20th October 2023 |
Landcare Tasmania is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the 2023 Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference.
Image: Friday night Welcome to Country © Cynthia Schaap
From October 13th to 15th, the big event, held at Spring Bay Mill in trayapana/Triabunna, brought together an array of community leaders, environmental enthusiasts, and dedicated individuals to celebrate and discuss community-driven environmental efforts.
Under the theme "Building Momentum: Turning Knowledge into Action," this year's conference marked a significant step towards harnessing the growing enthusiasm for better environmental management within the community.
Images: Welcome to Country (L) and storytelling in the amphitheater (R) © Cynthia Schaap
The event was kicked off on the Friday night, with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony thanks to Trish Hodge and Mathius Everett from NITA Education, Linton Burgess and Nicole King, followed by a barbecue dinner featuring meat donated by Preston Ridge Free Range Pork and Summerlea Farm Tasmania. The evening concluded with a wonderful storytelling session from Trish Hodge.
The Saturday conference commenced with a Welcome to Country by Linton Burgess, and an inauguration by the Hon. Jo Palmer, Minister for Primary Industries and Water.
Image: © Cynthia Schaap
The conference drew more than 250 Landcarers from across the state and beyond, representing community Landcare groups, farmers, Aboriginal Community, councils, landholders, and environmental pioneers. Discussions addressed issues such as bushfires, invasive species, cultural land management and climate change, underscoring the urgent need for collective action for the environment.
Peter Stronach, CEO of Landcare Tasmania, said “In these tough times, this conference served as a pivotal moment for uniting our community in confronting environmental challenges together."
"We hope that attendees left with a renewed sense of collective resilience, recognising that Landcarers are the backbone of local community action, actively shaping Tasmania's landscapes," added Mr Stronach.
Keynote speakers, including Jess Melbourne-Thomas from CSIRO, known for work on climate adaptation, and Perpetua Turner, who collaborates with the State Fire Management Council to provide practical solutions for land managers, delivered impactful and informative presentations.
Images: Kazuki Kagohashi (L) and Nick Edgar (R) © Natasha Mulhall
The event also hosted two international speakers from the board of Global Landcare: Kazuki Kagohashi, who shared insights on farmer-led resilience from Japan, and Nick Edgar, who presented case studies of farmer-led water management in New Zealand.
Images: © Natasha Mulhall
One of the conference's highlights was the awards dinner on Saturday night, where five award categories were presented to honour significant achievements and lifelong commitments to enhancing Tasmania's ecosystems. Mr. Stronach said, "These awardees have transformed Tasmania's environment into a globally admired treasure."
Wine for the awards ceremony was generously donated by local producers.
Images: © Jemima Phelps
The final day of the conference featured delegates visiting on-ground projects on Maria Island and the East Coast. Activities included weed management on Maria Island, carbon-cutting seaweed initiatives at Sea Forest with Sam Elsom, and a walk at Wind Song Peace Forest with palawa cultural educator Linton Burgess.
“The most common feedback we’ve got from attendees is that the gathering has provided a little more hope, inspiration, and a sense of community. “I needed that” is something we’ve been hearing a lot” said Mr Stronach.
The Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference was made possible through the sponsorship of the Tasmanian Government, the National Landcare Network, and generous support from various businesses and organisations.
The Welcome BBQ, Dark Sky Walk and Storytelling
Awards Evening
Coastal Landcarers Field Trip
Maria Island Field Trip
Spring Bay Mill and Sea Forest Field Trip
12 Cool Things We Learnt at Conference
