, publicity support, inspiration - and warm personal relationships.

In 1990, Alcoa’s mine rehabilitation earned the company a listing on the United Nations Environment Program’s ‘Roll of Honour’ for environmental achievement. Alcoa is the only mining company to have been honoured with this award.

Recreating parklands with recycled paper

Sponsor: Spicers Paper
Level: Silver sponsor
Since: 2003
Focus: Landfill restoration

Spicers Paper’s Tudor RP, now Forest Stewardship Council-certified, is dedicated to helping the environment in more ways than one.

With 100 per cent recycled content, not only does Tudor RP help divert waste from landfill, it also raises valuable funds for Landcare Australia.

Originally developed through an internal innovation program, the Spicers Paper Recreate Program donates $100 for every tonne of Tudor RP 100% Recycled sold.

To date over $280 000 has been donated to Landcare Australia to help fund rehabilitation of old landfill sites around Australia. Funds have helped pay for plants, materials and tools for revegetation, weed management and professional planning services involved in ‘recreating’ these sites.

The program has been such a success that two new sites will be added in 2008–09, one in Tasmania and another in the Australian Capital Territory, making this a truly national initiative.

Spicers Paper’s staff and customers have also lent a hand at their local Landcare sites - a great opportunity to build enthusiasm for the program and get involved with the local communities.

^{Spicers’ funds have helped pay for plants, materials and tools for revegetation, weed management and professional planning services}

A logical extension

Sponsor: Elders
Level: Diamond supporter
Since: 2006
Focus: Promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture

Landcare Australia and Elders joined forces in 2006 to support Australian farmers in one of the most far-reaching landcare farming initiatives undertaken by Landcare Australia.

Launched during Landcare Week in September 2006, the Elders Landcare Farming partnership involves $2.5 million worth of national support from Elders over five years, supplemented by other forms of assistance from the company. It’s one of the largest corporate support packages received by Landcare Australia.

The partnership involves Elders and Landcare Australia promoting and encouraging the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices on farms and working with major industry groups and programs, such as Meat and Livestock Australia, Horticulture Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Grains Council of Australia and Australian Landcare Management Systems, on best-practice projects. It also includes an awards program to recognise the efforts of local landowners.

Elders managing director Mike Guerin said the partnership with Landcare Australia was of great significance to Elders. ‘Supporting Australian farmers’ success through sustainable land management practices and use of our precious natural resources is critical,’ he said.

‘For nearly 170 years, Elders has worked alongside Australian farmers to help them achieve better outcomes from their investment in primary production.

‘Our partnership with Landcare Australia is a natural and logical extension of our commitment to Australian agriculture.’

^{Landcare Australia and Elders joined forces in 2006 to support Australian farmers}

Putting something back

Sponsor: Woolworths
Level: Supporter
Since: 2007
Tackling: Encouraging sustainable agriculture practices in drought areas

Woolworths wanted to do something to help farmers doing it tough because of the drought, and so introduced the Drought Action Day - Backing Our Farmers initiative to help raise as much money as possible.

From the two Drought Action Days held in 2007 and 2008, $10.5 million in supermarket profits were donated to farming families in need and to develop, improve and encourage sustainable farming practices. The Country Women’s Association received $7 million and Landcare almost $3.5 million.

The Woolworths - Landcare Sustainable Farming Program aims to increase the capacity of farming businesses to manage through droughts, and to recover quickly from them.

The first project - on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia - was delivered with the help of Rural Solutions SA. The $265 000 project included $1000 grants for farmers to build containment feeding facilities for livestock, and $5000 grants for 20 farmers. These were used to set up demonstration paddocks on better feed use, and for research on the best fodder crops to grow on the peninsula to take advantage of summer rains.

Woolworths area manager Stephen Bryers said the company wanted to put something back into rural Australia and help producers survive the drought.

‘Australian farmers are doing it tough like never before, and we wanted to do something practical to help them survive, in both the short and long term,’ he said.

^{Woolworths - doing something practical to help farmers survive.}

A common approach

Sponsor: Sony
Level: Silver supporter
Since: 2002
Focus: Community involvement through partnership with Landcare Australia

The Sony Group of companies began a successful partnership with Landcare Australia in 2002 to encourage staff, retailers and customers to work together.

‘Companies are becoming increasingly aware of the need to encourage an ethic of community responsibility,’ said Nina Hearne, Sony Australia’s Head of Corporate Communications.

‘Here at Sony, we have a culture that embraces the triple bottom line—financial, social and environmental considerations in equal measure to ensure the success and sustainability of the business.’

Sony’s most recent projects with Landcare include the CarbonSMART program, the Burrumbuttock Public School and Wirriminna Environmental Education Centre and the Firestarter Conference.

In 2007, Sony joined the CarbonSMART program. The objective of this is to offset carbon emissions generated by Sony’s corporate car fleet and air travel.

CarbonSMART generates carbon credits from biodiversity plantings that are sold to organisations with a commitment to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

^{Sony - demonstrating its green credentials.}

Also in 2007, Sony Australia continued its youth commitment with Landcare.

The Burrumbuttock Public School and Wirriminna Environmental Education Centre, near Albury, has a nationally and internationally recognised junior landcare program, with hands-on environmental education as a key part of its whole-of-school and community values and activity. The project’s purpose is to create a hands-on learning environment centre, using best-practice sustainable building and energy-conservation principles.

