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Welcome to the fourth edition of Landcare International e-news—news from Landcare International(LI).
This newsletter is designed to share short articles, events, new book releases and information on landcare developments around the world.
We welcome your feedback and ideas on how we can improve Landcare International e-news and make it more useful for you. We also welcome news contributions; please send them to Mieke Bourne.
Thank you,
Mieke Bourne (for LI Communications Sub-Committee)
A message from the LI Chair on the Global Landcare Alliance
By Dennis Garrity
In the past five months, there has been a great acceleration in the advances of international Landcare. This is in part due to the efforts of a number of groups, including Australian Landcare International, the Secretariat for International Landcare and LI. Late last year, the executive of these three organisations met in Melbourne, Australia, to discuss strategies and ideas to further extend international Landcare. The idea of a Global Landcare Alliance (GLA) was suggested as a way to enable international Landcare to speak with one voice on certain issues and to plan more coherently across the organisations.
The key objectives of the GLA were proposed as:
- - provide a unified voice on issues associated with the extension of Landcare
- - mainstream Landcare into global organisations and processes
- - work collaboratively with the Australian government on Landcare support
- - build a strong group of professionals to support Landcare
- - guide the development of country Landcare programs
- - promote research into international Landcare
I am delighted to report that the LI Steering Committee agreed to support establishing the GLA in its recent meeting. This now paves the way for more unified communication with the public, policymakers and donors, and offers an opportunity to build on the great momentum of international Landcare. Our next steps will be to develop a unified mission statement and governance structure so that all parties are clear on their commitments before we engage with the wider community. I believe this marks another great step in the advancement of Landcare around the globe.
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Australia Day Awards to international Landcarers
Robin Youl (Australian Landcare International) and Sue Marriott (Secretariat for International Landcare) both received National Australia Day Awards for their contributions to conservation and the Landcare movement.
Mr Youl received an Order of Australia Medal for service to conservation and the environment in Victoria through the Landcare movement. As one Landcare colleague put it, the award is ‘richly deserved for one of the unsung heroes of the Landcare movement’.
Mrs Marriott was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for servicesto conservation and the environment through the Secretariat for International Landcare, particularly for developing programs dealing with climate change and rural land management.
A trip to South Africa by Sue Marriott in 1995 was the spark that ignited the birth of the International Landcare movement.
One of Sue’s close work colleagues said, ‘I think we would all agree that Sue is a champion for conservation and environmental issues both in Australia and internationally for over 30 years, a passionate supporter of Landcare since 1986 when it started in Australia, and a champion for International Landcare since about 1994—justly recognised for her dedication to Landcare.’
Congratulations to both Sue and Rob have poured in through the LI networks. Some of the comments include:
‘You are both extremely worthy recipients of these prestigious awards.’
‘Greatly deserved. You an inspiration to us all and give us the motivation to continue in our efforts each day.’
‘Even from the top of the world, it is clearly visible that this recognition is well deserved! And on you and the concept of landcare, you prove the truth of what Margaret Mead said long time ago: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’’
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Kapchorwa Landcare visit - Uganda
Kapchorwa District Landcare Chapter (KADLACC) in Uganda is an innovative platform linking Landcare efforts in the area and working towards a sustainable landcare system that enhances people’s livelihoods.
The formation of KADLACC in 2003 was a culmination of three years of collective action and collaborative effort between farmer groups, community based organisations, NGOs, local government and research institutions. Since that time it has provided support, training and networks for the local Landcare groups.
A recent visit, in late October 2011, to three representative Landcare groups registered with KADLACC provided valuable insight into the progress and impact of Landcare in the area.
One of these groups, Tegeres Multipurpose Association, started in 2003 when the forest area they previously relied on for firewood was protected. The group initiated nurseries for tree planting to replace their fuel source and have since expanded to a number of activities including zero-grazing, biogas, fodder shrubs and Napier grass on contours, improved crop species, control banks, collective milk marketing, honey production, goat rearing, horticulture, piggeries and growing passionfruit.
 
Mr. Yeko Michael (right), Chairman of Tegeres Multipurpose Association, and its secretary Mr.Maikut Yovani on the left during a meeting with members of the association.
