Please see statement below from Jim Adams, CEO of the National Landcare Network:

"We’re thrilled that the Prime Minister has been given the opportunity to see firsthand the fantastic outcomes community landcare can achieve with the right support. Milton Rural Landcare’s post-bushfire Forest Recovery Project has been a critical part of replanting and weed control after the Black Summer bushfires, and has helped to build community capacity to prepare for and respond to future fire events.

Landcare projects like the Milton Rural Landcare Forest Recovery Project demonstrate the importance of community landcare in Australia’s response to the climate emergency and the extinction crisis. It is essential that government not only recognises the impact of community-based, grassroots efforts such as this, but takes action to ensure their success can continue.

The advocacy and support for community landcare from Fiona Phillips MP and Liza Butler MP, has been a key part in the success of this project, and we thank them for championing community-based environmental action. Their ongoing support and pride in this project shows that when government and community landcare work together, we achieve the greatest impact for our communities and environment.

Unfortunately, funding uncertainty is putting future projects like this at risk. After seeing the fantastic community and environmental outcomes achieved by Milton Rural Landcare today, we are confident that the Prime Minister appreciates the impact that proper investment has on the vital work being done by over 6,000 individual landcare groups and over 160,000 landcarers we represent."

_{The National Landcare Network is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia. We give a voice to Community Landcare across the country, with over 2000 active State and Territory Landcare Organisation members representing 6000+ individual Landcare groups and over 160,000 landcarers across Australia.}