Firestarter coordinates a major youth conference program that has involved more than 5000 students since 1999. The conferences are based on the ‘kids teaching kids’ concept and deal with major issues, including the environment, best use of science and technology, indigenous and heritage issues and the health of rural communities.

Savouring wine to save wild lives

Sponsor: Banrock Station Wines
Level: Diamond supporter
Since: 1995
Supporting: Restoring wetlands

Banrock Station Wines - a BRL Hardy brand - has established itself as one of Australia’s premier environmental wines as a result of its successful cause-marketing program with Landcare Australia.

Through this program - ’Savour the wine that saves wild lives’ - proceeds from every bottle or cask of wine sold contribute to landcare community wetland-restoration projects around the country.

Banrock Station has raised millions of dollars in Australia and elsewhere in the world for these projects. In 2002 the Banrock Station property was listed as a wetland of international significance by the Ramsar Convention.

In February 2008, Banrock Station joined forces with Landcare Australia to launch a new initiative to save hundreds of thousands of megalitres of water nationwide by calling on Australian households to reduce their water use by 10 per cent.

Supported by Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, the campaign included the launch of an interactive website with a water-use calculator and tips for reducing household water use.

Environmental Scientist and Banrock Station manager Tony Sharley said he was delighted to continue the landcare partnership through this new project.

‘Help Us Help the Earth is a fantastic initiative directed at protecting the earth’s most valuable natural asset - water,’ said Tony. ‘We can’t wait to see what can be achieved with the public’s help.’

^{Olympic swimming legend Michael Klim at the launch of the water saving campaign}

In a league of their own

Sponsor: Bundaberg Rum
Level: Diamond supporter
Since: 2002
Supporting: Restoring rivers and waterways

The Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund is a joint initiative with Landcare Australia to help protect and repair Australia’s rivers and waterways. As a result, tens of thousands of trees have been planted, kilometres of fencing erected and thousands of volunteer hours expended.

‘Clean, healthy waterways are imperative for all Australians and we’re committed to assisting communities to achieve this now and into the future,’ said Tony Scanlan, Chair of the Bundaberg Rum Distilling Company.

In 2006 the Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund spearheaded the Landcare for Larry appeal in response to Cyclone Larry.

Thanks largely to a Legends of League fundraising match in Townsville - organised in conjunction with the NRL and featuring some of the greatest talent ever assembled on a rugby league field - over $400 000 was raised to repair the damaged land and waterways of Far North Queensland.

In 2004 the Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund staged the Murray River Revival Tour - a 10 day tour to highlight the issues affecting the river - which provided $150 000 in grants for local Landcare groups to help restore it.

^{The start of the Legends of League match}

Going green

Sponsor: Coles
Level: Diamond supporter
Since: 2001
Supporting: Reducing plastic bag use

In 2004 Coles and it’s then Bi-Lo stores agreed to reduce plastic bag use by a quarter, helping decrease the amount of bags going to landfill and clogging waterways. A year later, in 2005, Coles and Bi-Lo achieved a 45 per cent reduction in plastic bag use.

‘We’re very pleased so many of our customers have made the switch to re-usable bags,’ said Coles and Bi-Lo Supermarkets community relations manager, Anna Greco.

‘The more customers who convert from single-use bags, the bigger the difference we can make.’

The year 2005 also marked the sale of eight million ‘Go Green’ re-usable shopping bags. Ten cents from the sale of each bag goes to the Go Green Environment Fund, which is distributed between Landcare Australia, Planet Ark and Clean-up Australia.

The Go Green Environment fund has contributed $400 000 towards Landcare Australia and important environmental projects, such as Junior Landcare, revegetation, biodiversity and salinity projects.

Coles recently provided grants to schools and youth groups for environmental projects including creating kitchen and bush tucker gardens, collecting seeds, propagating plants, controlling weeds and setting up an ecology centre.

^{Coles donates money to Landcare Australia for every Go Green shopping bag sold}

Increasing tree numbers electronically

Sponsor: Computershare
Level: Diamond supporter
Since: 2004
Supporting: Paperless reporting for shareholders

Millions of Australian shareholders now have the chance to help the environment by choosing to receive company documents electronically in return for having trees planted on their behalf.

Computershare, an investor services and stakeholder communications company that manages the share registers of 60 per cent of Australia’s listed entities, has teamed up with Landcare Australia on eTree.

Every time a shareholder registers for the scheme at www.eTree.com.au, a donation of up to $2 is made to Landcare Australia to go toward significant reforestation projects in the state or territory in which the shareholder lives. The donation is paid by participating listed companies, whose shareholders can take up the eTree incentive provided they have email and internet access.

Computershare collects the donated funds and passes them on to Landcare Australia, which makes payments to community landcare groups.

Computershare’s CEO Chris Morris said the company was in a unique position to help facilitate this initiative.

‘The cost to companies in producing and mailing large quantities of paper documents, such as annual reports and statements, is significant from a financial perspective and considerable in environmental terms,’ he said.

‘The eTree initiative gives Australian companies a way to contribute to a more sustainable way of doing business, while offering a significant environmental incentive to shareholders.’

