Natural Heritage Trust Research Articles

Landcare particpation in Australia: the volunteer perspective

There are over 4000 community Landcare groups involving over 120 000 volunteer members working to achieve more sustainable use of Australia's farming lands and to conserve biodiversity. After reviewing the achievements of the community Landcare program the authors discuss their research investigating Landcare participation in terms of the theory of volunteerism. This research indicated that Landcare participants: were younger, more educated and more involved in other community groups; and were motivated by task orientation, a desire for learning and for social interaction. These results are consistent with the theory of volunteerism. Voluntary groups are not self-managing or costless. Given the resources invested through Landcare, particularly via the $1.25 billion Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), it is critical that these groups are properly managed and adequately resourced. At present there is no systematic approach to the management of Landcare groups, and critical policy and management issues threaten to undermine their effectiveness. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Letter: Natural Heritage Trust and the Politics of Funding

Letter: Natural Heritage Trust and the Politics of Funding

Biodiversity: the scene in Australia and the role of the Australian Biological Resources Study

It is estimated that Australia is home to more than 1 million species, less than 15% of which have been described. No estimate is given for parasites, but brief speculation on the potential is presented. The Commonwealth Government has a clear role in funding biosystematic research in Australia in support of its Natural Heritage Trust programmes, the National Biodiversity Strategy and its responsibilities under the Biodiversity Convention, and in order to maintain adequate taxonomic capacity. As a Government programme of Environment Australia, the Australian Biological Resources Study has disbursed around A$12 million towards taxonomic and biogeographic research on animals and Protozoa. Approximately 10% of this amount has gone towards parasitology. With funding for the Study being in a somewhat parlous state, it is argued that priorities for research funding need to focus clearly on issues of national significance as expressed in Government policies, strategies and environment programmes. In addition to scientific merit, research questions and projected outputs in project applications for funding should be justified in terms of meeting the needs of end users in conservation management, primary industry, and the wider biological research community.