Volunteers contribute $9.9M in conservation efforts

A survey by Greater Sydney Landcare has revealed more than 7,200 regular volunteers and more than 15,500 one-off volunteers rolled up their sleeves that year to clock a total of 209,793 hours.

The NSW Government provides funding through the NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2023-27 to enable Landcare groups across the state to carry out vital bush regeneration works, tree planting, soil management, waterway conservation, and community education.

During the survey period, Greater Sydney volunteers helped propagate 765,608 native plants across 25 community nurseries.

Various projects were delivered across the region, from the Blue Mountains to the Northern Beaches and beyond.

The Central Coast region contributed the largest volunteer effort, with 31,009 hours donated by 114 groups. Their efforts included growing 65,000 native plants in a community nursery and restoring critical bushland habitats.

Long-time volunteer and chair of Greater Sydney Landcare, Bev Debrincat, has dedicated her life's work to conservation efforts alongside her fellow volunteers.

Bev is a founding member of the group and has been involved in bushland management since 1995. 

As a Sydneysider and a landholder on the Macleay Valley Coast in the NSW Northern Rivers region, Bev has co-managed the regeneration and restoration of her 22.7-hectare property, of which 22.6 hectares is littoral rainforest, coastal wetlands and dunes, under a voluntary conservation agreement.

She is also the co-founder and coordinator of The Habitat community native plant nursery and food garden in Ryde.

Despite declining volunteer numbers and an aging membership, Bev and her fellow Landcare and Bushcare volunteers continue to make a real difference to Sydney's natural landscapes. 

Download The State of Bushcare and Landcare report from the survey on the Local Land Services website.

Greater Sydney Landcare Chair, Bev Debrincat said:

"This annual survey looks at the numbers to show the impact and value of Landcare and Bushcare volunteers across the region.

"From my perspective, I think the numbers are impressive for a volunteer movement. It's fantastic to see so many people dedicated to caring for the environment despite challenges like intensified development, impacts from floods and drought, run-off, weeds and other human activity.

"It is important to keep inspiring each other and adapting, so that we can keep persevering and moving forward - setting us up to attract a new generation of volunteers to join us.

"We're appreciative of the funding from the NSW Government, which helps Greater Sydney Landcare support the main Landcare networks and focus areas within the Greater Sydney area, which in turn helps support smaller, local volunteer groups.

"There are several other government-funded projects currently underway, including Creating Canopies through tree and habitat planting, the Southwest Sydney Koala Project, and the Streamwatch citizen science water monitoring program on the Central Coast."

Greater Sydney Landcare and Bushcare projects delivered in 2023/24 include: 

• Blue Mountains - Overcoming challenges to protect World Heritage Areas

  Volunteers contributed 7,109 hours to bush regeneration, weed control and protecting the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The Fitzgerald Creek Catchment Group plays a key role in protecting ecological values from Springwood to the Nepean River.

• Hawkesbury - Strengthening wildlife corridors

  Twenty-three groups worked to maintain connectivity between natural areas, contributing 3,820 volunteer hours. Work included riparian restoration projects and citizen science initiatives, including bird surveys and koala habitat restoration.

• Northern Beaches - Enhancing urban biodiversity 

  Volunteers dedicated 7,536 hours to urban biodiversity, supporting wildlife corridors and managing invasive species. Groups like Friends of Bungan continue to work tirelessly to protect the environment.

• Central Coast - Leading the way in restoration 

  Pitching in the largest volunteer effort, the Central Coast region's volunteer efforts alone were worth almost $1.3 million. The Central Coast Community Environment Network makes a significant ongoing contribution with their thriving Green Teams and award-winning nursery.

• Macarthur - Protecting Sydney's south-west fringe

  Eleven active volunteer groups donated 1,678 hours to revegetation and regeneration projects to protect native wildlife. Groups like Buxton Landcare work tirelessly to control weeds, such as their current efforts to manage Arum lily at the headwaters of a local creek.

• Penrith - Volunteers rally behind their bushland reserves

  More than 100 volunteers dedicated 59,799 hours to tackle weed infestations and make space for bushland regeneration. Penrith City Council Bushcare and Landcare groups' efforts were bolstered by 1,806 one-off volunteers who helped plant native trees and shrubs at working bees.

Media Contact
For more information, please contact Chris Finley, chris.finley@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0477193 761