In the third year of the program, eTree reached three million trees planted through shareholder registrations. There are now more than 87 Australian-listed companies participating and the scheme is open to all listed companies.

^{More than three million trees have been planted thanks to the eTree initiative}

Using employees as volunteers

Sponsor: Westpac
Level: Diamond supporter
Since: 2001
Supporting: Staff involvement in landcare projects

Westpac has supported landcare since 2001 with projects that involve its employees as volunteers through Operation Backyard.

Landcare Australia administers the program for Westpac to help link volunteers with projects that tackle issues such as revegetation, erosion prevention and the restoration of ecological balance and habitat.

Westpac is giving its customers more environmental choices. The Westpac Great Paper Challenge allowed customers to switch from paper to electronic statements, saving paper and greenhouse emissions.

^{Westpac sponsored the 2008 Education National Landcare Award: pictured here are the winners Camperdown P-12 College Environment Group from Victoria with acting legend and long-term landcare supporter Jack Thompson.}

In 2006 Westpac launched its Landcare Term Deposit. This gives customers the same features and rates as a regular Westpac Term Deposit, but an amount equivalent to the money deposited will be lent to landcare farmers to help them develop sustainable farming practices.

‘Nearly 60 per cent of customers would be more interested in investing in a deposit product if the funds were invested in environmentally responsible organisations,’ said Westpac head of corporate responsibility Graham Paterson.

‘With this product all of our customers, whether they live in the city or the bush, can choose to support something they believe in, such as sustainable farming.’

When Westpac won the inaugural Greenhouse Challenge Plus Award in business leadership in 2005 it had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent since joining the Greenhouse Challenge Plus program in 1996.

It was the first bank in Australia to develop an environmental policy and management system and a best-of-sector socially responsible investment product. It was also a founding signatory to the UN Environment Program for Finance Institutions.

Helping kids learn about the environment

Sponsor: Australia Post
Level: Platinum supporter
Since: 2005
Supporting: Staff involvement in landcare projects

Australia Post became a sponsor of Landcare Australia in 2005 with the creation of two grants programs: the biodiversity category of the Junior Landcare Grants and the Australia Post community development grants.

The community development grants act as a wish list for groups, whereby funds can go directly to a community project, help buy much-needed tools and equipment, or help raise awareness and encourage more community members to get involved. This flexibility in the allocation of funds helps groups in their capacity building within the community.

Australia Post has funded 122 Junior Landcare projects through its sponsorship of the biodiversity category of the Junior Landcare Grant Program. Valued at $550, the grants help kids learn about the environment while having fun, through undertaking projects such as improving habitat for native animals, flora and fauna monitoring, field trips and setting up environmental clubs.

By working with schools and youth groups, the grants aim to involve the whole family and community in caring for our environment.

Australia Post’s Michelle Giuliano said she was looking forward to seeing the benefits the grants would have on local communities and the environment.

‘We’re very proud to be a partner of Landcare Australia. Through this partnership, we hope to make a contribution towards protecting and nurturing our environment and highlighting this important cause within both urban and regional communities,’ she said.

Being smart with carbon

Sponsor: Landcare Australia
Since: 2006
Focus: Sale of carbon rights from landcare plantings

On the back of efforts to reduce carbon emissions through initiatives such as the Australian Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Landcare Australia has developed a not-for-profit carbon trading organisation - Landcare CarbonSMART - to engage in the carbon trade market.

Landcare CarbonSMART is considered Australia’s leading not-for-profit carbon trading organisation, and represents a silver-lining opportunity in a market estimated to be worth up to US$3.1 trillion by 2020*.

With trees in the ground worth money through the value of the carbon they store, there is now a viable way to encourage biodiversity plantings across Australia while ensuring a financial return.

Landcare CarbonSMART has adopted a unique approach, working in partnership with landholders in rural Australia to help them register landcare plantings as carbon-credit stock.

More than 150 Landcare CarbonSMART site assessors are operating across Australia, assisting landholders to register with the program.

Under Landcare CarbonSMART eligibility guidelines, plantings must be of mixed species, indigenous to the area and contribute to improving biodiversity.

‘The program isn’t about locking away productive agricultural land,’ said Landcare CarbonSMART managing director Matt Reddy. ‘We’re talking about plantings on unusable, eroded or saline land and along shelter belts and fence lines.

‘Landcare CarbonSMART is about the sustainability of our landscapes and our farming.’

For those living in the city, and for big companies, the program represents the most sustainable, environmentally friendly carbon offsets on the market.

Importantly, Landcare CarbonSMART is one of only two organisations double accredited under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly program and the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.

Purchasers of Landcare CarbonSMART carbon include the Victorian Government, Bunnings, SONY, Melbourne City Council, WOMAD, Citypower/Powercor and the Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency.

Working their 1820 hectare farm near Narrandera, NSW, the Strong family is now receiving healthy payments through Landcare CarbonSMART for sequestering carbon in their trees.

‘We started planting in 1997 to reintroduce native vegetation to the area,’ said Garth Strong. ‘We wanted to create wildlife corridors to link up to nearby state forest and encourage native birds and animals back into the area. The trees also gave shelter for our stock.’

Twenty-one eligible hectares planted by the Strongs will earn them an estimated $25,000 over 30 years.

