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The development of landcare in the rangelands of South Australia has been an evolutionary process. It began with both an awareness and a recognition that natural resource management is as much an issue for the community, as it is for the government.
This new co-operative venture started with a focus on small, localised issues. Successful achievements in this area resulted in greater community confidence and involvement in tackling broader issues. It also encouraged interest in looking at the effects of management practices on the resource base. To complement and support the community landcare initiatives the government, in collaboration with the community, developed a structure which could assist the landcare process and also give the community better access to the funding and power base of the government. Hence the formation of Soil Conservation Boards. The development of larger, regionally focussed groups enabled the next phase of landcare to evolve.
Focussing on the future of landcare in the rangelands is certainly encouraging. The development of a new landcare project which aims to further equip the community with skills and confidence to take greater responsibility for natural resource management is a step in the right direction.