NRM North, TAS – Australian Government Landcare NRM Region Award

Project Profile

Issues

NRM North has supported Landcare and community groups in the Northern region of Tasmania by providing action planning for existing groups, particularly groups based in semi-urban areas, or groups that have a particular focus on non-agricultural land. This process incorporates not only biophysical planning but helping groups identify strategies for developing sustainable social and financial futures and directions.

Project Detail

NRM North has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for its work in identifying the needs of NRM groups in Tasmania’s north, and addressing those needs by building volunteer numbers and overseeing a range of on-ground projects.

NRM North has engaged Landcare and Coastcare groups through a range of activities.  After a survey identified the key priorities for local Landcare and Coastcare was volunteers, reduced administration and grant funding, NRM North instigated the ‘Extra Hands’ project, which engaged an extra 1000 volunteers prepared to be involved in landcaring activities.

NRM North has co-ordinated a range of on-ground activities, including planting 1000 trees on degraded land and clearing weeds from 300 hectares of land.

NRM North has supported the Landcare and community groups in the Northern region of Tasmania by providing action planning for existing groups, particularly groups based in semi-urban areas, or groups that have a particular focus on non-agricultural land. This process incorporates not only biophysical planning but helps groups identify strategies for developing sustainable social and financial strategies and directions.

NRM North emphasises the importance of water quality as a central issue for good land management and the group has actively supported Landcare and community groups in undertaking water quality monitoring activities and field days. This has included extensive work with schools throughout the north.

In addition to its other endeavours, NRM North has developed more than 20 property management planning clusters and groups in the region and in many cases these groups function as Landcare groups.  The main aim of these groups is to care for the land they manage in the best possible way for the future. NRM North invests directly into these groups through activities such as field days, information events, working bees, and also by providing support with funding applications, access to NRM information, mapping and other technical assistance.

NRM North has continued to strengthen and fund sub-regional facilitators in partnership with local government. These positions are based in regional areas and form a local contact and support point for Landcare groups.  The group has also developed a small grants program as a specific response to the loss of a national small grants program.  This program is directed at Landcare and other community groups which are not participants in the property management planning process and which have no other source of financial support.

NRM North is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

NRM North