Model of an Environmental Community Support System: The Landcare Movement in Australia

Abstract

ABSTRACT:At the international level, it is recognised that environmental problems are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens at the relevant level. However, the development of effective models for promoting citizen participation to solve environmental issues remains a work in process. With the goal of suggesting such a model, this study focuses on the system of Landcare in Australia, a nation-wide movement of community-based natural resource management that has been tackling Australian's serious environmental problems. Through analysing the outcomes of in-field research in Australia, this study describes three characteristic elements of the Landcare movement: establishing a system and a spirit of multi-party partnership throughout the nation; securing coordinators, who with flexibility to adjust to each locale, support local groups; and maintaining a holistic support system from governments who respect the autonomy of local groups. Through the discussion, this study shows the strengths of the three elements such as the diversity of the financial sources; and the challenges regarding the provision of financial and coordinating support to the communities. Also, it shows that there are activities that local groups and their networks within the movement have carried out that aim to overcome these challenges. This indicates that it is effective to establish a program which has a system and spirit of multi-party partnership, secures coordinators, and maintains a holistic support system from governments, for promoting citizen participation to deal with environmental issues.

Community-Led Micro-Hydropower Development and Landcare: A Case Study of Networking Activities of Local Residents and Farmers in the Gokase Township (Japan)

“…A second insight is that for this to be successful, these people must work together and they must be supported by a network that provides the expertise, knowledge and funding that they need." Tomomi Maekawa puts stress on the importance of local initiative through public participation and multi-party partnership [6]. Lisa Robins also argues that institutional arrangements (support for local Landcare activities) are the key to the success of Landcare [3], and Campbell et al emphasize the outstanding individuals involved in the Landcare activities [7].…”