National Landcare Network

What National Landcare Network does

National Landcare Network (NLN) is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia, established in 2009 and headquartered in Canberra. It federates 6,500 independent community groups and approximately 160,000 members through eight State and Territory Landcare Organisations (STLOs) covering every Australian jurisdiction. NLN's core function is national-level advocacy, policy engagement, and program coordination on behalf of grassroots Landcare, representing community groups, First Nations Custodians, farmers, and volunteers in conversations with the Australian Government and other stakeholders.

NLN's products and services are program- and coordination-oriented rather than technology products. The portfolio includes the NLN Facilitator Program and Landcare 2030 as strategic funding frameworks administered through the Natural Heritage Trust; the $2 million Strengthen Landcare - Deliver Nature Repair Program encompassing a National Landcare Facilitator, First Nations Facilitator, Volunteer Facilitator, National Project Bank, and National Landcare Survey; the Invest in Landscapes project bank (Granite to Goulburn, Windharp Horizons, Craters to Coast, Kiewa Wodonga) matching investment-ready initiatives with capital partners; a webinars calendar and publications resource library; and the Members Council as the governance forum for STLO representation. Underlying technology consists of standard digital platforms (website, email, social media, webinar tools) used for coordination; NLN is explicitly not a technology company and holds no proprietary AI/ML capabilities.

NLN is a registered Australian charity (ACNC) with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, operating as a non-profit federation. Revenue is dominated by Australian Government grants channeled via the Natural Heritage Trust - specifically the $5 million Supporting National Landcare Organisations Program and the $2 million Strengthen Landcare program - supplemented by philanthropic partnerships (Bupa Healthy Cities Landcare Grants, AgriFutures sponsorship) and voluntary public donations to its Public Gift Fund. Services to member groups are provided at no direct cost. The organisation is led by CEO Michelle Young (appointed August 2025) and Program Delivery Manager Geoffrey O'Keefe (appointed January 2026), supported by a small national secretariat of approximately 12 staff, several on part-time arrangements.

Name

National Landcare Network

Legal name

National Landcare Network

Website

https://nln.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Landcare Network is the peak representative body for Australia's 6,500 community Landcare groups and 160,000 members, coordinating national advocacy, program delivery, and policy engagement through eight State and Territory Landcare Organisations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding from Australian Government through Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) - $1.1 billion total NHT funding with $5 million for Supporting National Landcare Organisations Program (administered through NLN) and $2 million for Strengthen Landcare - Deliver Nature Repair Program. Government grants are the dominant revenue source.
2. Public Donations: NLN accepts public donations to its Public Gift Fund, which has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Donations over $2 receive charitable donation receipts. Fund is overseen by a Management Committee.
3. Philanthropic Partnerships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors and philanthropists for specific programs and projects. Bupa partnership for Healthy Cities Landcare Grants is one example.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Landcare Network is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia. It delivers national advocacy, policy influence, program coordination, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing services to a federation of State and Territory Landcare Organisations representing 6,500 independent groups and 160,000 members. Core offerings include the NLN Facilitator Program, Landcare 2030, the Strengthen Landcare – Deliver Nature Repair Program, and the Invest in Landscapes project bank connecting investment-ready Landcare initiatives with funding partners.

Product overview

National Landcare Network is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia, providing advocacy, coordination, and support services rather than a traditional tech product. The organisation operates several interconnected programs: the NLN Facilitator Program and Landcare 2030 provide strategic framework and funding coordination; the National Landcare Facilitator Program ($2M initiative) delivers capacity building through National, First Nations, and Volunteer facilitators plus a National Project Bank; Invest in Landscapes connects investment-ready projects with partners; and the Webinars Calendar and Publications Resources provide knowledge-sharing services. The Members Council serves as the governance forum for the network's 6,500 member groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NLN Facilitator Program A national facilitator program supporting the Landcare community through capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and program coordination for community Landcare groups across Australia.
• Landcare 2030 A strategic program supporting national Landcare organisations through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust, addressing climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species across Australia.
• National Landcare Facilitator Program (Strengthen Landcare – Deliver Nature Repair Program) A $2 million Australian Government initiative through the Natural Heritage Trust to uplift the Landcare sector, including a National Landcare Facilitator, First Nations Facilitator, Volunteer Facilitator, National Project Bank, and National Landcare Survey components.
• Invest in Landscapes NLN's project bank connecting investment-ready Landcare initiatives with government, philanthropic, and private sector partners. Features projects including Granite to Goulburn, Windharp Horizons, Craters to Coast, and Kiewa Wodonga.