^{*Environmental market forecaster Point Carbon.}

Learning and landcare

From the beginning, the landcare movement has been committed to educating both adults and children in the principles of environmental care and sustainable use of natural resources.

The philosophy of ‘action learning’ forms the basis of landcare: individuals learn with, and from, one another by working on real problems, and by reflecting on their own experiences.

Landcare learning occurs in many formal arenas - in schools, university tutorials and vocational landcare courses—and less formally, in partnerships between farmers and scientists, in projects where school students work with landcare groups, and in multi-disciplinary research.

Schools have enthusiastically adopted Landcare under the title ‘Junior Landcare’, which recognises that young people’s contribution is vital if the land they’re to inherit is to be in the best possible condition.

^{The philosophy of ‘action learning’ forms the basis of landcare.}

Filling the space

School: Mulwaree High School
Location: Goulburn, NSW
Focus: Wetland rehabilitation and landcare education
Since: 2004

Mulwaree High School, near Goulburn, had space to spare—an extra 30 hectares of cleared dairy-farm land that formed part of the school grounds.

The land, however, came with serious degradation problems, including erosion and salinity. So, in the 1990s, the science department at the school under the direction of the head teacher, Bill Needham, set about rehabilitating the site to create a wetland field study area with an educational facility for its own and other students to visit and use.

Inspired by the project, students and teachers within the school’s agriculture and science faculties formed Mulwaree High School Landcare in 2004. The group continued rehabilitating the wetland and developed an educational program.

With help from Goulburn Mulwaree Council, they landscaped the spring and dams on the site to create a set of interconnected ponds. The national Botanic Gardens in Canberra and the NSW primary industries department provided advice on planting aquatic plants and trees from local, endangered woodland communities.

^{Top pic: Students are involved in monitoring programs such as Streamwatch. Year 9 students completing biodiversity studies.}

The group continued rehabilitating the wetland and developed an educational program

Earthworks and revegetation prevented erosion and provided habitat for native birds and animals. A survey by the NSW Parks and Wildlife Division revealed many protected birds in this area, as well as echidnas, antechinus, swamp wallabies, legless lizards, tortoises, frogs, yabbies and snakes. The group has installed a predator-proof fence around the site to keep these creatures safe.

In 2006, the school built a free-standing classroom 100 metres from the wetlands for practical curriculum activities. Students are also involved in monitoring programs such as Streamwatch.

‘Apart from its educational value, the wetlands area has led to community projects,’ said Bill Needham.

‘Our students have planted a tree corridor to commemorate every local man and woman killed on active service. The corridor provides a shelter belt around the paddocks and links vegetation in the wetlands area.

Science teacher Janine Devery said students and teachers had put in countless volunteer hours to plant trees, weed and care for the site.

‘The wetland is available to other local schools to use for similar subjects and for programs, such as Bug Watch,’ she said.

‘These studies not only enrich their educational experiences, but also provide a powerful example of the value of landcare principles.’

^{From cleared dairy farm to wetlands field study area.}

Saving the earless dragon

Group: GED Action Group
Location: Mt Tyson, Darling Downs, Qld
Focus: Conservation of rare and threatened lizards
Since: 2001

The discovery of two small lizards in the black-soil country near Mt Tyson on the Darling Downs in the early 1970s raised eyebrows at the Queensland Museum.

The museum identified the lizards as one of Australia’s most rare and threatened species, the grassland earless dragon (GED) - Tympanocryptis pinguicolla.

‘Before the discovery, the species had been known only in small and isolated populations confined to native grasslands west of Melbourne, the Australian Capital Territory and adjoining areas of New South Wales,’ said landholder and Mt Tyson District Landcare Group member Paula Halford.

‘Repeated searches had failed to find any more, and the lizard was thought to be extinct in Queensland - until 2001 when students from the University of Queensland caught one while working on a property near Mt Tyson. When it arrived at the Queensland Museum, its positive identification caused a sensation.’

The GED Action Group, comprising Paula, Rod Hobson from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Alison Goodland from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee and local restaurateur and confectioner Heather Hanlon, was formed to conserve the grassland earless dragon.

^{In search of the grasslands earless dragon.}

‘The group raised the lizard’s profile by selling chocolate dragons to raise funds for research and community education,’ said Paula.

‘We’ve given talks at schools and to businesses, conducted media interviews and written articles to promote the dragon.

‘And, with the help of a grant from the Queensland Government, we conducted school activities in biodiversity, and an arts program in which children made their own clay GEDs and then performed a play where the dragons were “released”,’ she said.

‘A partnership between the GED Action Group and the University of Queensland’s Gatton Campus has been most valuable. Students and researchers are playing a vital role in researching the earless dragon, and two students have completed honours projects on its ecology and habitat.

‘Genetic research by the university is also investigating whether the lizard could be a separate species.’

Writing in the Australian Geographic magazine (Oct–Dec 2008 issue 92), eminent Australian herpetologist Steve Wilson said scientists were not sure about the Darling Downs lizards.

‘They were first believed to be a rare grassland species that vanished from Victoria in the 1960s and now exists only as isolated populations in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales,’ he said.

‘Recent genetic studies link them with a desert species, the four-pored earless dragon.’

