Greater Sydney Landcare Forum and Awards
Greater Sydney Landcare Forum and Awards
The region celebrates
Community Participation -
LP040-R007
The issue
Saying thank you to Landcare volunteers for their work and contribution to the environment across Greater Sydney is of paramount importance. An event that recognises and celebrates landcare and bushcare volunteers across Greater Sydney is one way that Greater Sydney Local Land Services, with support from the NSW Landcare Program, says thank you to the community.
The solution
The Greater Sydney Landcare and Bushcare Forum and Awards is a long-standing event celebrating and acknowledging environmental volunteers. The forum also brings the community together, to learn and enjoy catching up with old friends.
'Connectivity' was the theme for the 2023 Landcare and Bushcare Forum and Awards and the program included presentations and discussions capturing connection to Country, connections across landscapes and connections between each other. Cultural burning, citizen science and catchment management featured during the day.
During the day, the 2023 Greater Sydney Landcare Awards were presented to outstanding groups and individuals.
Five field trips followed the day's presentations and showcased local initiatives from the Blue Mountains.
The impact
147 people from across Greater Sydney travelled to Katoomba for the forum. The impressive turnout is a testament to the communities interest and need for events that celebrate Landcare achievements.
The program picked up on a couple of themes pertinent to the Landcare community - striving to work together with First Nations communities and a landscape connectivity approach to environmental restoration.
One of the event highlights was the positive engagement with Gundungurra and Dharug traditional owners, who welcomed us to Country, talked about their experience with cultural burning and led two on-Country field trips.
Learnings
The event was a success thanks to various support, including Blue Mountains City Council, the LLS community engagement and First Nations teams, Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners and the Greater Sydney Landcare Coordinators.
Key facts
- An event that celebrates and thanks Landcare volunteers is a great way to recognise their contribution to the environment
- The 2023 Landcare Forum and Awards attracted 147 people
- Meaningful engagement with traditional owners was supported by the LLS First Nations Communities Team