The power of long-term community engagement
The power of long-term community engagement
Landcare has promoted and supported community action to “hold the front line” of canetoad incursion for 26 years in the Clarence Valley.
Capacity to Deliver -
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The issue
Canetoads continue to appear in new areas of the Clarence Valley, impacting wildlife which eat, or are eaten by the introduced pest species. Evidence shows that local action can have a positive impact in controlling cane toads, but it must be sustained, and breeding must be prevented if possible. As canetoads move into rural areas dominated by farming, community engagement must adapt. Community engagement must also move through the landscape ahead of the cane toad movement, so that people are alert to the arrival of cane toads. This can prevent breeding and establishment of a new local cane toad population.
The solution
The “frontline” of the southward cane toad incursion has been held at the Clarence Valley for decades due to long-term community information and engagement. The volunteer group Clarence Valley Conservation in Action (CVCIA) formed in 2008 to promote and support community action in Cane toad and Indian Myna Bird control. Clarence Landcare is 30 years old in 2025 and has long-standing community connections which broker engagement with a wide range of landholders. Landholders trust Landcare and the integrity of Landcare staff and volunteers when partnering with them for cane toad control.
The impact
Clarence Landcare and CVCIA educate and engage landholders to report and control canetoads, demonstrating that local action does impact canetoad numbers and therefore the survival of local native wildlife. Various funding sources have been sought and secured to further strategic onground control and community engagement, including public toad busts and private neighbourhood events. Clarence Landcare’s organisational knowledge and long experience has enabled symbiotic partnering with researchers and government to prevent the spread of canetoads further southward, and inform management strategy.
Learnings
Community engagement is powerful when sustained over many years, with long term, trusted local relationships.
Key facts
- CVCIA Landcare Group (2008-2024) formed to promote community action in Canetoad and Indian Myna Bird control.
- Clarence Landcare has sought and secured funding to further the effort
- Landcare is a familiar and trusted organisation for landholders
- Landcare action informs cane toad management strategy and research