The Australian Government invested $1 billion through the National Landcare Program's first 4 years from 2014-15 to 2017-18, including support for the Landcare Networks, 20 million trees and Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations. This funding helped support local, regional and national environmental and sustainable agriculture projects including the Reef 2050 implementation and complemented the land sector package.
The regional stream
The regional funding stream invested funding through Australia’s 56 natural resource management organisations, recognising the vitally important role these organisations play in delivering local and regional activities, including support for local landcare groups to deliver local environment and sustainable agriculture projects.
Read more about the regional stream.
The national stream
The national funding stream supported a number of important initiatives that contributed to protect and restore the environment and made agriculture more sustainable and productive. These initiatives were directly funded by the Australian Government.
A range of commitments continued under the National Landcare Program phase two such as World Heritage, Indigenous Protected Areas, 20 Million Trees and the Threatened Species Recovery Fund (now finished).
Phase one strategic objectives and outcomes
By investing in local and regional projects that deliver against the program’s strategic objectives and outcomes, we gave recognition to the important contribution of local communities and regional natural resource management organisations to assist Australia to meet its national and international obligations.
In 2016, we conducted a Review of the National Landcare Program to inform the design of future investments. The review found that phase one was effective in meeting the program’s strategic objectives, and some key strengths included a strong connection and engagement with community.
Read more about the review and consultations.
Outcomes and objectives of National Landcare Program phase one.
| Strategic objectives | Strategic outcomes | Contribution to national and international obligations |
|---|---|---|
|
Strategic objective 1: Communities are managing landscapes to sustain long-term economic and social benefits from their environment. |
Maintain and improve ecosystem services through sustainable management of local and regional landscapes. |
Protection and restoration of ecosystem function, resilience and biodiversity; appropriate management of invasive species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or native species. |
|
Strategic objective 2: Farmers and fishers are increasing their long term returns through better management of the natural resource base. |
Increase in the number of farmers and fishers adopting practices that improve the quality of the natural resource base, and the area of land over which those practices are applied. |
Sustainable management of agriculture and aquaculture to conserve and protect biological diversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon stored in soil. |
|
Strategic objective 3: Communities are involved in caring for their environment. |
Increase engagement and participation of the community, including landcare, farmers and Indigenous people, in sustainable natural resource management. |
Build community awareness of biodiversity values, skills, participation and knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge and participation, to promote conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. |
|
Strategic objective 4: Communities are protecting species and natural assets. |
Increase restoration and rehabilitation of the natural environment, including protecting and conserving nationally and internationally significant species, ecosystems, ecological communities, places and values. |
Reduce the loss of natural habitats, degradation and fragmentation; protecting or conserving Matters of National Environmental Significance including management of World Heritage Areas, Ramsar wetlands, national heritage etc; reduce the number of nationally threatened species and improve their conservation status. |