The Coordinator Activity Tracker

The Coordinator Activity Tracker – Changing the way Landcare Coordinators count the numbers that matter!

This month the NSW Landcare Program launched the Coordinator Activity Tracker. A revolution in how Local and Regional Landcare Coordinators capture and communicate data about the activities they deliver in our Landcare Communities.

Imagine having the power in your hands to capture data about the local activities your delivering, now imagine that data automatically coming together real time with the data of over 80 other Coordinators from right across NSW to tell the story of Landcare.

The Coordinator Activity Tracker delivers just that to our network of Coordinators. It records data on all the widgets, indicators and measures most captured by Landcare and importantly, most commonly required by funding bodies. This breaks the “black box” of reporting, where data so commonly only goes in and doesn’t come back out. The Tracker will not only provide the capacity for Landcare and Local Land Services to champion the efforts of Landcare at the state level but will provide a database that all Local and Regional Coordinators can access to use for reporting, funding applications and communications.

Collecting local data has always been a massive challenge for Landcare, bringing that data together from across the state to form a common picture of the impact the Coordinator network is having has seemed impossible… until now.

For more information on the Coordinator Activity Tracker, reach out to your Local or Regional Landcare Coordinator.

The Coordinator Activity Tracker is an initiative of the NSW Landcare Program, a collaboration between Landcare NSW and Local Land Services.

 

A CELEBRATION OF COLLABORATION

A CELEBRATION OF COLLABORATION

Celebrating year one of the NSW Landcare Program in Landcare Week.

Landcare NSW and Local Land Services are celebrating Landcare Week, 3-9 August, and marking the first anniversary of the NSW Landcare Program, a true collaboration between the NSW Government, Landcare NSW and the 60,000 volunteers who care for our landscapes.

Local Land Services Chair Richard Bull said the four-year, $22.4 million program has generated a huge opportunity to support well connected, sustainable and productive communities, and has been a phenomenal success in its first year.

“Despite drought, fire, floods and a pandemic our Landcare volunteers and coordinators have shown their dedication and continue to deliver for our farms, our environment and our future,” he said.

The innovative co-design, co-governance and co-delivery model of the program means that NSW Local Land Services and Landcare NSW continue to be active across all corners and land tenures, from Broken Hill to Bellingen and everywhere in between.

“In North Western NSW alone, there are an estimated 1,080 Landcare projects underway- that’s an enormous achievement in these challenging conditions and a testament to the network of Local and Regional Landcare Coordinators and our local LLS staff,” Mr Bull said.

The program supports high quality regional jobs by employing 12 Regional Landcare Coordinators and 72 part-time Local Landcare Coordinators who have assisted more than 1,300 active volunteers over the past year alone.

Chair of Landcare NSW, Stephanie Cameron, said she was proud to lead a Landcare team who continually shows resilience, adaptability and purpose for the benefit of their communities.

“The NSW Landcare Program demonstrates what can be achieved when we all work together with a shared purpose of protecting our environment and agricultural resources.”

“Whether it’s planting trees to support threatened species, practising regenerative agriculture, taking part in cultural burns or working in urban Landcare, this partnership is empowering Landcarers to take positive action for our future,” Ms Cameron said.

Mr Bull said a shared vision was essential to the success of the program, and Landcare Week is the perfect time to celebrate and congratulate Landcarers who work all year round, not just during Landcare Week.

The success of this program lies in its people and the can-do attitude of this partnership.”

Ms Cameron said Landcare is for everyone.

“Landcare is about collaboration in learning, community and social connection which enables change towards more sustainable practices.”

“Everyone from farmers and fishers to citizen scientists can get involved and make a difference not just for the health of the land, but for the health of their community.”

For more information contact: (Jodie/Samantha)

Case studies available to media

The following case studies represent the diversity of work undertaken by Landcare groups.

  1. OceanWatch Australia Tip to Tide
  2. Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, Environmental Champions Program
  3. Northern Slopes Landcare Incorporated Soils Benchmarking
  4. Murrumbidgee Landcare Incorporated Establishing Valuable Shelter Belts
  5. Manning Landcare Incorporated Post Drought, Fire Mental Health First Aid
  6. Lachlandcare Weaving Magic and Murrin Bridge
  7. Glenrac Incorporated – Local Community Champions
  8. Eurobodalla Landcare – Clean-up for the Clyde – (little penguins) 
  9. Yass Valley Paddock Tree project

Biodiversity development key component for environmental projects

Burrumbuttock Squirrel Gliders LAMP Project by Lou Bull.

There is a dark stripe from between the eyes to the mid-back, and the tail is soft and bushy averaging about 27 cm in length. Distinct in appearance and vulnerable in habitat, Squirrel Gliders are some of Australia’s smaller residents.   

In the small town of Burrumbuttock, in the central southern part of the Riverina region, Landcare and community groups have been busy advocating, preserving and enhancing their natural habitat to ensure that future generations, both of the human and glider variety, are here to enjoy it.

Naturally, their homes of choice are tree hollows in 100 year old eucalyptus where they can hide in the dark until evening falls and then come out to feed on insects, flowers and tree sap.

The Burrumbuttock Squirrel Glider Local Area Management Plan (LAMP) Project aims to double the glider population at Burrumbuttock to 1,000, but at a starting number of 555 it’s a long road.

“This project has been going for 20 years. Squirrel gliders are hollow dependant but hollows only start forming when trees are over 100 years old and a nesting pair can use up to 30 hollows across their home range. They move around a lot to match where available food is at different times of year, weather, avoid different predators,” says Regional Landcare Coordinator for the Murray Region, Paula Sheehan.

“The trees we planted may be 80 years away from being homes for the gliders, but we are 20 years closer than if we had not started. In the meantime, they will be a food source and help the gliders move about their range.

Support from private landholders and the wider community is essential for the longevity of the project, Paula says.

“So far we have 41 landholders who have committed to supporting the project on their properties with more on the waiting list. Their support is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the species.

“Projects such as these are about supporting and developing biodiversity. It’s not as simple as putting some trees in and waiting. It is so much more than that. We are not just supporting gliders, we are supporting trees, grasslands, lizards, birds, insects and the farmers themselves. It’s all part of a much bigger picture,” said Paula.

Local Landcare Coordinator for Mid Lachlan Landcare Tracee Burke agrees, saying projects that groups develop are not just about one specific species. They are about supporting and protecting biodiversity across all landscapes.

“The collaborative role Mid Lachlan Landcare and private landholders have in the Box Gum Grassy Woodland Habitat on Farm project is crucial. We are working together to create bio-diverse, healthy farms that protect and enhance this woodland.  

“We are working with landholders to find the best way to maintain the remaining trees, encourage natural regeneration, provide connectivity and plant new species if required.”

With less than 10% of its pre-European distribution intact, the open woodland trees are listed as critically endangered both at a state and nationwide level. With their range spanning from Queensland to Victoria, it’s a big task.

“The trees are just one component in the biodiversity of the surrounding areas. With them comes shrubs, grasses, native herbs and with that comes mammals such as the Squirrel Glider, birds such as the Superb Parrot, reptiles and frogs. These all work alongside one another and need to be protected. By doing one, you are supporting the other and we are always thinking of both,” Tracee said.

Images produced with permission.

‘Squirrel Gliders’ Lou Bull – Petaurus Education Group Project Officer 

‘Box Gum Grassy Woodland’ – Local Landcare Coordinator Tracee Burke – Mid Lachlan Landcare 

To find out more:

Samantha Stratton – Landcare NSW

sstratton@landcarensw.org.au

Box Gum Grassy Woodland by Tracee Burke