A Short Discussion Paper on Improving Virginian Streamsides
Insights from Rob Youl's visit to the U.S.
LandCarers Cross Borders
LandCare might be in limbo in Australia, but in the US, the community self-help concept is starting to take root.
Goulburn Valley LandCare co-ordinator, Karen Brisbane is off to Portland, Oregon in October to help run a workshop at one of the largest enfironmental converences in the US, the Land Trust Aliance Rally 2009.
Welcome to Grayson LandCare
Grayson LandCare is a locally organized group of farmers, landowners, and residents concerned about economic and environmental problems in Grayson County and southwest Virginia. Grayson County has historically been a rural agricultural community based on small-town values and the unique cultural identity of our beautiful Appalachian landscape. Unfortunately, rising land prices, higher property taxes, and competition from corporate farming threaten to overcome family farms, fragment our country landscape, and destroy our rural way of life.
Benefits of LandCare
Putting communities in charge of their own local environment leads to preservation of the natural assets upon which rural economies depend. Landcare is highly replicable, and is a key element of sustainable development at the local, regional, state and national levels.
Origins of LandCare
Begun in Australia in 1989 to restore severely damaged ecosystems "one watershed at a time," landcare now is carried out by some 6,000 community landcare and coastcare groups in coastal, rural and urban areas of Australia. Eighty-five percent of Australians recognize the official landcare logo.