|
Published: 29 October 2012
Our Big Backyard: 14 million hectares under care of regional NRM groups
During October, 56 regional NRM groups across Australia celebrated the achievement of securing 14 million hectares of land under improved natural resource management.
|
|
Regional NRM projects have engaged 200,000 people across Australia in just one year, including 150 locals who volunteered to help improve 1000+ hectares of public coastal land (above) managed by Mackay Regional Council and Reef Catchments. Credit: Our Big Backyard
|
David Gardner, Chair National NRM Regions’ Working Group, said the achievement was made possible by communities working together to take better care of their land.
‘Regional bodies across Australia put a lot of emphasis on how they work with people who can actually make a difference on the ground,’ David said.
‘We work with farmers and graziers, landcare groups, and governments at all levels to help people understand how small changes to farming practice can make a big impact to the health of our land.
‘Fourteen million hectares under improved management means less impact on our waterways and streams, increased biodiversity in farms and paddocks, and more people participating in training about good farming practice.’
The 56 regional groups have launched three videos to outline some of the achievements made by regional communities across the nation through the support of the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program.
‘Collectively we have improved more than 16,000 km of coastlines and waterways, and engaged 200,000 people in changing land management practice,’ added David.
The videos are available at www.youtube.com/RegionalNRMgroups. Photos and snapshots of some of the groups’ other work is available at www.facebook.com/ourbigbackyard or www.twitter.com/AusNRM
Source: Our Big Backyard media release
