Eighteen months ago a small group of Australians came together to formed a volunteer NGO, Australian Landcare International (ALI), to see if by pooling their collective experience they could assist Landcare's further development in other countries. The group includes grass-roots practitioners and all had been linked with Landcare at various levels since its development more than 20 years ago. Their experience covered policy development, project planning and management, supporting Landcare groups, hosting overseas visitors interested in Landcare, corporate fundraising, technical support and initiating and running overseas projects - in other words the whole gamut of Landcare actions.
ALI was established in the same way as a Landcare group would form in Australia. It operates under the same incorporation and insurance regime as the usual Landcare group. Our vision, however is to helppeople in other countries by sharing our experience, knowledge and ideas. While we don't have any project funds available, we have within our group members whose experience working at home and abroad with governments, development agencies and companies might be helpful.
Most of our 20 members are from Victoria, a southern state of Australia where Landcare began in 1986. In fact some of our members had important parts in getting Landcare going. But we now have members across much of Australia.
Over the last 18 months, we have got rolling two main activities
- a Landcare Travelling Fellowship funded by private donors, with some state government funds,which enables a Victorian Landcare coordinator to visit another country, exchange ideas and make contacts for the future. Three winners of the Fellowship have travelled to New Zealand (2007), Virginia , USA (2008) and currently mid-west and north-west USA(2009). We have a number of countries in mind for future exchanges.
- a significant involvement in the writing, design, editing and subsequent distribution of the new Landcare International book "Landcare: local action-global progress". ALI has purchased 150 copies of the book for distribution in Australia and the South Pacific where Landcare is currently being discussed as a useful development program.
We are in the process of developing a website tol make contact easier and provide a better picture of ALI's programs and progress.
ALI is also a first contact point for people and organisations interested in finding out more about Landcare. We can help, through our contacts, to organise formal and informal visits to appropriate Australian Landcare groups and sites.
In coming years we hope to build our membership significantly and have a useful role working with groups, agencies, development consultants and governments to further the Landcare approach in other countries in ways that are appropriate for those countries.
We see our role as supporters of Landcare projects and programs working with individuals and organisations within countries. We see ALI working in a cooperative way with Landcare International which operates more at a national and international level.
Horrie Poussard
Secretary, Australian Landcare International.