Farmers can be heroes too!
The national collective and led by Ben Ensor who chats about the challenges facing catchment groups now is insightful.
What weve discovered in the last 5 yrs is that devotion, local knowledge,intricate systems understanding and a number 8 wire approach that leads to locally led groups getting stuff done faster, cheaper and with targeted precision can save public dollars and lead to genuine outcomes for nature, however as Ben noted:
“The ability of the local groups to understand their landscape intimately and take an integrated approach can deliver more specific, well-invested solutions is essential.
Ensor is also aiming to ensure the umbrella group gives more voice to rural communities in helping shape regulation and make them practical.
“It is very much about having to work with government.”
We all need to see environmental management continue to improve and get some of agriculture’s wicked problems controlled.
“We still need regulations, but catchment groups can connect with a broad range of people and go further, faster than just regulations can.” he has plenty of first-hand experience with unworkable environmentally focused regulations on his own property….
“The worst ones for us have been the certified farm plans as they were proposed. With auditing the cost would have been horrendous.”
He also hopes the collective can help build a national “dashboard” that provides at-a-glance information on how the farming sector is going on key environmental indicators for areas.
Experienced CEO & Fundraising Leader | Strategic Planning | Stakeholder Engagement | Non-Profit Development | Heritage & Arts Advocate
3moSuch an amazing place isn’t it!