The group reported that before the introduction of Landcare nobody in their community worked collectively. When asked what the benefits were of working as a group, they said:
- - gaining knowledge and skills as a group
- - digging contours/trenches together can lighten the load
- - group marketing (if you sell alone you get a lower price, if you sell together you get a higher price)
- - coming together makes you innovative, e.g. you must have a cow to join some groups
- - network of other friends and people from outside
- - people are pushed; some people are lazy and are made to work hard when they are part of a group
These days, the Tegeres group has been approached by other people who are requesting assistance in developing their own groups. The Tegeres group has adopted a mentoring system where they include these people and help them through the stages of group formation.
When asked about the benefits of being part of KADLACC, some responses were: training; skills put in practice; funds for beehives, spades and start-up capital; and people can now lobby local government for funds. They agreed that as a group they had an impact on local policy through KADLACC where their chairman represents them. All work plans go through KADLACC, so their work is well known and incorporated into the sub-county and District plans.
While the group faces many challenges, it has plans to overcome some of these. The group has a vision of making their parish a model parish, so that no one begs, everyone works together and no-one is left behind. They are proud of their efforts and want people to visit their area to see what they have achieved.
The group has many plans for the future: advancing their milk collection and marketing technology; and expanding their work with zero-grazing, improved breeds, biogas and fodder. The group would like to buy a chaff cutter and develop a centre for good distribution. It has also plans to source funds and expand their apiary project by 500 beehives in the year 2015 (since it has the advantage of the adjacent Mt Elgon National Park).
For more information on KADLACC, email chemawadh@yahoo.com or nyngassimon@yahoo.co.uk
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Landcare side-event at the UNCCD
A Landcare side-event was held at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Conference of Parties 10 (UNCCD CoP 10) in Changwon, Republic of Korea on 13 October 2011.
The side-event was opened by UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja who said, ‘Landcare provides a sound, knowledge-based approach from the bottom up. We must take action in order to fight desertification, land degradation and drought with a bottom-up approach, otherwise we miss meeting important international targets such as the Millennium Development Goals.’
Experts from Australia, Iceland, South Africa and the United States discussed the challenges and successes they have witnessed with the landcare approach.
‘What people are doing on the ground is what it’s all about,’ said Dr. Dennis Garrity, LI Chair and recently designated UNCCD Drylands Ambassador. ‘Landcare is all about grassroots support for land restoration and land regeneration, and that’s what makes it so valuable for the UNCCD, because we’ve learned over the years that bottom-up approaches of communities taking charge of their environment, grappling with their problems, and drawing in support from outside is the key to land regeneration throughout the world.’
Noting that this was the first time that landcare was highlighted at UNCCD, Dr. Garrity said, ‘We are very excited about seeing landcare as a local, participatory movement developing in countries all over the world, and we are encouraged to see how a vast number of smallholder farmers and local communities with damaged environments can succeed in regenerating their land, and that’s what UNCCD is all about.’
Read the full press release.
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LI chair becomes Drylands Ambassador
In October 2011, the United Nations announced that LI Chair Dr Dennis Garrity had been appointed as a Drylands Ambassador for the UNCCD.
From right: Drylands Ambassadors Dennis Garrity and Deborah Fraser, UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja and CoP10 President Don Koo Lee
The official media release from the event outlined that Dr. Garrity headed ICRAF, which is based in Nairobi, Kenya, from 2001 until now. His extensive career and global experience made him an ideal champion of drylands, according to Mr. Gnacadja. ‘His work on developing agroforestry alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture is widely recognized, as are his efforts to develop institutional innovations related to farmer-led organisations in sustainable agriculture and natural resources management.’
Accepting the nomination, Dr. Garrity said: ‘I will, in particular, hope to contribute to the Secretariat’s efforts to highlight the role of agroforestry, evergreen agriculture, and farmer-managed natural regeneration as critical opportunities for making vast progress on the ground in the regeneration of healthy farms and ecosystems.’
Read the full media release.
