Green warriors doing their bit for the Melbourne environment are being sought as nominations for the 2008 Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards.
The awards celebrate the work that individuals, groups and organisations have made in tackling environmental issues across the Port Phillip and Western Port region and provides the chance for the Melbourne people to share in their successes.
Held every two years, the regional awards recognise the achievements of the dedicated people in our city who have committed their own time to care for our environment.
These groups are often schools who have delivered inspiring results in cutting their carbon emissions or saving an endangered species, community groups who are working to protect their local reserves, or individuals who are motivated to stand for a particular issue and inspire others to take action.
One such man is Graham Simpson whose actions on his own rural property has prompted the establishment of a committee to tackle environmental problems in this area and growth of the environmental project Grow West, on the degraded landscapes surrounding Bacchus Marsh, west of Melbourne.
Simpson, last year was not only recognised for his work as a Primary Producer at a regional level but also then went on to win the Sustainable Farming category in the Victorian Landcare awards.
“The Landcare Awards are a vital recognition tool for the on-ground work that many individuals, ‘Friends of’ and Landcare groups, schools and organisations undertake to improve the environment that we live in.
“The Landcare movement is only 20 years old, but it has delivered tremendous successes on the ground. Its strength is not only its accessibility for anyone looking to make a difference in their own backyard, but equally it is an effective mechanism for knowledge sharing and problem solving of broader land issues,” Mr Buntine said.
“This is our chance to say thanks for the contribution that our landcarers have made.”
Nominations for the Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards close on Friday 6 June.
The event will be held at Zinc, in Melbourne, on 6 September 2008 and PPWCMA CEO David Buntine encourages anyone with an interest in nominating to contact the PPWMCA for more information.
Sponsored by Citipower, the nomination categories for this year’s Landcare Awards are:
* Individual Caring for Public Land
* Individual Caring for Private Land
* Primary Producer Caring for Land
* Caring for Waterways
* Caring for Nature
* Local Government Caring for Land
* Young People Caring for Land
* Community Group Caring for Public Land
* Community Group Caring for Private Land
* Caring for Community Groups
* Indigenous Caring for Land
Winners of the Regional Landcare Awards will then be nominated for the 2009 Victorian Landcare Awards.
2008 PORT PHILLIP AND WESTERN PORT LANDCARE AWARDS CATEGORY OVERVIEW
Individual Caring for Public Land, and
Individual Caring for Private Land
These two Awards are for an individual who carries out and/or promotes landcare (on public or private land), or sustainable agriculture (private land) through on-ground or awareness raising activities.
Primary Producer Caring for Land
Awarded to a primary producer (individual/family/partnership) for their significant contribution to the catchment, through sound land management practices and sustainable productivity.
Caring for Waterways
Awarded to a community organisation, person or group who has made a significant contribution to the sustainable management, conservation and/or rehabilitation of a waterway ecosystem.
Caring for Nature
Awarded to a community organisation, group or individual for excellence and innovation in implementing nature conservation activities on land outside formal parks and reserves.
Local Government Caring for Land
Awarded to a local government organisation working with the community to preserve and manage its local environment and natural resources, and for encouraging collaboration and active partnerships.
Young People Caring for Land
Awarded to a school/group’s contribution to raising awareness, knowledge and understanding of caring for our catchments amongst students and/or the community, and for implementing these practices on its own property or within the local community.
Community Group Caring for Public Land, and
Community Group Caring for Private Land
These two Awards are for a community group that is actively caring for our catchments primarily on public land, and a community group that is actively caring for our catchments primarily on private land, through the adoption of sound land management practices.
Caring for Community Groups
Awarded to a community member, coordinator or facilitator who provides support and capacity building for two or more volunteer-based community environment groups (eg Landcare, Friends of groups, Waterwatch etc.)
Indigenous Caring for Land
Awarded to an outstanding Indigenous community group or individual for adopting/promoting sound land management practices on public or private land, and who are working towards culturally sustainable land use, and/or enhancing and protecting an area, on behalf of the community. |