^{The GED - positive identification caused a sensation.}

Driving change

Partnership: Great Southern TAFE and the Friends of Lake Seppings
Location: Albany, South Coast, WA
Focus: Wetland rehabilitation
Since: 2006

Despite being declared a botanic garden in 1888 and a protected wetland in 1900, Lake Seppings at Albany was used as a tip for the next 70 years.

That changed after the state fisheries and fauna department wanted the area protected for water fowl, and the local Apex group started work on a bird walk.

The former tip is now being rehabilitated in a joint effort by Great Southern TAFE students and the Friends of Lake Seppings community group under the guidance of the City of Albany Environmental Management Plan.

Great Southern TAFE sees the students’ involvement as a vital part of their training in horticulture, conservation and land management.

‘Their studies focus on building their field skills with projects that truly make a difference,’ said lecturer Leah Goodrem.

‘The state government’s commitment to sustainability and a growing environmental awareness in the community have created a need for more training in landcare and land-management technologies.

^{Working in tandem: volunteers, students, TAFE and City of Albany staff all get involved with the work.}

‘The students participate in many local environmental projects, like the Lake Seppings project. This was an excellent opportunity for them to politicise their environmental concerns, link up with local government and drive change in an area of need,’ said Leah.

‘Students can use their new skills to develop, plan and implement projects. The Lake Seppings project has key milestones that allow everyone involved to reflect on the outstanding results and environmental improvements to the area.’

The information recorded by the students about the site’s hydrology and native flora and fauna is adding considerably to knowledge and understanding of the ecology of Lake Seppings, and will help with decision making about its future management.

^{Great Southern TAFE students spreading mulch delivered by the City of Albany in preparation for infill planting on a weed-infested section of the former rubbish disposal site.}

^{Great Southern TAFE staff and students and members of Friends of Lake Seppings enjoying the shade at Lake Seppings.}

An enriching experience

Group: Camperdown College Environment Group
Location: South-west Victoria
Focus: Habitat rehabilitation
Since: 2002

A remote village in the mountains of Nepal is about as far as you can get from everyday life at Camperdown College.

After the college’s environment group coordinated a collection of misplaced pens, pencils and second-hand clothing to distribute among poverty stricken children in the village, some of the students travelled there with a group of adults to help with a village clean-up.

Camperdown College has about 350 students, and its environment group has volunteers across year levels 5–12.

The group had its beginnings after the organisation of the Australian Students Wetlands Conference and with the construction of the school’s plant nursery.

Since 1994 students have propagated about 9000 indigenous plants each year for restoration projects such as the revegetation of the nearby Mt Leura and Mount Sugarloaf regions. They have also created bush-tucker gardens with advice from the local Aboriginal community.

^{Establishing a Koori garden. The students received advice from the local Aboriginal community.}

Another student initiative at the school is an environmental education centre, known as CEASE—Camperdown Environmental and Sustainability Education—which educates students and the community about revegetation, recycling and alternative energy use.

The students have also taken their environmental awareness into the community and conducted energy ratings on homes to identify areas of potential savings.

In 2001, a group at the school organised a national wetlands conference which attracted 150 students from more than 26 schools across Australia.

‘The environment group has broadened my views,’ said year 11 student Tegan McKenzie. ‘It’s been a thoroughly enriching experience.’

Another year 11 student, Alex Gordon, said: ‘It’s very rewarding to see that the work we do really does help the environment.’

^{Lake Bullen-Merri litter clean-up.}

Solving the sinkhole problem

College: St Joseph’s College
Location: Katherine, NT
Focus: Sinkhole management
Since: 2005

St Joseph’s College at Katherine had a problem—a sinkhole in its grounds.

Sinkholes are depressions in the land surface that contain internal drainage. They’re caused by the downward movement or collapse of surface material into solution openings in underlying carbonate rock.

The school’s sinkhole had turned into an unofficial waste dump that threatened to contaminate groundwater supplies.

Year 7 students set up a group to study the dynamics of sinkholes and come up with a plan to look after their own problem.

They found that streams and surface run-off could bypass natural filtration through the soil and sediment and enter sinkholes and caves. The contaminated groundwater could then travel hundreds of metres a day through underground networks to nearby wells and springs.

Located near a major road and a bus interchange, the school’s sinkhole was vulnerable to such pollution.

The students studied the surrounding ecosystems and looked at strategies for removing contamination sources. These included getting rid of weeds, revegetating the site and preparing fire and management plans.

^{Year 7 students set up a study group to investigate the dynamics of sinkholes.}

With technical support and knowledge from outside organisations and specialists, the students carried out their own fauna and flora studies and gained a deep understanding of the management issues and risks for the sinkhole.

They were then ready to take the first practical step—the labour-intensive task of clearing out the sinkhole. Items removed included carpet from 10 classrooms, paint buckets, beer cans, fencing wire, rotting cardboard and broken glass.

Next, the students had an exclusion fence built to protect the sinkhole. Greening Australia provided suitable plants to create a buffer zone around it.

The students believed, however, that their efforts would have only limited benefit unless they made the school and local community aware of the project. They therefore widely circulated a report on the project and highlighted their activities through the school newsletter, newspaper articles, brochures and information sheets, and on radio.

Some of the students also made a presentation at an International Association of Hydrologists conference in Darwin, and another group presented at a sinkholes workshop at a Murray–Darling Basin Commission International River Health Conference.