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Launch of the Global Soils Partnership
By Constance Neely and Andres Arnalds
The Global Soil Partnership (GSP), launched in September 2011 at FAO, in Rome, is an exciting opportunity for the Landcare Movement.
The global appreciation for our soil resources is long overdue but the consultation among research, development and policy actors has set the stage for a dynamic platform. The GSPs’ vision is for sustainable and productive use of the soil resources of the world and for sustainable agricultural production. Its mission will be to support and facilitate joint efforts towards sustainable management of soil resources for food security, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Among the participants were two Landcare proponents, and during the deliberations Landcare was uplifted as a key example of implementing this vision and mission through participatory approaches. Importantly, a memorandum of understanding was signed with highly successful Global Water Partnership, which bodes well for land and water to be addressed in an integrated way.
For more information, including the Partnership’s pillars, presentations and upcoming events, please see the website. You can also read the launch meeting report.
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Friends in Village Development Bangladesh
By Dr Shaikh Tanveer Hossain Sustainable Agriculture Advisor & Chief Agricultural Coordinator, Friends in Village Development Bangladesh
Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) is a national, non-government organisation founded in 1979. FIVDB is implementing programs for the socio-economic development of the disadvantaged sections of the population.It started its work in the north-eastern Sylhet Division and, over time, has expanded its coverage to other parts of Bangladesh. At present, FIVDB focuses on livelihood enhancement, agriculture, health, adult and lifelong learning, primary education and financial service programs.
FIVDB is currently implementing a livelihoods-enhancement program with a goal to empower communities by enhancing access to and completion of food security, manage climate change and reduce poverty by enhancing economic activities in disadvantaged communities of Bangladesh.
The program originally focused on agricultural extension services and gradually developed capacity in agricultural technologies, livestock, poultry, fisheries and cottage-based crafts production. FIVDB was a partner in piloting the rice and duck integrated farming system along with International Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Bangladesh Development Society. Across the country, staff from 70 organisations have done this training, with participants going on to apply the skills in their work with the beneficiaries.
 
FIVDB is offering a variety of training including: duck and poultry rearing, sewing and embroidery, paravet, watsan, mapping for disaster preparedness and management, smokeless burners, textile printing, diesel engine maintenance, cane and bamboo crafts, organic farming and integrated pest management.
FIVDB has developed a close working relationship with a number of Bangladesh agricultural research institutes, which enable it to conduct collaborative research, access the latest research knowledge and promote products derived from such research. Currently FIVDB is promoting sustainable agricultural practices in rural areas such as organic vegetable production in sacks, vegetable production in homestead areas using different models, commercial vegetable production, nursery, fruit gardening and rice-duck farming.
 
Two examples of Bag gardening.
The organisation is giving high priority to organic farming technologies and developing marketing networks to make sure of soil, water, human and economic empowerment of the rural households. Different technologies are being adopted for increase the soil health, improving landcare and so on. FIVBD’s stories are here, or contact Dr Shaikh Hossain.
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Update from Landcare in Tanzania
Landcare was initially established in Ng’wasa Village, Korogwe Tanzania through an AusAID-funded project in 2008.
Since then, the group has continued their work while seeking additional funding to expand to new areas, with the support of the Tanzanian Landcare team. On a recent visit to the village, some members of the African Landcare Network met with the Nguvu Kazi Landcare Group. On arrival at the village the group gave the following a speech as an introduction and welcome:
‘This group started officially in 2008, with 25 active members who received training and study tours in Mtae-Lushoto and Moshi.
‘We, the members of the group, thank the leadership of landcare for providing training which helps us in caring for our environment and improve our land income.
‘Since the inception of this project in our village, our community has adopted in great extent because the community has succeeded to apply conservation farming through construction of terraces from 6000 metres in 2008–09 to 10,000 metres in 2010–11.
A farm in Ng’wasa Village where terraces have been constructed, and Napier grass planted along with improved bananas.
‘The same community has succeeded to conserve the environment through planting different species of trees from 15,000 in 2008–09 to 30,000 2010–11.
‘Also, the community has planted improved banana plants from Tengeru, Arusha on the terraces. The banana plants are doing very well. Due to these changes in improving family practice the community has improved income tremendously.
