What is a Landcare Group?

A Landcare group is a group of people who join together to work on land management issues in their local area.

Landcare History in Franklin District

The concept of a Landcare group is not new. In some areas, local farmers have
worked together on resource management problems for many years eg. Catchment control schemes or weed and pest management. Recently, groups have formed as concerns for the environment grow, and the benefits of working as a community are realised. Recent legislation, such as the Resource Management Act, has also put the onus onto landowners and resource users to take responsibility for the effects their activities have on the environment.

What are the benefits of a Landcare Group?

When dealing with problems that extend beyond fences or natural boundaries, e.g. possums, stoats or weeds, it makes sense to work together. A group working collectively can have a lot more effect than one person working on their own, because:
• Re-infestation of weeds and pests is reduced if neighbours also work on
control.
• People can share ideas, knowledge, and enthusiasm.
• Groups can find it easier to get expert advice or funding.
• Landcare groups may be able to reduce the cost of weed and pest management resources to members, through placing group orders with their Regional Council biosecurity representative.
• Group members bring a variety of perspectives to the problem, allowing a
better understanding of the “big picture”.

Landcare in Franklin District

Currently there are several Landcare Groups operating in the district to address a variety of environmental concerns.
• Awhitu Peninsula Landcare Group
o To help people on the Awhitu Peninsula work together in planning sustainable management of the land and other resources in the area; to help in the planning of co-operative land and resource-based projects; to invite resource people to assist with activities; to commission research, and to share information; to seek funding to support these aims for the benefit of all those who live or work on the Awhitu Peninsula. www.awhitu.org.nz
• Bald Hill Landcare Group
o To take a collaborative approach to revegetation, weed and pest management; to seek funding to support these aims for the benefit of all those who live in the Bald Hill Road area.
• Hunua Landcare Group
o To take a collaborative approach in the management of covenanted areas in the Hunua area, focusing primarily on weed and pest management.