Quantifiable outcome

• 309,637 native trees and shrubs planted across Greater Sydney (Creating Canopies 2020-2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Landcare TasmaniacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Member STLO delivering Catchment Connect Project - five-year initiative strengthening farm and landscape resilience across Tasmania. Partnership with Australian Government.
• Australian Land Conservation Alliance (ALCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025New partnership announced August 2025 combining NLN's grassroots reach with ALCA's strategic conservation expertise. Goal to strengthen community-led initiatives, advocate for sustainable land management, and support biodiversity. Collaboration to amplify impact of conservation programs and drive policy change.
• Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2025Partnership formalised through Statement of Collaboration to work together to care for Country. Jointly launching the Two-Way Initiative promoting cross-cultural knowledge sharing, professional development, and cultural exchange between Landcare and Indigenous communities. ILSC partnership supports First Nations engagement in NHT projects.
• BupamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Bupa Healthy Cities Program partnership with Landcare Australia to deliver Healthy Cities Landcare Grants supporting urban and peri-urban tree planting. In 2024 supported planting of 106,500 native trees across Australia.
• Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Jointly supported peer learning project through Integrated Engagement and Capacity Building Project under Queensland Government's Queensland Reef Water Quality Program. DPI hosted farm visits and provided technical expertise for producer study tour from Cooktown to Townsville.
• AgriFutures AustraliasupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Sponsorship support for Cape York producer peer learning project showcasing sustainable agriculture innovations including smart irrigation, feral pig control, protected cropping, and virtual fencing technologies.
• Cape York NRMsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Partner in producer peer learning project delivering sustainable agriculture practices across Cape York region. NRM organisation supporting natural resource management outcomes.
• University of CanberracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration to design comprehensive National Landcare Survey to inform future Landcare initiatives, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide feedback for program, policy and advocacy efforts.
• Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals IncsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal organisation coordinating community-led wetland protection effort against invasive pond apple across Cape York's east coast, working with Traditional Owners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Australian Land Conservation Alliance (ALCA): Peak body for private conservation in Australia; entered a strategic partnership with NLN in August 2025. Highly comparable as a national coalition advocating for landscape-scale conservation and competing for similar funding sources.
• Landcare Australia: Sister national organisation that partners with corporate sponsors (including Bupa) to fund on-ground Landcare projects. Most directly comparable peer given shared mission, overlapping network, and joint program delivery.
• Conservation Volunteers Australia: National environmental volunteer organisation delivering on-ground conservation projects. Comparable volunteer-driven, project-delivery model that overlaps with NLN's community Landcare movement.
• Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC): Federal statutory authority supporting First Nations land management. NLN's Statement of Collaboration partner and a key peer in the Indigenous-led land management space, with overlapping priorities in landscape stewardship.

Broad incumbents

• Greening Australia: Larger, established environmental NGO focused on large-scale revegetation and ecosystem restoration. Comparable as a delivery-oriented conservation nonprofit competing for similar government and philanthropic funding.
• Bush Heritage Australia: National conservation nonprofit that acquires and manages land for biodiversity. Comparable as a similarly scaled environmental nonprofit competing for philanthropic funding and government conservation grants.
• Australian Conservation Foundation: Australia's largest environmental advocacy organisation. Comparable as a federally focused environmental voice with policy influence and broad donor base, though ACF is significantly larger and more politically oriented.

Emerging players

• Volunteering Australia: National peak body for volunteering that NLN co-hosts events with (2026 National Volunteering Conference). Comparable as a federally connected volunteer-focused umbrella body, though broader in scope than Landcare.

Others

• Murray-Darling Basin Authority: Federal government agency managing Australia's largest river system. Comparable as a large-scale natural resource management body where NLN's CEO previously held senior roles; adjacent stakeholder in landscape-scale environmental policy.

Regional players

• Trust for Nature (Victoria): Victoria-focused conservation covenant and land trust organisation. Comparable as a state-level environmental non-profit delivering landscape conservation outcomes and managing volunteer engagement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalLandcareNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-landcare-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationallandcarenetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Landcare Network