Nurturing land & wellbeing
October is Mental Health month — a timely reminder that caring for the land also means caring for ourselves and our communities. Across Tasmania, Landcare members are finding that time spent in nature, working with others, and restoring the places we love can support mental health and wellbeing.
A great example of this connection between healthy land and healthy people is our Catchment Connect Project.
Following on from our pilot Farm Dam Enhancement Project in 2025, we are excited to announce that Landcare Tasmania has secured $4 million through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund – Resilient Landscapes Program to deliver a five-year statewide focused Catchment Connect - Enhancing Farm Dams for Climate Resilience Project.
The project will support Landcare members and First Nations communities in catchment action planning and Healthy Country planning, with funding for on-ground farm dam enhancement projects that benefit biodiversity, animal health, drought resilience, reduced methane emissions and catchment health.
Creating a space for people to connect
This initiative brings together farmers, community groups, and government partners to protect and restore waterways — but it’s about more than environmental outcomes. Catchment Connect is also about creating space for people to connect, share knowledge, and find purpose in collective action. Research shows that spending time outdoors and engaging in meaningful community activities can have profound benefits for mental health — reducing stress, improving mood, and building a sense of belonging.
Through Catchment Connect, we’re strengthening these community bonds, helping people feel part of something bigger while improving the resilience of our catchments and landscapes. It’s a great example of how Landcare action supports not just environmental health, but emotional and social wellbeing too.
