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Landcare in Australia: Beyond the expert farmer

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Abstract

The landcare program has been embraced by governments, farmer organizations and conservation groups throughout Australia as offering a model for effective community action to assist the move to more sustainable resource use. Over 2,500 landcare-type groups now operate across Australia with 65,000 members including almost 30% of the farming community. This research used surveys of landcare group activity in most Australian states, a study of the regional landcare action plan (RLAP) process in the state of Victoria, and a survey of landholders in north east Victoria to assess landcare program effectiveness, and particularly, the assumptions underlying the program logic. Information provided revealed the vast scale of community participation in landcare and the considerable amount of onground work undertaken by groups and landholders. Analysis of north east landholder surveys indicated landcare participation had a significant impact upon landholder awareness of issues, level of knowledge, and adoption of best bet practices. However, research findings also highlighted a number of concerns about the program logic and implementation, and the authors suggest it is time to adopt a revised landcare program model.

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Authors
  1. Allan Curtis
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  2. Terry De Lacy
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Additional information

Allan Curtis is a lecturer in natural resource management at the Johnstone Centre for Parks, Recreation and Heritage at Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia. Allan's research expertise is in the areas of community participation and program evaluation. Allan has/is undertaking nationally significant research projects related to landcare program evaluation and the development of farm forestry. Allan is an active participant in natural resource management and is a ministerial appointed community representative on the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council Community Advisory Board and the North East Catchment and Land Protection Advisory Board.

Professor Terry De Lacy is Director of the Johnstone Centre of Parks, Recreation and Heritage and Head of the School of Environmental and Information Sciences at Charles Sturt University, Albury. Terry's research interest is in the analysis of protected area environmental policy. Terry is an Australian delegate to IUCN's International Commission on Parks and Protected Areas.

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Curtis, A., De Lacy, T. Landcare in Australia: Beyond the expert farmer. Agric Hum Values 13, 20–31 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01530464

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