Early achievers

School: Cleve Area School
Location: Cleve, SA
Focus: Teaching agriculture, NRM and sustainable futures at high-school level
Since: Agriculture, 1970s, NRM 1990s–2002, sustainable futures, since 2005

South Australia’s future farmers are already winning awards for sustainable farming and protecting biodiversity - even before they’re out of school.

In the 1970s Cleve Area School received a special bequest of a 400-hectare farm to promote youth education in farm management - a concept developed by the state education and agriculture departments.

At the farm, students learn about farming practices, technologies and economics, as well as receiving ecological and environmental education. Landcare and sustainable farming practices form the foundation of agriculture courses.

The school has over 40 mentors, specialists in their field, who teach the students about Weed Watch, Waterwatch, planting trees, fencing creek lines, protecting and fencing native and remnant vegetation, establishing contour banks and other sustainability initiatives.

In 2006 and 2007, as one of 43 farms across Australia working with their communities and researchers to explore the relationship between on-farm productivity and biodiversity, the school became involved in a national research project, ‘Biodiversity in Grain and Graze’.

^{Students learn about farming practices, technologies and economics.}

The students tested soil, monitored and recorded the health of vegetation, collected a range of invertebrates and began the biological control of one of Australia’s worst weed threats, the bridal creeper.

Deciding to move beyond the farm gate, the students took on a major project at the request of the nearby Arno Bay Progress Group to help remove weeds from the foreshore and marina, including more than eight tonnes of gazania weed. When the work proved harder than anyone expected, they rallied the support of the local community.

The site cleared, the students then researched appropriate plants for the area, collected seeds, and set about the huge task of replanting.

‘Because we’re heading towards a more environmentally sustainable system in life and in farming, this is an important choice we’re offering our students,’ said farm technician Rodger Story.

‘They’re coming into an age where dealing with environmental issues is the norm. They know they’ve got to do something to help.’

^{The school has over 40 mentors, specialists in their field.}

Lessons from the paddock

Group: Sisters Creek farmer discussion group
Location: Cradle Coast and Northern Tasmania
Focus: Combining productivity and sustainability
Since: 2000

Farmers from Tasmania’s Cradle Coast and northern regions are proving they can become more sustainable - and still improve productivity.

Farmer Phil Beswick, a member of the Sisters Creek discussion group for seven years, says the proof is in the results.

‘The average yield of the potato crops for farmers in the group has risen by five to seven tonnes per hectare’, he said. ‘But we want to make sure we’re doing the right thing environmentally, as well as maximising the crop yields.’

Phil is one of 10 potato-cropping and dairy farmers who’ve joined a discussion group run through Serve-Ag since 2000. Supported by the National Landcare Program, the group project gives farmers the opportunity to assess and monitor farm soil and surface water conditions, as well as the capacity to increase productivity and reduce degradation by promoting best practices in land management.

‘We learned we had to get farmers out of rooms and into the paddock for them to move forward,’ said Serve-Ag project manager Doris Blaesing.

‘Most meetings are now in the paddock or sitting in the back of the ute. There are things that just wouldn’t come up if we were sitting in a room.’

Serve-Ag landcare project officer Bronwyn Haller said that as farmers learned more, the more they wanted to learn.

‘After a soil-structure workshop, digging holes in paddocks all day and comparing soil structure between paddocks, the last thing one of the farmers said to me was, “I’m going home to do this in my paddock”’, she said.

‘We’re giving growers the opportunity to become independent learners. We don’t want them to be reliant on us for information, but we want to encourage them to be inquisitive and proactive and find and evaluate information from other channels.’

Phil Beswick’s group plans to continue the discussion and learning process. ‘We’re looking at how we can improve the yields of other crops, and moving on to better grazing management,’ he said.

‘As well as the discussion groups, we go around and look at other people’s crops to see how they’re going,’ he said. The project has given us tools that we can use, and the knowledge that we’re doing the right thing.’

^{Getting farmers out of rooms and into the paddocks to learn.}

Landcare and science

Landcare groups provide a linkage between the new knowledge being developed by the research community and the land managers who need to access this new knowledge*.

From their early days, landcare groups have worked with scientists and researchers - and in many cases have become researchers themselves - to find the most effective ways of farming sustainably.

As landcare’s focus on sustainable production has increased, and as research continues into more profitable and sustainable alternative farming systems, more farmers are adopting landcare practices.

Landcare’s development has coincided with growing numbers of farmers participating in partnerships with research bodies such as the rural research and development corporations.

It has also coincided with a dramatic increase in scientific knowledge about the extent and severity of land degradation and its causes, and what needs to be done.

Landcare groups are often at the forefront of research. Farmer groups initiate projects and collect and analyse data, and it’s not uncommon for farmers to appear at conferences as joint authors of research publications.

Sometimes the community identifies a problem, starts a trial, develops a proposal, and then seeks technical support.

Under the landcare banner, many community monitoring programs, such as Saltwatch, Watertable Watch and Waterwatch, feed into official databases, allowing the observations and readings of ordinary citizens to be used scientifically.

