Welcome to the second edition of
Landcare e-news – news from
Landcare International (LI).
We apologise for the delay in bringing you this second edition of
Landcare e-news but we will endeavour to bring you quarterly editions in the future.
We would like to continue sharing with you short articles, events, new book releases and other information on landcare developments around the world.
We welcome your feedback and ideas on how we can improve
Landcare e-news and make it more useful for you. We also welcome contributions; please send them to Mieke Bourne at
m.bourne@cgiar.org Thank you,
Mieke Bourne (for LI Communications Sub-Committee).
A message from the Landcare International Chair
By Dennis Garrity
As Landcare continues to gain momentum around the globe, one of the current priorities for Landcare International is to raise its profile within and among the large international organisations of the United Nations and connecting it with the global environmental conventions. This is an important step towards achieving the ratification of an International Year of Landcare, and also in ensuring that the Landcare approach is mainstreamed and fully deployed in achieving the objectives of the conventions and the various multilateral organizations.
We are now well on our way to making serious inroads on this. On June 11th I was invited to give a keynote address at Land Day in Bonn, Germany. This event is organized annually by the UN Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD). The Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Mr Luc Gnacadja, also invited me to speak on June 17th on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification in a special event in Dakar, Senegal, along with Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations.
I took the opportunity during these presentations to propose that the UNCCD become the champion of Landcare throughout the world. I suggested that Landcare is a superb way to build global awareness for the objectives of the Convention, and to build support for more vigorous grassroots action on the ground in protecting land resources and in conserving the precious landscapes of the world. I proposed that UNCCD actually be transformed into a ‘Convention on Global LandCare’, and thereby serve to spearhead a global movement to care for the land.
My remarks were enthusiastically supported by Mr Gnacadja, other staff members of the UNCCD Secretariat, and many other colleagues that are involved in international sustainable land management programmes.
Mr Gnacadja and I then spent several additional hours together discussing the ways in which the UNCCD Secretariat and Landcare International can work together to realize these ideas. We came up with a number of action areas that we will be developing together on this during the next several months.
I am very encouraged by these developments and look forward to building on this momentum as Landcare International moves ahead in further globalizing the exceptional possibilities of Landcare.
Landcare International activities
One of the highlights from late 2010 for Landcare International was its involvement in the Japanese Governments launch of the Satoyama initiative at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP10) in Nagoya Japan. Full article is available at: http://www.worldagroforestry.org/projects/landcare/content/satoyama-new-initiative-launched.
Landcare International was introduced through a side event following the launch. The main objective of the event was to introduce the Landcare concept as an institutional innovation for achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity and to present the idea of launching a UN-declaration for the International Year of Landcare.
A Landcare International Steering Committee teleconference was held in early June 2011. A number of members from around the globe gave updates on their activities and discussed the need to progress towards the declaration of an International Year of Landcare. More details on the upcoming World Congress on Conservation Agriculture to be held in Brisbane in September were provided and the planned post conference Landcare workshop discussed. Teleconference meetings take place quarterly with the next one planned for the end of August.
Landcare International 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.
New Landcare volunteer in Kenya
Mieke Bourne is an Australian Volunteer for International Development funded by AusAID. She has just started a one year position at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya. Mieke will be working on Landcare at ICRAF by assisting the Landcare International facilitation unit, working on further developing the African Landcare Network and helping with the organisational development of the Kenyan Landcare Network.
Mieke Bourne and work colleague Lydia Wafula outside ICRAF headquarters in Nairobi.
Mieke comes from a town called Denmark in Western Australia and has a background in Environmental Science. She has been involved in a number of natural resource management projects and has worked closely with Landcare groups on the South Coast of Western Australia.
“I am passionate about working with people towards improved land management for positive social and environmental outcomes and am really looking forward to the opportunities and challenges in the year ahead,” says Mieke.
She is also excited about meeting and working with people from the different African and international Landcare groups. Mieke will be helping prepare e-news and updating the Landcare International website so please contact her by email or on +254 20 722 4479 with any Landcare news.
Australian Landcare International
By Rob Youl
Australian Landcare International (ALI) is a small incorporated, not-for-profit organisation established in 2008 to help other countries take up Landcare ideas.
ALI members have long years of experience in Landcare action at all levels in Australia, and many have worked in overseas countries. ALI does not normally provide funds for overseas projects but can help groups access funding. ALI is actively involved in promoting Landcare and in supporting its establishment in new countries; it is also represented at the Landcare International Steering Committee meetings.
