2024 Parliamentary Friends of Landcare – Trees in the House
In November, Landcare NSW proudly co-hosted the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare ‘Trees in the House’ event in the beautiful Speakers Garden at NSW Parliament House, highlighting the dedication and achievements of Landcare members and volunteers across the state.
The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, a cross-party group of Members of Parliament, works to advocate for Landcare initiatives at the state, regional, and local levels. The event brought together long-standing and new supporters of Landcare, united in their commitment to building a more sustainable future.
The evening commenced with a heartfelt Welcome to Country by Dr Shannon Foster, followed by remarks from Steve Whan MP, Co-Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, Tara Moriarty MLC, Minister for Agriculture, and Gareth Johnston, Chair of Landcare NSW. Each speaker noted the essential role of Landcare in promoting biodiversity, adapting to climate change, and enhancing natural capital.
Highlights:
A highlight of the night was the showcase of innovative Landcare projects, presented during a panel facilitated by Peter Dixon of Landcare NSW:
Dr Oliver Knox introduced his ‘Soil Ya Undies’ program, which uses buried underwear to evaluate soil health.
Vanessa Anderson from Western Landcare NSW shared how this concept was adapted to engage primary school students in Far Western NSW on the importance of soil health. Read More
Ryan Lungu from OzFish Unlimited outlined collaborative efforts with Landcare on more than 80 projects to rehabilitate waterways and support fish populations. Read More
Aboriginal Landcare Officer Michael Kennedy from North Coast Regional Landcare Network detailed initiatives to educate Gumbaynggirr children about koala conservation in the South Grafton area. Read More
Sophie Blair of Greater Sydney Landcare presented ‘WildVenture – Landcare for Young Adults,’ addressing youth eco-anxiety, loneliness, and fostering connection to nature. Read More
Granite Borders Landcare Inc. was also showcased with their fire ant awareness workshop, which focuses on prevention and eradication. Read More
The event reflected the breadth and depth of Landcare’s impact, from soil science to habitat restoration, and youth engagement to species conservation.
A sincere thank you to the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare Co-Chairs Steve Whan MP, Michael Kemp MP, and Roy Butler MP, as well as everyone who contributed to the success of the evening.