^{* Peter Cullen, John Williams &, Allan Curtis, Landcare farming: securing the future of Australian Agriculture, Landcare Australia, Sydney, 2003. Also available at: htps://wic004tv.server-secure.com/vs154616_secure/resources/Landcare_Farming_Report.pdf}

^{landcare’s development has coincided with more farmers working in partnership with research bodies.}

Sharing scientific findings

Group: Wallatin Wildlife & Landcare
Location: Kellerberrin Shire, east of Perth, WA
Formed: 1997
Focus: Catchment-scale scientific research to benefit Landcare

A long history of research by a West Australian landcare group has led to the publication of more than 70 scientific papers, and included presentations at an international conference.

‘Wallatin Wildlife & Landcare supports and participates in scientific research to benefit landcare locally, regionally and nationally,’ said the group’s project manager Glenice Batchelor. ‘We also share and host visits designed to share that knowledge.’

The organisation is involved in a $1.2 million, five-year catchment demonstration initiative, using a science-based, group catchment approach for work on salinity. The project is one of only four of its kind in Western Australia, and the only one in the Avon region.

‘Its aim is to show how combinations of salinity management practices can be used to recover saline land, restrict or contain salinity development and allow profitable adaptation of saline land and water,’ said Glenice.

‘The 15 demonstration projects in the Wallatin/O’Brien Catchment Demonstration initiative include engineering and plant-based options for salinity management, combined within viable farming systems.

‘Our success in obtaining funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and two CSIRO programs - ‘Healthy Water for Healthy Country’ and ‘Sustainable Ecosystems’ - meant we could attract partner research projects and scientists to work in the catchment and collaborate with landholders to answer their questions,’ she said.

^{Wallatin Wildlife & Landcare is showing how combinations of salinity management practices can be used to recover saline land.}

‘These partner projects are focusing on hydrology, farm economics, soils and agronomy, nature conservation and social processes.

‘During a demonstration phase of the 15 projects, we gave farmers recipes for treating salinity, enabling them to take steps to adapt, recover or contain salinity in a subsidised “rollout” phase.

‘Using this knowledge, group members then decided what would work best in their situation and committed their own funds to roll out over 50 projects.’

A technical review of each farm ensured they were using scientifically valid solutions that suited their landscape and farming enterprises.

As part of the monitoring and evaluation plan, piezometers and bores located throughout the catchment are used to monitor water levels and water quality monthly, and to measure the impact of works and monitor salinity risk. Data loggers and telemetry are also placed at strategic locations to monitor a deep drain trial.

The GRDC-funded project Bringing it all together for the grains industry documented the first three years of the initiative, which is also the subject of numerous scientific papers. Some of the landcare group’s findings were presented at the 2nd International Salinity Forum in Adelaide in 2008.

Wallatin Wildlife & Landcare’s work was recognised in the 2007–08 Western Australian Landcare Awards, with the group being awarded the Nature Conservation Award, and Glenice receiving the Landcare Professional Award.

^{The project is one of only four of its kind in western australia.}

Understanding and managing dryland salinity

Group: John Ive and family
Location: Yass Valley, NSW
Formed: Project began 1980
Focus: Dryland salinity and water table management

Former scientist and farmer John Ive and his family have spent almost every weekend since 1980 transforming ‘Talaheni’, a rundown, salty and bare property outside Canberra, into an award-winning and highly productive farm.

It’s not just hard work that’s seen the property improve. John has applied scientific principles to understanding and managing the problems of rising saline water tables.

‘Dryland salinity results from the impact of clearing deep-rooted perennial vegetation, which results in more incoming rainfall passing below the shallow roots of annual crops and pastures,’ said John.

‘This increase in deep drainage has led to rising water tables, which affect the upper part of the soil profile, particularly in the productive valleys.’

This much is common knowledge, but although John’s land management activities were successfully reducing the effect of dryland salinity, he didn’t know if the effect was from his careful management practices or merely the outcome of a long period of below-average rainfall causing the water table to drop.

John went back to historical weather records and used his daily water balance model to analyse deep drainage patterns over the long term.

^{John Ive went back to historical weather records to analyse deep-drainage patterns over the long term.}

‘This model partitions each rainfall event into infiltration, which is stored until the profile is full, the excess becomes deep drainage, and runoff’ he said. ‘The only information I need for the model is daily rainfall - recorded on the farm - and daily evaporation from the nearby Canberra meteorological site- accessed on the web.’

When John used the model to analyse historical records, he found there had been extreme but isolated deep drainage events over the previous 120 years.

‘While the 1920s and 1950s were the standout decades, the late 1980s and 1990s were also a period of significant deep drainage,’ he said. ‘Nevertheless the water table on Talaheni has been lowered significantly during this period delivering substantial environmental and production benefits.’

The long-term analysis gives John heart that he’s achieved significant lowering of the water table during a period of above average deep drainage, when no action on his part would have no doubt seen further rise.

Under projected climate change scenarios, rainfall is predicted to decline in the Yass area with individual rainfall events being less frequent but higher and more intense. John therefore concludes that average deep drainage is likely to decline, so that the gains made in lowering saline water tables should persist.

The water table on talaheni has been lowered significantly during the late 1980s and 1990s, delivering substantial environmental and production benefits.

Tackling the problem head-on

Group: Arid Recovery
Location: Roxby Downs, SA
Formed: 1997
Focus: Protecting threatened mammals from feral predators

Australia’s arid zones have suffered the country’s worst extinction rates of native plants and wildlife, and are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of feral cats, rabbits and foxes.