‘Together with these achievements, we still have challenges like low adoption of technologies to some community members, so more training is needed to facilitate others to enhance adoption to those who are not part of the group.
Visiting farms in the village with the Landcare groups.
‘Another challenge which faces us is water sources being far from our farms, something which makes our crops to be weak, so we ask for assistance in improving our irrigation infrastructure.
‘We group members promise that we will sustain and develop this project for the better of our future generation.
‘With this few remarks we ask you to receive our speech. Thanks.’
Read an introduction to Landcare in Tanzania and more information is available from Charles Lyamchai.
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SILC News
By Victoria Mack and Sue Mariott
SILC VISIT TO SRI LANKA—November/December 2011
The Annual Landcare Lanka meeting was held in Sri Lanka in November 2011. Advisors Victoria Mack, Sue Marriott, Jerry Moles, Charlotte Hanes and Peter Duncan to learn about project achievements over the past 12 months and future plans.
It was a very positive and productive visit. The results that Kamy Melvani and her project facilitators are achieving are extremely positive for the international Landcare movement. Sri Lankan case studies demonstrate a powerful mechanism for achieving multiple goals for development and environmental stewardship.
Sri Lanka Study Tour participants November 2011 (left back to right front): Victoria Mack, Kamy Melvani, Raqibul, Jerry Moles, Zahid Hossain, Tofazzal Hossain, Shaikh Tanveer Hossain, Moin Uddin Khaza, Charlotte Hanes, Peter Duncan, Sue Marriott, Delowar Hossain.
A delegation from Bangladesh also joined the field trip for three days. Dr Tanveer Hossain and Dr Zahid Hossain head up the Friends In Village Development Bangladesh project and they are doing some impressive work in rural communities across Bangladesh. They concluded that seeing the projects on the ground crystallised for them how Landcare can work, demonstrating the value of cross visits to turn awareness into action.
The Bangladesh team has expressed a strong interest in joining the LI movement. Some ongoing actions will be undertaken in the next 12 months, including trying to arrange for Bangladesh delegates to attend the Australian National Landcare Conference (Sydney, 3–5 September, 2012).
Preliminary discussions have also included the potential to form a South Asia Landcare Network which might include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. While this idea is only conceptual, it has great potential in the medium term.
LANDCARE IN SRI LANKA
At the local scale, Landcare Lanka works on a range of project sites across the island, engaging a talented group of local facilitators to help a growing number of local farmers re-think their farming systems.
Left: Farmer Kularatne’s 18-month-old ‘home’ garden in Liyangolla, Moneragala District.
Organic systems are used to reduce overhead costs and environmental impact, to diversify farm production based on ecological knowledge and market options, and to increase farmer livelihoods and resilience. The systems speak for themselves and they produce healthy home and forest gardens using low-cost composting systems, intelligent water use and integrated crop rotations. Participating farmers are finding that their outputs increase, their inputs decrease and their risk is spread across a range of potential markets.
Once established, these integrated systems—including vegetables, herbs, vines, fruits and timber—are empowering and repeatable, and they enable the farmers and their families to be in control and enjoy financial and significant environmental benefits.
The success of the Landcare Lanka approach is attracting the interest of mainstream donors who can see that this local and environmentally, economically and socially sustainable approach to development can provide concrete benefits to local communities.
The Sri Lankan case studies provide excellent demonstrations of what can be achieved with dedicated farmers, facilitators and coordinators, small budgets, and high-level technical advice to get things started.
TEA EXPORTS
Sri Lankan and Australian Landcare interests have commenced a discussion about the marketing of ‘Landcare Lanka tea’ to Landcare countries, particularly Australia. The tea is produced on tea estates which have adopted organic approaches to tea production, and have been working with Kamy to include biodiversity planting and forests across the Estate landscapes.
Tea estates—composting operations at Greenfield’s Thotulagalla Estate in Haputale.
CHALLENGES
Landcare is not yet recognised as a ‘program’ in its own right. Achieving each program objective, such as post-war rehabilitation programs, is what donors are looking for, not a brand name.
