Strategy 2021

Global Landcare Strategy 2021 - 2026

Background

Global Landcare began in 2020, with many of its members having been involved in Landcare at policy, program, and operational levels for more than 30 years in various landscapes across the globe. Many bring international, regional, national and grassroot experiences in agricultural, forestry and environmental management.

At the International Conference of Landcare Studies – Global resilience through local self-reliance – the Landcare model, in Nagoya, Japan Nov 2017, 65 Landcare practitioners and academics from 11 countries declared that it is vital that the relationships and sharing of knowledge from this conference to create a global network expanded. They determined that:

Landcare values and principles could significantly contribute to grassroots activities for sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation and mitigation, social and environmental wellbeing, and could therefore contribute significantly to the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

All of this is possible through a global network which facilitates shared commitments, strategic partnerships, collaborations, and the provision of resources (knowledge, skills, information, training etc.) to deliver capacity building at a local, regional, national, and global level. Landcare develops this kind of network.

Global Landcare encourages more investment to be made in social infrastructure and on-ground action through Landcare, as a mechanism to help achieve the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for mitigation and adaption linked to climate change.

The international Landcare networks – the Secretariat for International Landcare (SILC), Australian Landcare International (ALI) and Landcare International (LI) united to form Global Landcare in October 2020.

Landcare’s environmental and social achievements over the last three decades justify taking it to the global stage.

Landcare began in Australia in 1986 and is based on local community groups working to improve the conservation values, natural resource management (NRM) and productive resources of their area to ensure sustainable communities. It has been demonstrated an effective way to reduce the impacts of soil erosion, salinity, pest plants and animals, and to improve the habitat of native fauna and flora in Australia. In doing so it has also improved farm production.

The Landcare approach can be described as:

Statement of purpose

Our global network exists to promote, demonstrate, and strengthen Landcare values and approaches for local, community-driven solutions for protecting, managing, and enhancing sustainable management of natural capital assets.

Vision

People working together restoring and creating resilient landscapes and waters and building healthy inclusive communities.

Mission

Mobilising resources globally (people, knowledge, skills, models, networks, and funds) to support communities promoting and adopting the Landcare approach.

Principles of how we work

Flexible and evolutionary approach, rather than laying down rigid rules
Promoting subsidiarity. Global Landcare will enable and support partners and collaborators to deliver their own self-developed projects
Community-based solutions and action. Working from local action to global concern
Working together and sharing knowledge to enhance best practice criteria
People are an integral part of the landscape – if we look after our landscapes, they will look after us
Inclusivity. Healthy environment for all. Support the inclusion of people from different parts of the world, different gender, and age to be part of the problem solving and action

Equity in approach, knowledge exchange, cross pollination of ideas
Data rich people driven solutions. Research, monitoring and analysis, with learning and reflection, are critical to developing the evidence base we need to drive effective future actions (multi-disciplinary approaches)
An adaptive learning framework underpins all facets of our approach
Education and advocacy are essential for the protection and enhancement of our landscape and community health and wellbeing
Supports good governance of natural resources at all scales from the local to the global.

Themes and focus areas of work

More sustainable farming systems / agriculture / soil productivity and fertility improvement / learn from traditional practices
Behaviour and practice change
Junior Landcare Programmes
Sustainable management and use of natural resources and sustainability practices
Focus on gender and ensure interests of marginalised groups such as women, young people and the elderly are considered, and they are participating
Advocacy for community livelihoods
Propagating hope and inspiration
Supporting improved ecological literacy

Action on climate change
Restoration (on a large scale), forest re-establishment and agroforestry
Rangeland health, sustainable hunting, and fishing
Enhancing biodiversity
Increased and more effective environmental education. Diverse training activities
Payments for environmental services
Reconciliation between communities and after conflicts
Better community health

Social enterprise-related programs
Exploring the social, spiritual, cultural, and artistic sides of Landcare
Greater resilience with respect to disasters
More effective pest plant and feral animal control
Increased and more effective environmental education. Diverse training activities
Developing domestic, regional, and international partnerships
Good communications and stories of success - transfer of models that work
Citizen science- community involved in assessment and monitoring

Strategic directions

Members of the Global Landcare community participated in a survey in 2021 to determine their priority views and aspirations for Global Landcare, and the strategic direction the group should take. The following four themes, as discussed following in detail, emerged from the consultation:

1. Capacity building and training, research and documentation

2. Partnerships, networks, and regional support

3. Communications, advocacy, and outreach

4. Fundraising and project support.

1. Capacity building training, research, documentation and outreach

Short courses - small scale farmers (technical), facilitators
Masterclass - with strategic planning in countries
Mentoring - advanced Landcare programs to emerging programs; experienced Landcare practitioners to new ones
Volunteers providing direct assistance, expertise on ground
Learning events - workshops, exchanges with regional programs, and international conventions; local-level knowledge-sharing
Knowledge repository (communications)
Social networking groups
Studentship programme that generates new knowledge in Post graduate theses
Strategic and case studies

2a. Partnerships and networks

Connecting Landcare across the globe
Build on existing partners and projects with similar goals
Build profile and awareness of Global Landcare
Networking and capacity building to demonstrate the value of Landcare for sustainable land and water management
Facilitate global organizations by coordination and arrangements of international events and exchange visits
Introduce Landcare to areas or countries that have not been reached
Develop good links with national governments and international environmental and agricultural organisations (e.g. FAO, UNDP, UNEP, WWF, IUCN, CGIAR, etc.) to input ideas and encouragement to natural resource management programs.