Few conservation programs, however, target these areas because of their low populations and inaccessibility.

Since European settlement, 60 per cent of the mammals in the Roxby Downs region have become extinct.

Arid Recovery - a joint initiative between BHP Billiton, Friends of Arid Recovery, the University of Adelaide and the state Department of Environment and Heritage - has tackled the problem head-on.

It has created Australia’s largest non-coastal exclosure - an area from which wild animals are excluded. The exclusion fence surrounding the 60-square kilometre reserve has never been breached by cats or foxes.

^{Ecologist Jenny Scott}

Inside the fence lies a sanctuary from which cats, foxes and rabbits have been eradicated. Native plants are regenerating and four locally extinct mammals have been reintroduced - the greater stick nest rat, the burrowing bettong, the greater bilby and the western barred bandicoot.

Other native mammals are five times more plentiful inside the reserve than outside.

Now in its 10th year, the program has fenced a second reserve and is removing introduced species from within it.

Arid Recovery has also been controlling feral pests outside the reserve since 1997, and is researching more effective methods of large-scale control, with results being published in peer-reviewed journal papers.

Researchers are radio-tracking cats and foxes with GPS collars to understand their behaviour better in the arid zone.

It will be the first Australian project to study dingo, fox and cat interaction in the hope of using dingoes to control foxes and cats.

Depending heavily on volunteer labour from the local community, conservation organisations, students and Indigenous groups, the project shows how mining, tourism, pastoralism and conservation can work together for conservation.

Creating a mentoring environment

Group: Grogan Landcare Group
Location: Near Temora, NSW
Formed: 1998
Focus: Managing heavy clay soils

Before 1998, landholders in the Bland Creek Catchment were struggling to farm the district’s heavy clay soils.

When Grogan Landcare Group formed, its members applied for funding for a 20-hectare trial site to trial revegetation, cereal cropping and perennial species. CSIRO researchers in Canberra supported the initiative,

With funding help from Great Southern Energy, the group planted an arboretum of native species on a section of the site to investigate which could thrive on the heavy clay soils.

‘CSIRO helped us carry out deep soil tests for salinity, sodium levels (sodicity), nutrients and soil compaction on the site’s cropping area,’ said group secretary Lynne Jones.

‘Over the next five years we trialled a range of agronomic strategies to improve crop performance, explore the benefits of perennial pastures and develop best-management practices for farming difficult soils.’

Farmers were encouraged to be involved in the decision-making process on the trial block and Grogan Landcare members invited input from local agronomists. The group formed a sub-committee and invited younger members to take part in the decision making.

‘This provided a mentoring environment where young farmers worked alongside senior members and research officers. This helped them increase their skills and confidence in best-practice farming systems and maximise their own potential,’ said Lynne.

‘Farmers are now working on trial sites at Morangarell and Grogan with state government agronomists at Temora and Young to improve cropping quality and yields. The results from the sites are passed on to the wider community and interested groups through research reports, newsletters and community seminars,’ she said.

‘We also hold periodic demonstrations for the local community at the Grogan trial site, showing how to manage waterlogging in clay soils more effectively.’

The CSIRO has published the results of the Grogan cropping trials in ‘Managing heavy clay soils on the Bland’, which was released to Grogan landcare members, the wider community and agricultural groups.

^{Grogan Landcare field day.}

Counting frogs

Group: ACT Frogwatch
Location: Canberra, ACT
Formed: 2002
Focus: ACT frog census

Each October, residents in the Australian Capital Territory can be found gathering around the region’s creeks and waterways, hands cupped behind their ears, listening for the difference in frog-mating calls.

They’re part of Frogwatch, a community frog-monitoring program that has been running since 2002.

Because they’re sensitive to pollutants and vulnerable to habitat change, frogs are good indicators of environmental health. Their presence can show the availability of good water quality and good habitat, while their absence can be a warning that catchment areas are in decline.

The timing of the spring mating calls of frogs around October conveniently coincides with National Water Week. This enables people who are familiar with the calls of two species of frogs in particular - the spotted burrowing frog and the eastern banjo frog, or ‘pobblebonk’ - to identify them in a non-invasive way.

Frogwatchers receive the Frogwatch census kit, which contains information about local frog species, census instructions and an audio CD of the mating calls of local frogs. Experts from Environment ACT and the University of Canberra train them to collect Frogwatch data in a form that is useful to government agencies and the wider community.

^{Dan Mantle with a Graceful treefrog (Litoria gracilenta).}

Using audio recordings, the Frogwatch coordinator verifies all data. Environment ACT staff also verify any unusual, rare or difficult identifications. Frogwatch data is widely used by government agencies, local environment groups and others, and is important when making management decisions about areas of significant biodiversity.

In 2007, Frogwatch volunteers detected the nationally vulnerable green and gold bell frog, which was thought to be extinct in the region. The University of Canberra is following up the finding and hopes to find clues about what caused the species to decline in the first place.

Frogwatch runs engaging education programs and provides resources such as its popular Frogwatch classroom education kit and an educational leaflet to help ACT residents create frog-friendly habitat in their backyards, school grounds or rural properties. It also contributes to creating habitat for local wildlife.

^{Plains froglet (Crinia signifera).}

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