
Community Stewardship
A culture of land stewardship occurs when land holders and their communities, understand themselves to be custodians of their land, the nature it supports and the waterways that pass through it. It is measured by the extent to which they take responsibility for caring for their land, their commitment to passing it on to future generations in better condition than when they came to it, and their willingness to support others in their community to do the same. The Wurundjeri people, as Traditional Owners of the land in Nillumbik, have a long history of living on and nurturing it, having sustained a culture of community stewardship stretching back thousands of years.
Why a culture of community stewardship of land is important
People who have a culture of land stewardship seek to understand and take responsibility for the land, its soils, waterways, native plants and animals.
They recognise that, while they may hold title to the land or have responsibility for managing it, they are in fact temporary stewards and have the responsibility to protect the land and its values to pass on to future generations. Nature and agriculture can thrive in these communities.
A culture of community stewardship of land is important because it enhances community wellbeing, builds social cooperation and engagement, and ensures that land will pass to the next generation in a healthy, productive condition, and continue to support communities, agriculture, nature, and recreation.
What a healthy culture of community stewardship of land looks like
In pursuit of their personal or organisational aspirations for their land, private land holders and public land managers understand and maintain the natural processes that make soil, water, plants and animals healthy. They proudly see themselves as stewards.
They feel a deep connection to the land and the place it is part of, and are well-connected to each other socially, sharing knowledge, working together, and supporting others. They form strong, inclusive communities with a shared sense of purpose that sustains the culture of land stewardship.
They acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners of the land and seek to learn new perspectives from tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal knowledge. They support the Traditional Owners to realise Aboriginal aspirations for Country and culture.
The threats to Community Stewardship, and how they can be addressed