2b. Regional support

Support and encourage national Landcare bodies, including in emerging countries
Operate at a national and international level – not a local level
Develop links with existing National Landcare organisations and pursue the idea of International Landcare regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceana, Nth and South America)
Provide templates for operational policies and procedures for country partners
Provide support functions such as regional Landcare commissions and Landcare group twinning opportunities
Need for Landcare Australia and Australian Government support to promote Landcare internationally.

3a. Raising our profile

Making Landcare a global brand that is understood in key countries and by key stakeholders - from investors to local communities
Participating in major events around sustainable development, agriculture and communities, natural resource management
Raising Landcare agenda at global level
Sponsorship of international events
Promoting the Landcare approach as a successful empowerment model
Creating a prospectus for funding bodies to enable locally driven, regionally networked responses to global environmental problems
Exchange visits and programs.

3b. Sharing our collective knowledge

Sharing the Australian Landcare story throughout the Asia-Pacific region
Creating platforms to share experiences and resources
Creating a global network with regional hubs
Creating online training materials
Promoting existing resource opportunities.

3c. Sharing our stories

Supporting and increasing our social network platforms countries
Documenting successes at grassroot networks/platforms
Creating forums/webinars for sharing stories and successes organisations and pursue the idea of International Landcare regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceana, Nth and South America)
Providing opportunities for Landcarers’ to connect with and learn from each other.

3d. Promoting collaboration across the globe

Creating advocacy/partnership group for Global Landcare
Targeting national and international spheres – not just at a local level
Strengthening existing programs and networks/alliances and pursue the idea of International Landcare regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceana, Nth and South America)
Fostering the Landcare ethic internationally globally, recognising the need to adapt to different cultures and institutional frameworks.

4a. Fundraising

Global funding exercise to ensure financial sustainability and viability of the organisation, advocate for funds within International Institutions, source funding to support administration and on ground activities (ideally an international sponsor/benefactor)
Consider membership fee from members
Develop funding model to address research and implementation on land restoration especially in developing and under-developed countries and pursue the idea of International Landcare regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceana, Nth and South America)
Create enabling environment for transformative project to ensure adoption of concept and create enabling environment for funding opportunities with Groups
Raising funds for promotional activities and find resources for implementing partners
Continue to help support and fund international Landcare projects
Getting a suitable organisation operational, including funding streams and governance.

4b. Project Support

Physical work rather than meetings and conferences
Focus on areas of most need or least resources. Focus areas: More Asian countries eg Cambodia and Pacific Islands
Have achievable targets, so that those involved can get progressive satisfaction from the results of their work
Strengthen the institutional framework and hosting at National level, National priority of SLM appraisal
Within resources and personnel availability - provide support to fledgling Groups overseas - by in some cases Global Landcare Members visiting and supporting those group's aspirations and at other times assisting leaders from those group to come to Australia to work with Australian Landcare groups
A catalyst providing funds and expertise for best practice examples of climate adaption
To assist farmer and Farmer groups towards Agriculture and Environment resilience
Sharing of knowledge and experience; and facilitate planning activities and its implementation
Grow Global Landcare around Australia to encourage more inter-state and intra-state cooperation
A global network supporting, local, regional and national scale initiatives through networking, professional development and fundraising (eg via major grants)
Continue to support Landcare projects across the globe, small grants help establish ongoing programs. Supporting existing Landcare programs in countries and help to build stronger connections between countries. Offer support to new and emerging programs in other countries - including training.

Vision for the next 5 years

A strategic planning session was held in March, 2021 to priorities initial effort for Global Landcare to enact the strategic directions. The following outlines the vision for the next five years, with a 12-month action plan capturing the initial activities.

Partnerships, networks and regional support

Close missing piece - institutional link with Landcare Australia. Representation from Global Landcare on Australia National Landcare Network
Modelled / mapped out relationships between the different Landcare networks globally ie. regions such as Africa Landcare Network to improve understanding and knowledge of the networks
Foster linking / twinning of local networks between countries
Cross pollination of initiatives eg. Junior Landcare of specific skills and sharing of approaches and resources
Foster improved relationships with international agencies to embed Landcare approach and principles - demonstrated benefits eg. citizen science
Leadership from the grassroots - climate change response, carbon smart practices - clear role for Landcare to demonstrate benefits. Need to interact to demonstrate
Interaction with business community - stop treating agribusiness community as the enemy - shared interest in developing sustainable outcomes / integrated agriculture system “shared interest”
Collate different models of partnership amongst in various countries.

Communications and advocacy

Strong Global Landcare brand recognition
History of LI, SILC and ALI captured
Strong social engagement with communities and partners
Accessible platform for sharing of stories
Accessible platform for sharing materials
Strong project partnerships at local and at scale
Strong engagement with both local level and large potential funders/partners