ALI produces a quarterly newsletter with great updates on Landcare activities. Upcoming activities for ALI include hosting in July, a delegation of Thai salinity specialists, to show them how Landcare promotes community action. ALI is also working with Landcare International to develop a workshop for the African delegates and other interested persons attending the WCCA in Australia in September.
Philippines Landcare Foundation launches new web site
By Noel Vock and Ben Aspera
Noel Vock is Project Leader, ACIAR Philippines-Australia Landcare Project and Ben Aspera is Executive Director, Landcare Foundation of the Philippines Inc.
The Landcare Foundation of the Philippines (LFPI) has recently launched a new web site. It is a further step in the institutional strengthening of LFPI as the ACIAR-funded Philippines-Australia Landcare Project draws to a close later this year after more than 12 years of association with the development of landcare in the Philippines.
The web site provides up-to-date details on the services LFPI offers, the projects with which it is currently involved, and the resources it offers to landcare developers. The site also contains latest news on landcare activities in the Philippines, and over time will build a portfolio of profiles of farmers and other landcare personnel who have made their mark on landcare developments. Importantly, the site contains details of various landcare activities and projects that are open for donations from interested benefactors.
New web site for Philippine Landcare Foundation
Over coming months, much of the useful content from the Philippines–Australia Landcare Project web site will be transferred over to the LFPI site, in preparation for the de-commissioning of the project web site soon after the conclusion of the project later this year.
Other LFPI institutional strengthening initiatives currently in progress include the production of a special video promoting the benefits of landcare in building better and more sustainable livelihoods, and training and mentoring program with Australian landcare to strengthen the current and future bonds between Australian and Philippines landcarers.
NZ Landcare Trust
By James Barnett
On the 9th of June, the NZ Landcare Trust was rewarded with a ‘Green Ribbon Award’ from the New Zealand Minister for the Environment. The Trust won the ‘Caring for our water’ category of this prestigious national award.
“When the Trust’s name was read out as the winner it was an amazing feeling." says Dr Nick Edgar, NZ Landcare Trust Chief Executive. "Landcare has that unique ability to combine both the need for environmental stewardship with the need for economic sustainability. The award is a reflection of the strength of our partnerships with other agencies and the capability of the Trust’s staff to genuinely engage with our rural communities across the country. I feel both proud and humbled by our achievement.”
The Minister said the Trust earned the award, “For their outstanding contribution to improving freshwater management across the country by engaging private land owners in environmental protection work.”
NZ Landcare Trust Chairman Richard Thompson receives Green Ribbon Award.
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, from large ‘catchment based’ projects that deal with complex landcare issues, to smaller landcare groups with a specific biodiversity focus. Throughout New Zealand, hundreds of farmers and landowners have been encouraged to review and improve their land management practice. They have planted trees, protected waterways, controlled pests and fostered native flora and fauna, in an effort to maintain a productive, sustainable environment.
For the full article and more news about Landcare in New Zealand please check out the NZ Landcare Trust website.
Grayson LandCare, USA
By Jerry Moles
Formed in 2005, Grayson LandCare was the first official LandCare group in the Americas. Since its formation, the group has grown to 99 members, with more people involved in specific projects.
Through the group, Grayson Natural Foods has been established as a farmer owned business to improve returns to agriculture and create jobs. They sell pasture-raised beef and lamb to upscale restaurants, food services of Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University, and other regional buyers. The current demand far exceeds supply.
Another project underway involves planning for an abattoir to serve as a key element of a local food system using grants from the federal Appalachian Regional Commission and the state Virginia Tobacco Commission.
In search of other economic opportunities, negotiations are ongoing with investors to build an alternative energy facility to produce diesel fuel from sawdust and woodchips produced by local mills. The products are currently shipped from the area to manufacture particleboard and paper and to mix with coal for energy production. A stewardship contest for local students to create plans for the future through improved resource care is in its 3rd year. Further, Grayson LandCare is actively working with the county board of supervisors and planning commission to rewrite the county comprehensive plan focusing on the triple bottom line of LandCare:
- higher incomes and improved economic security,
- improved community services meeting shared needs,
- a vibrant and healthy environment.
More information can be found on Grayson LandCare website or by emailing Jerry Moles.
