Congratulations to the hundreds of officers and thousands of landholders who have collectively created the Land for Wildlife South East Queensland program. In May, the collaborative nature of the program was recognised through the Local Government Managers Australia Awards. Thirteen Local Governments work together to create products and services to support the conservation work of LfWSEQ members. It is an extraordinary partnership spanning 25 years.
Some of you, like myself, have been involved for 20+ years, which is a testament to the program’s longevity and ability to grow and adapt. I am delighted with this recognition, and I genuinely hope that all Land for Wildlife members and those who have helped the program succeed over the years also feel proud. The other nominees for this award category were equally impressive and are improving their communities in notable ways.
With two billion more people on the planet now than when the program started, the efforts of thousands of landholders to restore and protect the incredible wildlife and ecosystems of SEQ cannot be undervalued. We are working together to create a brighter, greener future where the Australian environment is valued for its uniqueness. We are custodians of this country, responsible for its health, and the more we make it healthy, the better our health becomes. We will continue to learn collaboratively about caring for country from the First Nations People and we will continue to lean into science and technology for more effective and efficient techniques.
I often say that ecological restoration is an emerging science, and that Land for Wildlife members and officers are at the forefront of this sector. The journey of managing country, learning about nature and restoring degraded land is a wonderfully rich endless path, full of challenges and rewards. Thank you for walking with us and learning together.
Deborah Metters
Regional Coordinator