This week is National Volunteer Week which offers an opportunity for the Queensland Water and Land Carers Board to acknowledge the 500+ groups and salute our 62 000+ volunteers. ‘Connecting Communities’ is the theme for NVW2025 which builds naturally on our Landcare motto – Naturally Together!
This year QWaLC celebrates 21 years supporting our volunteers in community natural resource management (NRM) volunteer groups such as Landcare, Coastcare, Bushcare, Catchment Associations, Species-specific protection groups and Friends of groups.
During 2023/2024 member group volunteers contributed over 2,149,452 hours annually equating to $89,675,137 of in-kind financial value and engaging 518,738 people across Queensland.
Activities include:
- Monitoring programs including marine mammal and water quality,
- Fencing to protect natural habitat from feral animals and reduce waterway erosion,
- Establishing and developing programs for land managers,
- Wildlife clinics and native animal rescue and rehabilitation,
- Community gardens that provide produce for locals,
- Participating in and/or organising citizen science events, and
- Clean-up events.
Thank you for your time, commitment and the effort you have given over the last twelve months to support the wellbeing of land, water, wildlife and communities in Queensland.
Mary-Lou Gittins OAM, Chair