The first ACT Environmental Volunteer Conference, celebrating how volunteers protect and enhance Canberra’s natural environment, was held last weekend, at the end of Landcare Week. 

“The Landcare movement has been working tirelessly to restore, enhance and protect the natural environment right across the nation for over 30 years,” Landcare ACT chair Dr Maxine Cooper said.

“In the ACT alone,” environment minister Rebecca Vassarotti said, “we have around 100 active environmental volunteer groups, providing over 300,000 hours of work each year, helping us manage and respond to emerging issues, build our climate resilience, and propel Canberra as a leader in conservation. 

“Volunteers help in so many ways, from obvious things like planting trees that help build habitats for our local native wildlife, to researching and advocating for issues that will help fight the climate crisis and further safeguard the environment.

“We rely on findings and data from our citizen scientists to inform best practice activities and management strategies in the ACT, build government policies, and assist with developing and improving programs both within the Territory and on the national stage…

“Canberrans have such a strong connection to the environment, and we’re fortunate that we have so many people ready to step up and make positive contributions for our wildlife and our community wellbeing.”

Over two days, more than 200 attendees heard from experts in environmental conservation, including author Dr Bruce Pascoe, nature-connection expert Waminda Parker, climate scientists Professors Mark Howden and Jamie Pittock from ANU, and Dr Kathy Eyles from the National Parks and Conservation Trust, and networked with other volunteers.

“Having this calibre of speaker available to meet and engage with our volunteers shows the significant role of volunteers on the national stage,” Ms Vassarotti said. 

The event was hosted by the ACT Government in collaboration with Landcare ACT and the ACT Catchment Groups. It was sold out.

“Given the huge interest and success of the conference, the ACT Government will continue to work with Landcare to program future conferences and other community partnership events that engage Canberra’s wonderful environmental volunteers,” Ms Vassarotti said. 

The ACT Government has allocated $13 million over the next four years to protect, conserve, and restore Canberra’s natural environment and waterways. 

Learn more about environmental volunteers and how you can get involved on the ACT Environment website, or on the Landcare ACT website.