Australian Landcare Council chair Kim Chance said this was the strong message after nearly a year of consultation which indicated the community did not want Landcare consigned to a footnote in our history after galvanising action on the environment since the 1980s.

“The community feedback was that Landcare should not be regarded as a passing fad. It revolutionised the nation’s approach to the environment from the grassroots up, but has been impacted by ever-changing government policies and programs,” Mr Chance said.

“Landcare can again become the over-arching rallying point in a government/community partnership of national importance to mobilise a new generation of farmers, Indigenous land managers, community groups, governments and the broader community.“

Mr Chance said achieving the scale of change needed to deal with multiple challenges would require all Australians – policy makers, land and water managers, researchers and consumers – to become involved.

“If you live, eat, drink and breathe in Australia, you are involved. This is where Landcare has so much to offer because it has already demonstrated it can bring widespread and effective collective action to deliver multiple outcomes,” he said.

“Landcare can be the green revolution that unites us. It can engage even those who are not in a position to participate in on-ground change but can support the process, reward good land managers, and demand that governments play their significant role in a partnership.”

Mr Chance said this was the clear message from the community about the future of Landcare.

National Landcare facilitator Brett de Hayr said the multiple national challenges impacting on our landscapes are outside the capacity of government or individuals to respond to alone – and that responses should not happen in isolation.

“These challenges combine to place significant stresses on our environment and food production systems as well as urban, rural and regional and coastal communities,” Mr de Hayr said.

“For example, the CSIRO states that in the next 50 years, we will need to produce as much food as has been consumed over the past 500 years. The implications of this are widespread and profound, and impact on us all.

“This begs the question of how do we manage with more people, no more arable land, less water, higher energy costs, while at the same time protect and enhance the environment?”

Mr De Hayr said this proposition is being put to today’s Landcare Forum in Adelaide where 500 land carers and policy makers have gathered from across the country. The same question is also being put to the broader community and government.

The consultation process was initiated last year by Federal Minister for Agriculture Tony Burke to enable the setting of a clear grassroots direction for Landcare.

Community feedback to discussion and background papers about the future framework for Landcare are requested by 9 April. Information is available at http://www.landcarefacilitator.co m.au/public/content/ViewCategory. aspx?id=48

It is expected the Australian Landcare Council will finalise the process by the end of June.