Our Story
We represent, strengthen, support and grow Tasmania's community Landcare movement.
Who is Landcare Tasmania?
As the peak body for Landcare in Tasmania, we are a vibrant community of hundreds of member groups and thousands of volunteers state-wide. Together, we continue to protect and restore the soils, waterways, flora and fauna which make
Lutruwita/Trouwerner/Tasmania unique.
We are a not-for-profit, non-government organisation and a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
The Tasmanian Landcare Fund is our gift fund which is used only for the principal purpose of the association. The fund is eligible to receive tax deductible donations.
What do we do?
Since 1994, we have been supporting local communities to care for our land and coasts, farms and reserves, waterways and wildlife. The Landcare community is represented by people across the whole state, supported by our individual and associate members, partners, and donors.
An important feature of Landcare Tasmania is that our members operate independently. How they organise themselves and what they choose to work on is largely determined by them. We assist by keeping track of members interests and needs, and organising our advocacy work and services to support them. It's mostly bottom up but we also play an important role in developing coordinated approaches to important issues, for example through community awareness programs, citizen science and training, and landscape-scale projects.
Our support programs are refined annually, guided by a five-year strategic plan, to fulfill our core objectives, and work towards our vision and mission.
Our Vision: All Tasmanian communities are empowered and enabled to care for the land and water of lutruwita / Tasmania.
Our Mission: We build resilience and capacity to protect, restore and manage Tasmania’s landscapes by connecting, supporting and educating the community.
Our Purpose: The purpose of the Association is to represent, strengthen, support and grow Tasmania’s community Landcare movement.
Our Objectives:
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Promote Community Landcare |
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Connect people and organisations with an interest in Landcare |
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Support Landcarers with administration, information and funding |
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Represent community Landcare as an advocacy body |
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Establish and maintain a public fund, the Tasmanian Landcare Fund, for the specific purpose of supporting the environmental objects/purposes of Landcare Tasmania |
History
Grassroots community action to care for the land emerged decades before the national Landcare movement was officially recognised. The term 'Landcare' was coined in the 1980s in Victoria, and through the awareness-raising efforts of many individuals and organisations, including the National Farmers Federation and the Australian Conservation Foundation, the 'Decade of Landcare' was launched in 1989 by the Hawke Government.
It was launched with bi-partisan support, with $320 million to fund the National Landcare Programme. The National Landcare Programme continues today, and contributes towards a small portion of Landcare Tasmania's core funding via the National Landcare Network.
Community Landcare was active in Tasmania for many years before Landcare Tasmania formed as an incorporated association in 1994.
Images: Awareness of tree decline in the Midlands in the 1990s was one of the first big issues that raised the profile of Landcare in Tasmania.
Below: Our 25 year anniversary timeline.
Celebrating 30 years of Landcare in Tasmania
Landcare Tasmania was the first independent peak body for Landcare in Australia.
On 30 May 2024, Landcare Tasmania celebrated its 30th year as an incorporated association supporting the grassroots Landcare movement.
Southern Beaches Coastcare Landcare group was one of many Landcare groups who helped us celebrate our 30th birthday with cake and a morning tea at their working bee. Photo: Dawn Green
"Recognising our achievements helps us appreciate the landscapes and ecosystems we've preserved and restored. Imagine the state of
our local patches without the care and dedication of Landcarers - it would be a very different situation if action had not been taken."
- Peter Stronach (Landcare Tasmania CEO)
National context
Landcare Tasmania, along with all the other state and territory Landcare organisations, is represented nationally by the National Landcare Network. The National Landcare Network is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia.
We are frequently asked if we are a branch of Landcare Australia, so it is worth clarifying here that Landcare Australia Ltd is a separate organisation. We sometimes work with Landcare Australia, in particular, to assist in rolling out the Tasmanian contingent of the National State & Territory Landcare Awards every two years.
