Caring for our Country Business Plan 2010-11

About the Business Plan 2010-11

Ministers' foreword

The first full year of Caring for our Country, 2009-10, saw a resounding level of interest from all the groups and individuals working to improve the environment through this exciting government initiative. Across Australia, landholders, environment, community and industry groups, farmers and other individuals came forward with a diverse range of proposals aimed at taking positive actions to improve the ongoing sustainable management of Australia's natural resources.

We are especially encouraged by the Australian community's response to Caring for our Country. More than $455 million has been approved for single-year and multi-year projects under the 2009-10 business plan. This investment supported regional natural resource management organisations and non-government organisations, involving over 1200 community groups and around 12 000 landholders.

When we released the first Caring for our Country business plan in 2008, we described it as a call to action to the Australian community. Together we are addressing the challenges that face the health of our natural environment and productive farmlands. The interdependence of our natural and productive environments means that success requires engaging people from all walks of life. Farmers, Indigenous organisations, non-government organisations and natural resource management bodies and community groups all deliver Caring for our Country projects.

Caring for our Country is part of a broader government initiative to improve the environment and the sustainability of resource-using industries. For example, the priorities for investment and revised targets included in this business plan reinforce our continued support for the Landcare movement. They align closely with work being undertaken to develop a new national biodiversity strategy and native vegetation framework; and complement the government's national water, carbon pollution reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives.

Caring for our Country has clear, measurable targets which focus effort to most effectively improve Australia's natural environments and help ensure our farmlands remain viable into the future. The support and effort of the Australian community is crucial to the success of Caring for our Country in protecting and restoring our natural and productive environments.

We are grateful for the wealth of feedback on this new initiative. The 2010-11 business plan has been greatly enriched through your comments and insights. This business plan continues to provide scope for a wide range of organisations to develop and deliver proposals. New ways are provided for stakeholders to be involved in the business plan, such as through expressions of interest for specific activities. These new approaches will help stakeholders to best direct their skills and knowledge to most effect.

Australians have a deep and abiding commitment to the health of their land. The 2010-11 Caring for our Country business plan provides the opportunity to strengthen the actions and partnerships that this commitment deserves.

We look forward to the community's continuing engagement in Caring for our Country.