The Faces of Landcare on Why Biodiversity Matters

In late 2020, Country Road proudly launched The Biodiversity Project in partnership with Landcare Australia. Our ongoing partnership is designed to protect and preserve the natural environment in Australian cotton growing regions, while celebrating the diverse backdrops we call home.

So far, The Biodiversity Project has raised over $125,000, to assist local farmers in protecting soil health, providing natural habitats for threatened species and improving water quality across river systems.

Here, we speak to three members of the Landcare community to learn more about the Landcare movement, discover why biodiversity matters, and how we can all shape a better future.

Dhani Gilbert
Caring For Country Practitioner

Dhani Gilbert is a proud Kalari Wiradjuri young woman dedicated to preserving the land around her. At just 19 years old, she is a community educator at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary in the ACT, winner of the 2019 ACT Austcover Young Landcare Leadership Award and currently undertaking a double degree in Science, Environment and Sustainability. A passionate member of her local community, Dhani will deliver the closing address at the 2021 National Landcare Conference in August.

Hi Dhani, can you tell us what Landcare means to you?

“Landcare is values in action; it's grassroots action people can take in their communities to restore and care for this beautiful country that nurtures us. As my Elders say, 'Ngangaadha garray-gu bila-galang-gu! Yandu garray-bu bila-galang-bu ngangaagirri nginyalgir.' 'Look after the land and rivers, then the land and rivers will look after you.''”

How did you first get involved with Landcare?

“From a young age, I've always been involved in caring for Country and ecological restoration work, taking part alongside my family and community members in activities such as seed collection, weed removal, cultural burning, native plant revegetation, and caring for our waterways…

In 2019, I started working with Landcare and I could quite easily see how their work can align with and complement the work that First Nations people do around caring for Country.

Landcare initiatives engage a really wide range of environmental fields, contributing to activities such as weed reduction, vegetation and habitat regeneration, I could see these works and initiatives as crucial for promoting, protecting, and restoring healthy ecosystems, which is ultimately what I'm striving towards with my studies and work in the environment.”

Where does your appreciation for the land stem from?

“My deep appreciation for the land and caring for Country stems from the wisdom of my mob and community. I have been gifted with a wonderful understanding of the intrinsic value and interconnectedness that all living organisms possess and provide. My family and community have instilled in me many lessons about the value of First Nations stewardship, and the importance of caring for Country, so that we can all thrive and flourish. This has greatly influenced the way I understand and appreciate the land I live on.”

Why is increasing biodiversity in Australia important?

“Unfortunately, in Australia, we have over 1,700 threatened species and ecological communities. The loss of these species and communities would devastate the ecosystem as it would remove essential ecological services and functions. The result of these losses would be detrimental to the functionality of pretty much our entire country.

Threats to biodiversity are created by humans and they can be mitigated through actions that protect and promote diverse ecological communities. Ultimately, increasing biodiversity is critical for a sustainable future, and really vital for the continuing function of healthy ecosystems.”

Jenny And Paul O'sullivan
Landcare Farmers

The O’Sullivans are a generational farming family with a sprawling 664-hectare property located in Gippsland. Over the last 30 years, they have been prominent members of the Landcare community, farming in tune with nature and undertaking countless projects to improve local biodiversity.

Hi Jenny, can you talk about your personal connection with Landcare and what it means to you?

“To me, Landcare means caring for our land, waterways, bush and native animals by farming in a sustainable manner that improves the condition of these natural resources whilst running a profitable farm business. Landcare encourages sustainable and regenerative farming practices and encourages landowners to preserve, protect and enhance native vegetation...

Landcare plays such an important role in sharing the stories of progress and helps keep us motivated to continue to invest in improving our management of our natural resources.”

What projects have you undertaken on your farm?

“One of the first things we did was fence off existing remnant vegetation. We had some beautiful heathy woodland with incredible strands of grass trees, some over three metres and 300 years old.

We also had extensive areas of riparian scrub (scrub along waterways) which we fenced off, enabling terrific regrowth of ferns and orchids. We also fenced off wetlands, large waterways and erosion sites throughout the property. We revegetated these areas with native plant species. We also developed shelterbelts that could provide shade and shelter for stock and also act as wildlife corridors.

Through Landcare and working with our neighbours, we can build a mosaic of native vegetation as habitat corridors for wildlife and birds across the region.”

Why are these projects important?

“We really value the remnant bush on our land and see it as a really unique resource. We love seeing birds and wildlife around the property and are keen to ensure there is habitat for them...

We have high rainfall in our region and in the winter the country is a series of wetlands, which is important for migratory birds. We love seeing birds nesting and breeding in the fenced off waterways—they are also a very valuable habitat for frogs and snakes. We see frogs as the canary in the coal mine. A healthy habitat ensures they thrive and lets us know we have a productive ecosystem.”

Where does your appreciation for the land stem from?

“For both Paul and I, coming from generations of farmers, we feel a close connection to the land, bush and animals. I have fond memories of riding with my mother as a child and her making me conscious of how important it is to observe what is happening—how the animals and nature can tell you what is happening if you look closely…

We feel very privileged that we can live and work in nature, and work towards leaving the land in a better condition as a result of our farming.”

Kathleen Brack
Landcare Program Officer

Kathleen Brack has spent almost 10 years working with Landcare, supporting farmers and community groups, engaging young people and working on various biodiversity projects. Named the Austcover National Young Landcare Leadership Award winner in 2018, Kathleen is now the Regional Landcare Program Officer for West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, supporting Landcare networks in south-east Victoria.

Hi Kathleen, can you explain what Landcare is to you?

“Landcare is a grassroots movement of thousands of community groups and farmers helping the environment by planting trees to improve biodiversity, fencing off streams, improving soil through grazing and pasture management, managing weeds and pests, participating in mapping and citizen science, and protecting remnant vegetation.

Thanks to Landcare, there are more trees in the ground, cleaner rivers, more productive farms, and happier, more connected communities...

Landcarers are some of the most inspiring people you’ll ever meet (and often very humble).”

Where does your appreciation for the land stem from?

“I spent much of my youth outside which really ingrained in me a love for the environment from an early age. I grew up in Corowa in New South Wales and spent summers swimming in the Murray River and riding bikes and exploring the surrounding dusty bush. My grandparents were also dairy farmers in Yinnar in Gippsland, so I spent my holidays hanging around their farm.

Both of these experiences were instrumental in not only my love for the environment, but also in developing my sense of the importance of local community for looking after the land that supported them.”

Why is revegetation or increasing biodiversity important?

“We need to protect and enhance native vegetation in order to ensure we have healthy, connected landscapes. This can include protecting and fencing off what is already there from stock, enhancing poor bush to make it more diverse or revegetating land to create new corridors to connect the landscape. Increasing biodiversity will allow birds and animals to move happily around, plus make our biodiversity resilient to future impacts from climate change.”

What are some smaller ways people can better care for the land they live on?

“The best thing about Landcare is you don’t have to have thousands of acres to make a difference. Some small ways you can care for the land you live on are:

• Join your local Landcare, Coastcare, Bushcare or ‘Friends of’ group. Search online to see what is around in your local area.
• Attend a tree planting or clean-up day in your local area.
• Participate in a citizen science project such as the Australian backyard bird count.
• Be smart about what you plant in your own garden by planting indigenous plants (things that would have grown there before the land was cleared) and not planting environmental weeds that can spread to local bushland.
• Get in touch with your local representatives through emails or phone calls to support future funding and protection for the environment or Landcare.”