That said, Kamy has done much to tie the work she is doing to the Landcare brand. Her work is slowly gaining hard-won recognition and support, but usually as short-term projects with short funding cycles. It is a constant challenge to gain mainstream support with adequate timeframes—i.e. five-plus years—to consolidate research/project results, which in turn would position Landcare as a legitimate methodology within the Sri Lankan National development framework.
The challenge for LI is to gain such recognition within the international development framework, such as the Millennium Development Goals.
For more information please email vmack@silc.com.au or smarriott@silc.com.au
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Report from the WCCA
By Mary Johnson Director, Secretariat for International Landcare
The Fifth World Congress Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) was held from 26–29 September 2011 in Brisbane, Australia. The congress covered a broad spectrum of research and thinking on sustainable agricultural practices and natural resources management policy, extension and engagement, with Landcare as a key theme.
Landcare made a major contribution to the conference discussions through plenary sessions, keynote presentations and workshops. Rob Youl, Chair, Australian Landcare International, led a Landcare – a model for promoting sustainable agriculture around the world workshop, attended by over 40 people.
The final program session was an Action Road Map, which reviewed learnings from the congress and noted actions to be pursued over the next three years. Three actions relating to Landcare were identified:
1. To mainstream Landcare with Conservation Agriculture. UNCCD Ambassador Dr Garrity’s work with the Convention on Desertification should be important in this regard.
2. To gain endorsement of an International Year of Landcare by the UN General Assembly
3. To build an international landcare network with tangible support from the Australian Government
Noel Vock (DEEDI), Samantha Morris (Wombat Creative) and Geoff Penton (CEO, Landcare Queensland) organised an excellent post-conference Landcare tour.
The 16 participants included two participants from CARE International, Zimbabwe, hosted by the Crawford Fund, three staff from ICRAF, and two East Africans sponsored through the African Landcare network.
Read a full report of these events.
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Landcare International website
The Landcare International website has been updated. If you have any suggestions or stories, new links or publications that can be put up on the site then please email Mieke Bourne.
LI is administered by a virtual Landcare International Facilitation Unit, hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya. All activities are through voluntary contributions from its members.
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Upcoming Events
East Africa Landcare Master Class
An East African Landcare Master Class is planned for March 2012.
The class will involve key people from existing Landcare activities in East Africa, as well as engage new partners who could assist in building sustainable country Landcare programmes in the region.
The Crawford Fund has agreed to support a number of skilled Landcare trainers to travel from Australia to teach part of the class and prepare training materials that can be used for future African Landcare master classes.in building sustainable country Landcare programmesrd in the region.
Within East Africa, Landcare provides a viable mechanism to strengthen rural grassroots organisations and networks, while introducing new and relevant technologies to simultaneously improve their livelihoods and the natural resource base on which they depend.
The class will be held in Uganda, with field visits to Kapchorwa to learn from the existing successful Landcare groups and Landcare Network there.
NZ Landcare Conference Update
Registrations are filling fast for NZ Landcare Trust’s national landcare and catchment management conference, based in Hamilton.
The event will celebrate the work of rural communities from all around New Zealand and explore the role that community leadership plays in sustainable land and water management. The event will take place in the pleasant surroundings of the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts on the University of Waikato Campus. Places are limited, so register quickly to avoid disappointment.
Details of the conference including the conference programme and an itinerary for the field trip can be found on the NZ Landcare Trust website.To register, use the simple, secure online service which can be found by following the link from the main conference page. For further information about the conference email us or call 0800 526322.
An early bird discount will be available until 31 January 2012. Early bird rates are $450 for professionals and $225 for Landcare/Community Group representatives. An optional field trip is designed to complement the conference and attracts an additional fee of $45 (this can be selected as an option during online registration).
Based in Hamilton, NZ Landcare Trust is an independent non-government organisation that was first established in 1996. Over the years, the Trust has flourished and now works on a range of field-based projects all around the country from large catchment-based projects that deal with complex landcare issues to smaller landcare groups with a specific focus.
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Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Jenni Metcalfe and her team at Econnect Communicationfor editing and distributing Landcare e-news free of charge.
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Contact us
If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know.
Mieke Bourne
Delia Catacutan
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