Secretariat for International Landcare (SILC)
By Sue Marriott & Victoria Mack
SILC is a non-government organisation that commenced in 1998. SILC’s charter has been to support interest in the adoption and adaptation of the Australian Landcare model by other countries. Over many years SILC has worked to support a growing interest in Landcare around the world. The SILC website aims to provide links to the many projects that are happening in thirteen countries.
Recent and current projects
Since 2008 SILC has assisted Indonesia to start its first Landcare program on the north side of Mt Merpai, which is north of Yogyakarta in Central Java. Many hard working people are supporting the Landcare initiative in the town of Selo, and the villages of Samiran and Lencoh. Using their local community radio station, local Landcare facilitators broadcast Landcare messages across their region five days each week and have achieved some outstanding results.
An Indonesian Landcare nursery, photo SILC 2010.
The strength of Landcare groups is their ability to work together and set priorities. Despite a setback last year with the eruption of Mt Merapi, the group are back on track continuing to work towards their goals. Victoria Mack visited Indonesia in September 2010, to meet with the Landcare facilitators and farmers and encourage their Landcare initiatives.
In 2009 Sue Marriott and Victoria Mack were invited to join the Board of Sri Lankan Landcare. In 2010 ‘Landcare Lanka’ was launched. Landcare Lanka has been due to the leadership of Kamy Melvani, who has worked across diverse Sri Lankan communities with the aim of improving their environmental and economic position under a Landcare banner. Kamy has been supported by Dr Jerry Moles who also initiated the Grayson and Catawba Landcare groups in Virginia, which are the first Landcare groups in the USA.
Before and...after Landcare - home gardens in Sri Lanka, photo SILC 2010.
Sue Marriott presented a paper in London on the role of Landcare in the Food Supply Chain and then re-visited the Landcare groups in the USA hosted by Dr Jerry Moles. The work that has been achieved in Virginia under Jerry's leadership is inspiring.
Landcare along stream-sides in the Catawba Catchment USA (left) and Andrew Stewart Board member Australian Landcare Council and member of the Otway Landcare Network with Dr Jerry Moles.
SILC is also fortunate to have played host to Dr Jerry Moles from the USA and Dr Josef Goppel MP from Germany earlier in 2010. These visits, including to Australian Landcare sites, have enabled invaluable exchanges about International Landcare issues and activities.
Dr Goppel meets with the Otway Agroforestry Network group (left) and Mike Taylor then Chair of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, photos SILC 2010.
Directors of SILC have supported various activities through local Landcare judging panels and discussion groups. Mary Johnson is part of the panel organising the 5th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, to be held in Queensland, Australia, in September 2011. The key note speaker will be Dr Dennis Garrity from the World Agroforestry Centre, based in Nairobi, Kenya. A Landcare workshop at the conference and a post-conference field trip are being organised by Australian Landcare International (ALI).
Solomon Islands
Currently the Solomon Islands are considering adopting a Landcare approach in some of their Island community projects. They have invited SILC to support this initiative later in 2011.
SILC is mindful that International Landcare will only continue and flourish if we have dedicated people and sufficient funding to help countries learn from one another and so accelerate their work, especially in light of a rapidly growing population, climate change, and food supply and distribution issues.
Our best wishes to all who understand the significant contribution that Landcare can make around our world and who are working to make Landcare become an inspiring reality!
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.
Events
The 5th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) will be held in Brisbane Australia 26-29 September 2011. This is an exciting opportunity for those interested in Conservation Agriculture and Landcare to learn and network with others. One of the conference workshops will look at the Landcare approach using examples from a number of countries.
Following the WCCA some Landcare activities are being planned. Having a number of landcare practitioners from around the world in Brisbane at the same time provides a great opportunity to meet and discuss Landcare as well as learn some more from our experienced Australian colleagues. Details are still being finalized so please contact Mieke Bourne if you would like to be involved.
Landcare in Action: National Landcare & Catchment Management Conference 2012.
NZ Landcare Trust will host a 2-day conference starting 29th February 2012 at the Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato Campus, Hamilton, New Zealand. The event will celebrate the work of numerous Landcare Groups from all around New Zealand and provide an opportunity to explore the role that communities play in sustainable land and water management. The conference will include keynote and workshop sessions, Landcare Group presentations, a celebration meal, and optional field trips. Detailed planning is currently underway and more information will be made available on the conference website.
Email: conference@landcare.org.nz
Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Jenni Metcalfe and her team at Econnect Communication for editing and distributing Landcare e-news free of charge.
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