The 2025 South East Landcare Muster brought together a vibrant and diverse mix of Landcare volunteers, partners, and community members from across the South East of NSW – from the coast and tablelands to the western slopes and Snowy regions. It was a celebration of grassroots action, knowledge sharing, and forward thinking.
Renowned environmental leader Andrew Campbell delivered an inspiring keynote, encouraging Landcarers to think boldly about the future. Reflecting on Landcare’s powerful legacy in addressing environmental challenges, he posed the question: what role can Landcare play in tackling the complex, interconnected issues of climate change, energy, water, and food security? He called for a shift toward systems thinking and landscape-scale solutions – the hallmarks of a potential third agricultural revolution.
One of the highlights of the Muster was a dedicated session showcasing the breadth and diversity of Landcare activities happening across the South East Landcare (SEL) districts. This inspiring snapshot brought together stories and updates from groups working in vastly different landscapes—from the high country and tablelands to coastal environments and the western slopes.
Participants heard about projects that are engaging farmers to collaborate on regenerative practices, entire communities coming together to grow native tube stock, efforts to re-establish paddock trees as vital habitat corridors, and innovative biodiversity conservation work that blends local knowledge with scientific insight.
This session not only highlighted the impact of Landcare on the ground—it also sparked conversations that continued throughout the day. The diversity of approaches and the creativity behind each project set a tone of optimism and possibility. It reinforced the value of learning from each other and encouraged participants to think about how they could adapt or build on ideas from other districts in their own communities.
The snapshot served as a powerful reminder that, while each Landcare group faces unique challenges, they are all part of a larger, interconnected movement working towards healthier landscapes and more resilient communities.
Breakout sessions allowed for deeper discussion and learning. Highlights included:
- Landcare NSW & Local Land Services (LLS): Emphasised the importance of strong communication and ongoing collaboration to strengthen partnerships and outcomes across the region.
- Jen Evershed (LLS GIS Specialist): Delivered a hands-on session titled “Mapping Made Simple”, showcasing accessible GIS tools and how Landcarers can use the NSW Government’s SEED portal to tell the story of their landscapes through maps. “A map is a story,” Jen reminded us.
- Covram & the Habitat Restoration Hub: Tools presented by Peggy Eby and Ian Davidson showcased how Landcare can rapidly collect, store, and access important environmental data. Their message: better data = better decisions.
- The Mulloon Institute & Water NSW: Erin Healy, Peter Hazell, and Stuart Naylor introduced the Water Stewardship Program, which will support up to 10 demonstration projects in the Sydney Catchment. These initiatives aim to build communities of practice across catchments, demonstrating how landholders can work collectively on landscape-scale water and land restoration.
- Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) – LLS: Ben Serafin explored the cultural, ecological, and practical importance of TSRs. He outlined current management approaches, encouraged use of citizen science apps to document ecological values, and called for greater community involvement to ensure these reserves are protected and enhanced into the future.
- Sonya Graham – Landcare Group Longevity: Sonya shared insights from her research into the success and struggles of Landcare groups. She explored the key ingredients that support a group’s long-term viability—connection, purpose, shared leadership, and adaptability—and how groups can strengthen relationships to thrive over time.
- Suzannah Power – Storytelling through Video: Representing Nviromedia, Suzannah showcased how Landcare groups like Hovells Creek have been using film to document and celebrate their impact. Through powerful storytelling, these videos help attract volunteers, inspire community pride, and demonstrate outcomes to funders and partners.
The Muster reinforced that Landcare is more than a movement – it’s a growing network of people working together to create resilient landscapes and thriving communities. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and storytelling, Landcarers are well-positioned to lead on some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
