Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities Plan
The Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities Plan has been developed with and for the Community, supported by Southern Queensland Landscapes, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. The Plan tells the story of how First Nations, community, industry and governments are working together to achieve flourishing landscapes and healthy communities.
Actions
The Plan contains actions based on what has been working and what further actions or knowledge is required. Actions include:
Incentives for good land management
Helping farmers, land managers and urban communities to create Flourishing Landscapes.
Sharing of new ideas and experiences
Facilitating the sharing of new ideas and experiences in land management.
Diversifying the economy
Supporting the diversification including tourism and industry based on a circular economy to provide diversified local income streams and decrease reliance on natural assets.
Investigating opportunities for carbon farming
Carbon farming can help offset our emissions and may provide diversified income streams for land managers.
Improving physical and mental health
Working with the health sector to improve physical and mental health by enhancing the health of the landscape.
Coordination of pest management strategies
Developing a coordinated approach to strategically avoid and manage pests.
Restoring creek banks
Preserving riverbank vegetation and supporting aquatic ecosystems.
The Plan
A Pathway to Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities
During the regional workshops in 2021, the Community developed a Pathway to achieve Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities. This Pathway shows how the Community is adapting to a “new normal”and renewing their hope, desire for partnerships, and action based on trust between community, industry and government.
Country, economy and community are intertwined and support each other and the Plan shows how landscapes, economies and communities are interconnected and positive actions for each will grow the capacity of the region to achieve Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities. The Plan tells the story of how this Pathway can facilitate the sharing of information and the connections and tools required to achieve the community’s vision.
Healing Country
Healing Country must restore soils as the foundation for healthy plants and animals and healthy waterways.
Healthy Economies
Healthy Economies rely on Healing Country - a healthy economy can promote and facilitate good stewardship of our landscapes.
Healthy Communities need Healthy Country on which industries and livelihoods can be based.
Program Facilitator
Knowledge & Information Support Andrew Davidson
Andrew has over 25 years of experience in community engagement and natural resource management planning having worked for Landcare and catchment management groups, regional bodies and state government.
Tell us about your Flourishing Landscapes, Healthy Communities Project
There are many ways we can work together to achieve our collective goals. So if you want to or are doing something that contributes to Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities or know of someone who is, we would love to hear from you and see how your plans or project fit into the bigger regional picture. And hopefully, if we all work together we can attract further support! Click the button below to Contact the team and tell them about your plan or project.
How the Plan was developed
The community of Southern Queensland has a long history of actively planning and campaigning for better outcomes for communities on the ground. A review of previous planning and projects in the region was completed in February 2019. This information was used as the starting point for conversations held across the region.
Seventeen Community Roundtables were held across the region and provided a snapshot of what people were doing to address current issues and opportunities. These stories were combined with previous feedback, plans and knowledge to build a picture of the future based on learning
from the past.
Three Regional Workshops considered all the information from the Roundtables to produce an action plan to achieve the community’s vision.
A geographic information system has been used to map how the region functions and what ecosystem services are provided to the community. The maps help to illustrate and understand the natural, community and cultural assets in the region and the benefits they provide in the region and further afield.
The Plan tells a compelling story and can be used to show a range of investors including the Queensland and Federal Government how the diverse communities across the region will work together to deliver significant environmental, economic and social returns on behalf of the nation. The Plan is owned by the community and provides a framework to coordinate information, resources and connection between people across the region. SQ Landscapes will help implement the framework so we can share experiences and connect and support communities working towards flourishing landscapes.
The Federal Government will continue to be an important investor on behalf of the Australian people in supporting organisations and landcare groups in Southern Queensland to continue to provide services for the health and wellbeing of the broader community. Projects include enhancing landcare (revegetating or enhancing soil health), providing additional value on farm (carbon sequestration), and facilitating economic and social growth (enhancing recreational and tourism experiences).
SQ Landscapes is coordinating a number of projects funded by the National Landcare Program and will continue to work alongside local governments, community and industry to attract a range of investors to support and assist in the creation of change.
The National Landcare Program
The Federal Government’s National Landcare Program funded the development of the Plan. The National Landcare Program has the following priorities:
Wetlands of international importance
Southern Queensland includes Currawinya Lakes an area of internationally recognised wetlands. Learn more.
Threatened species
Learn more about the plants and animals identified as priorities for conservation across Australia.
World Heritage areas
Southern Queensland is home to the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage Listed areas. Learn more.
Important plant communities
Soil, biodiversity and vegetation
Adapting to market demands and changing climate
This project is supported by Southern Queensland Landscapes, through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
