Martin Driver, PlainSense Vegetation Management ecologist and Hay Plains Landcare member, is one of NSW most respected leaders in native seed supply, ecological restoration and practical revegetation. The award has acknowledged the importance of people being there supporting community, maintaining and increasing knowledge through extension and the understanding of how we can manage and restore landscapes. It also highlights the absolute necessity of regional native seed supplies through regional seed banks and maintaining skilled local people, resources and infrastructure to ensure native seed is available at scale to improve and extend our native vegetation range and quality. “Without investment and support in professional restoration, management skills, seed supplies and wider landholder support services our landscapes will inevitably further decline,” he said. Martin regularly works in partnership with Hay Plains Landcare and Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, prompting Local Landcare Coordinator Jenny Dwyer to include in his nomination “For more than four decades, Martin Driver has inspired generations of Landcarers through visionary leadership, practical innovation and unwavering commitment to collaborative landscape restoration across New South Wales.” The Gerald Carnie Memorial Award for Keeping the Landcare Flame Alive recognises an individual’s contribution to the development of “the philosophy of Landcare”. The recipient champions Landcare as a way to inspire positive change in attitudes, helping build stronger, more resilient communities that work towards a healthier environment and more productive, sustainable farms. Hundreds of Landcarers and friends gathered in Corowa last week for the award presentation as part of the NSW Landcare and Local Land Services Conference, celebrating the people, groups and partnerships making an extraordinary contribution to caring for land, water, biodiversity and communities across NSW. Landcare Australia Chair Peter Garrett AM FTSE joined the award presentation and delivered an inspiring speech recognising the power of community-led environmental action and the lasting impact of the Landcare movement.
